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Habitat for
Humanity Each term there are charity collections, and in 2008 the Year 11 students decided that they wanted to contribute to a project in which they could actually see how the money was spent, and take part in helping some of the recipients themselves. This was the genesis of the Cambodia Council – a fundraising effort for Habitat for Humanity in connection with a housing project in a slum village settlement near Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital. Over a fortnight in January 2009, Dr Corfield, Mrs Sun, and five students were in Cambodia where they took part in the building of two houses. It was an eye-opening trip for everybody. Leaving at 7.30am, we went by minibus to the building site where –with breaks – we worked until 4pm. This involved shovelling sand (for most of the time), compacting it, and laying bricks. In the evenings we were able to discuss our progress with some of the most senior political figures in the country, who were delighted to follow our progress, Senator Kong Korm joining us at the site halfway through the project. By the end of our time in Cambodia, we had largely finished the two houses although they still needed back walls and roofs. The two recipient families were more than happy with the results. One was a car mechanic, and
his wife who had just given birth to their first child; and the other was that of a driver and his wife who worked at the nearby garment factory, with two young children, the boy missing one day of school to help us move some stones. Both families have low-interest mortgage payments, but with the repayment rates less than their current rent. At the end of five years, they will own their own houses and land. Each day we left the site, it was wonderful to see one of the proud house owners come and tenderly pat down the sand which is now the floor of her bedroom. We also visited the Sunrise Children’s Village where we saw how Geraldine Cox, from South Australia, has been able to inject such hope into the lives of so many children; and at a nearby wildlife sanctuary, we met Chhouk, a baby elephant who lost part of his foot in a trap, and is having a new prosthesis made. We then headed to northern Cambodia where we explored the temples at Angkor complex by minibus and by elephant.
Millington who started the project but was unable to be with us in Cambodia. Dr Justin Corfield Teacher of History 1. Building the foundations – Senator Kong Korm, former Foreign Minister, and the Deputy Opposition Leader in Cambodia, lends a hand to Jian Wen Jen, Sam Aull, Dr Corfield and Andy Hsiao. 2. Sabrina Tee and Lauren Simpson at Angkor. 3. Lauren Simpson, Dr Corfield, Jian Wen Jen, Sam Aull, Andy Hsiao, Mrs Sun and Sabrina Tee with some of the new house owners. 4. Dinner with Senator General Nhek Bun Chhay, Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia. 5. Lunch with HRH Samdech Krom Preah (Prince) Norodom Ranariddh, former Prime Minister of Cambodia.
We would like to thank the local staff of Habitat for Humanity, Prince Norodom Ranariddh for lending us a car (after our minibus crashed); Mr Meek, Mr Scudamore and the School community for their support during a year of fundraising; and also Alex 15