Cambodia Connect!
Snippets from our Facebook diary:
“Over two days we met up with children from a slum area of Phnom Penh who are supported by the charity Construction of Hope. We interacted with them through a number of workshops at the end of which we were privileged to visit the children’s homes. We walked with the children through a littered dirt road to their metal houses on the right. After a point we turned into the maze of homes to say good bye, which was difficult and filled with lots of hugs, high fives, and kisses. The next day we were ready to embark on our 6 hour bus ride, which slowly turned into 9 hours. It is ironic because the road was supposed to be the best in Cambodia, yet we still managed to get 2 flat tires. Everyone was very patient, especially at the end when the expected 15 km more turned into 60 km more. We arrived and had a short nights rest before waking to go to the Elephant Valley Project. Splitting into two groups we observed elephants that were rescued from abusive homes in their rehabilitation back into their natural habitat. We then were able to contribute to this great cause by helping them in reconstructing damaged paths in the forest.”
Selina and Flore
“Day 5 spent with “Construction of Hope”. Riverside students provided workshop activities for disadvantaged children from the local neighborhood in Phnon Penh.”
“A sobering afternoon at S-21: The Khmer Rouge Prison, and the Killing Fields.
The team met with the Czech Chargé d’affaires to Cambodia for dinner.”
“More work at the Elephant Valley Project – viewing/volunteering, repairing a dirt road, visiting a waterfall and relaxing with a massage.”
“Partnering with the Tabitha House Building Programme is an invaluable way for our students to engage with, befriend and support some of the poorest families in Cambodia. Through Tabitha the students are educated in the causes of poverty, the results of poverty and solutions to poverty. The Khmer builders we partner with develop a deep sense of pride by having the opportunity to teach our students the skills of house building – rather than being taught by the foreigners. Many of the families Tabitha builds a house for are unable to save enough money to buy land and the materials to build a house – for example, widows, single mothers, landmine victims, children orphaned as a result of AIDS, etc. 10,141 houses have been built through this programme since 1994. The Cambodia Connect Team has committed to financing the materials for, and building, six houses. Each house costs 23,800 CZK to build. With the generous support of the Riverside Community the team has nearly reached their fund-raising goal. There is still an opportunity to contribute financially to the project. Please feel free to contact us if you are interested in making a donation (finance@riversideschool.cz).”
“We finished all 6 houses and presented them to the families with a welcome blanket. What an incredible experience. Everyone is well but exhausted.”
… more here
Riverside graduates have been accepted to some of the most prestigious universities around the world.
