Glenda Salter at Kok Beng School in Siem Reap. When she volunteered to help some of Cambodia’s poorest students she soon realised the learning went both ways. By Glenda Salter
NINE years ago I turned 60 and was looking for somewhere to do some volunteering. I found myself blindsided when I found out how much the big organisations took out for administration.
My Phillip Island friends mentioned Steve Davie had organised a group called Growing Cambodia that was helping students in Siem Reap. I met Steve the following day and within five minutes I knew I was in. Every single cent raised goes to the Cambodian children, with not a cent taken out for administration.
We have four schools where we teach English, in and around Siem Reap, each one very different to the next but all helping the very poorest children with their education and hygiene.
NINE years ago I turned 60 and was looking for somewhere to do some volunteering. I found myself blindsided when I found out how much the big organisations took out for administration.
My Phillip Island friends mentioned Steve Davie had organised a group called Growing Cambodia that was helping students in Siem Reap. I met Steve the following day and within five minutes I knew I was in. Every single cent raised goes to the Cambodian children, with not a cent taken out for administration.
We have four schools where we teach English, in and around Siem Reap, each one very different to the next but all helping the very poorest children with their education and hygiene.
Siem Reap’s main source of income is Angkor Wat, where tourists flocked pre Covid. Sadly, there are now few tourists, therefore no incomes, increased poverty and increased deaths.
The children cannot go to government schools unless they have a uniform, white shirt, blue shorts or skirt. This uniform costs approximately $15 and these families cannot afford this.
Every year Growing Cambodia buys a uniform, back pack, stationery, toothbrush and paste, hair brush, and soap for as many children as we can afford so they can enrol in school, and we give their families 20kg of rice as a goodwill gesture.
We also pay local teachers to teach these children English in the belief that this will improve their chances of getting work. We are dealing with and teaching some of the very poorest children in Cambodia. Every piece of knowledge that we can help pass on can only benefit these children and help them become self-reliant. We will always look after our students and our teachers.
The children cannot go to government schools unless they have a uniform, white shirt, blue shorts or skirt. This uniform costs approximately $15 and these families cannot afford this.
Every year Growing Cambodia buys a uniform, back pack, stationery, toothbrush and paste, hair brush, and soap for as many children as we can afford so they can enrol in school, and we give their families 20kg of rice as a goodwill gesture.
We also pay local teachers to teach these children English in the belief that this will improve their chances of getting work. We are dealing with and teaching some of the very poorest children in Cambodia. Every piece of knowledge that we can help pass on can only benefit these children and help them become self-reliant. We will always look after our students and our teachers.
Kok Beng School, Seam Reap
We have a volunteer program so all visitors are well looked after. Pre Covid we had a family of five visit and participate in our school program. Both the local children and the visitors loved it. Other locals who have volunteered there are Lois Green and Lorraine Chisholm.
I have been to Siem Reap eight or nine times. On my last visit I returned to my favourite NGOs to support them and to learn from them:
I have learnt more than I ever could have believed from my contact with these beautiful humble people. I can only suggest you add a visit to your bucket list. You will come home with a very full heart.
Growing Cambodia fundraising trivia night, Newhaven College, October 1, from 6pm. Contact Steve Davie on 0409 167 001 to book a table. Donations of any kind for prizes will be warmly received. To make a donation, or for more information, go to Growing Cambodia.
https://www.growingcambodia.org.au/
I have been to Siem Reap eight or nine times. On my last visit I returned to my favourite NGOs to support them and to learn from them:
- Heart Print - Gary and Wendy are brilliant examples of hard-working Australians who live in Siem Reap.
- Eco Soap - as usual I collected four large boxes of soap for our four schools. Next time I will get one for Koy Meng High School as well.
- Reach - I bought my recycled bike from them, and at the end of my three weeks in Siem Reap I donated it to the poorest family at Kok Beng.
- Cambodia Rural Students Trust, Project G Days for Girls Program – I delivered donations for them and spent half a day packing kits then a day delivering them and watching their amazing young leaders deliver a program to the students, male and female.
I have learnt more than I ever could have believed from my contact with these beautiful humble people. I can only suggest you add a visit to your bucket list. You will come home with a very full heart.
Growing Cambodia fundraising trivia night, Newhaven College, October 1, from 6pm. Contact Steve Davie on 0409 167 001 to book a table. Donations of any kind for prizes will be warmly received. To make a donation, or for more information, go to Growing Cambodia.
https://www.growingcambodia.org.au/