Bronwyn Stephens -- Cambodia
Bronwyn outlined the history of the project, which grew out of a Rotary program involving volunteering and donating while touring Cambodia.
After finishing such a tour in 2010, Bronwyn was asked by her tour guide to come to look at a village of 800 people in need of assistance. In this village everybody lived on less than $1.25 a day, half the infants died by 2 years of age, life expectancy was 45 years, child malnutrition was 100% and literacy was 0%.
Living conditions were very primitive and the villagers were trying to grow food in very poor soil. Bronwyn was very moved by the experience and began to help the village by giving emergency food aid and also starting long-term Rotary projects. A water filer was given to stop deaths from typhoid and cholera. Villagers were shown how to use paracetamol and antibiotics, watering cans were given to allow transportation of water from river to crops, a dam was built to catch water and stocked with fish.
RC of Carlton became involved in a $130,000 project to try to get sustainability. $65,000 was raised from 8 Rotary clubs and this was matched by money from a Rotary Global grant.
Many things have been achieved though this grant and other donations which flowed from it, including:
- Rain water harvesting available from 70 huts to give drinking water
- Land bought back for the village. This land was sold to a rich man when the village was very poor
- A school built with donations from some generous people
- The school teaches 500 children and has 5 teachers but needs the capacity to teach more children, who have been turned away.
- A multi-function facility has been constructed incorporating medical rooms, library and a kitchen.
- Sewing machines have been donated and villagers taught to sew.
The projects have been based on the principle of sustainability, recognizing that Rotary has to move out eventually.
RC of Carlton has been specifically involved in exploring the potential of bio-gas generation. A person has come out from Cambodia to study bio-gas in Australia. Unfortunately, the village does not yet have sufficient food scraps to feed pigs to generate the waste needed for the bio-gas.
Bronwyn would like to see a bridge built over the river so that children can get to school the wet season.
Bronwyn invited club members to join a tour, sponsor a child and to buy Cambodian products to raise some money.