Following a 7.45 wake up call everyone breakfasted on banana pancakes, or scrambled eggs or fresh bread rolls and jam with fruit- it doesn’t matter what you have it is always delicious.
At 9am we set of for the first stop of the day, the Jesuit Reflection Centre. We were greeted by the head spokesperson who speaks fluent English, a Mr Channareth Tun, commonly known as ‘Reth’, who, it turns out, is a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He and the organization work tirelessly in helping those who have been maimed by land mines, and appeal to all governments of the world to cease their production and embrace world peace. He had even spoken to our Prime Minister – Malcolm Fraser. Reth spoke about his life, being forcibly conscripted into the war where he lost both his legs from a land mine explosion. He recanted an emotional time in his life when he did not want to live and then time slowly healing the emotional scars.
Reth took us on a tour of the centre showing us the beautifully landscaped gardens, the sculpture of scenes from the bible (my personal favorite being the Samaritan woman at the well). The centre had separate buildings for accommodation, kitchen and dining, meetings, prayer and finally the wheelchair workshop. Reth spends most of his time in the workshop with three other men. They call themselves ‘four men and three legs’ which is an apt description. We were shown the file of records they continue to make of families in need and photos of the families and their living conditions. One student pointed out to me a file showing a woman whose husband is deceased with four children, the second eldest with no legs and the overall description ‘No money, no food, no water’. It was humbling.
It costs Reth and his team $90 to purchase a kit form of a wheel chair. They attempt to custom make the chairs to the size, degree of physical restriction and day to day requirements. Most of the money needed to purchase the wheelchairs comes from the generosity of supporting organizations and visitors to the centre. We watched a chair being assembled. Most of it is wooden and a very basic design. It took half an hour to put together and a few of us had a test ride of some others there.
It costs Reth and his team $90 to purchase a kit form of a wheel chair. They attempt to custom make the chairs to the size, degree of physical restriction and day to day requirements. Most of the money needed to purchase the wheelchairs comes from the generosity of supporting organizations and visitors to the centre. We watched a chair being assembled. Most of it is wooden and a very basic design. It took half an hour to put together and a few of us had a test ride of some others there.
Following lunch three students and I went on a super quick visit to the Silk Farm while the others had a rest. We got to see the production of silk from hatching caterpillars to silk production to dying to weaving. No wonder silk products cost so much! We were taken on a private tour where it was explained that only 20% of the worms are permitted to develop to months and the rest are boiled in the silk cocoon then eaten!!! (Our guide says they taste like corn – we didn’t bother to see if this was true)!
Our mini bus took us back to the Guest House to collect the other to go to the markets shopping for school supplies for the children at ‘The House of Joy’ – our next place of call. This is also run by the Sisters of Charity, namely Sister Lilly and Sister Nazarine (the Provincial).
These sisters were amazing, looking after sick children for up to two years, helping them through operations they cannot afford (some successful – others not). The sisters keep in touch with all the families of the children in their care and visit them regularly. Some live up to four hours drive away! They have a number of volunteer helpers,two that we met are on their third and fourth visit – they spend their annual holidays from work going to Cambodia to work with the sisters. We have met so many people who have given their time and finances towards helping those in need in this troubled country.
As a group we acknowledge the work done by the McKeon family, founders of Mates Abroad, and are grateful to them for this immersion opportunity so that we too can make a small contribution to such wonderful people, the Cambodians.
These sisters were amazing, looking after sick children for up to two years, helping them through operations they cannot afford (some successful – others not). The sisters keep in touch with all the families of the children in their care and visit them regularly. Some live up to four hours drive away! They have a number of volunteer helpers,two that we met are on their third and fourth visit – they spend their annual holidays from work going to Cambodia to work with the sisters. We have met so many people who have given their time and finances towards helping those in need in this troubled country.
As a group we acknowledge the work done by the McKeon family, founders of Mates Abroad, and are grateful to them for this immersion opportunity so that we too can make a small contribution to such wonderful people, the Cambodians.
Our last night was celebrated with a restaurant dinner having Apsara dancing (National Dance). We watched many dances from Coconut to Fish dance, each in stunning costumes. The girls were rather taken with one particular male dancer to the point where we stayed until the dancing finished and they could have their photos taken on stage with the dancers. One poor young man was mobbed! There will be many photographs to tell the story!
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