May 8, 2008Chris Woodard
KTTC TV
ROCHESTER, MN -- Before she was even old enough to drive one local teenager began changing lives half a world away with something as simple as a toilet.
Friday she'll be recognized by the Governor of Minnesota, but those who really appreciate Naomi Wente's dedication are those whose lives she's improving forever.
They are the faces, the stories and the struggles that push Naomi Wente to dedicate her life to something many twice her age have never considered.
Wente says, "Like the smallest thing really can make a difference. Like seeing what can happen if you just try."
This 17 year old high school junior has been doing nothing but try since a trip to Cambodia at the tender age of 14.
Wente says, "It's both ways. They help me and I help them."
While visiting the country with a group of college students led by her parents, Wente was shocked to learn that most schools don't have toilets.
It forces children to use open fields as bathrooms, something so dangerous and embarrassing many Cambodian girls drop out of school as soon as they hit puberty.
It's something Wente immediately decided she wanted to change.
Wente says, "When I first started no one really thought it was going to be possible to go and do this."
3 years and more than 4-thousand dollars later, this teenager is changing the lives of children all over these villages with her One Toilet at a Time program.
She's responsible for getting 4 toilets and 4 wells to 5 different communities.
Former RCTC Employee Kim Sin says, "It means a lot."
Cambodian native Kim Sin has been there every step of the way.
Sin says, "It's a lot of work. I really admire her for her hard work and getting up and running."
A program that will continue running, helping hundreds with every trip.
Wente says, "The smiles of the children and the young women and the adults, to the kind of looks on their faces and the handshakes and occasional hug, you don't need words for the smiles and the gestures."
It's appreciation from kids just like her, for helping one toilet at a time.
Naomi, her parents and Kim plan to take another group of students to Cambodia over RCTC's winter break.
If you would like to donate money towards a toilet or a well you can go to our links section to get to Naomi's One Toilet at a Time page.
Friday she'll be recognized by the Governor of Minnesota, but those who really appreciate Naomi Wente's dedication are those whose lives she's improving forever.
They are the faces, the stories and the struggles that push Naomi Wente to dedicate her life to something many twice her age have never considered.
Wente says, "Like the smallest thing really can make a difference. Like seeing what can happen if you just try."
This 17 year old high school junior has been doing nothing but try since a trip to Cambodia at the tender age of 14.
Wente says, "It's both ways. They help me and I help them."
While visiting the country with a group of college students led by her parents, Wente was shocked to learn that most schools don't have toilets.
It forces children to use open fields as bathrooms, something so dangerous and embarrassing many Cambodian girls drop out of school as soon as they hit puberty.
It's something Wente immediately decided she wanted to change.
Wente says, "When I first started no one really thought it was going to be possible to go and do this."
3 years and more than 4-thousand dollars later, this teenager is changing the lives of children all over these villages with her One Toilet at a Time program.
She's responsible for getting 4 toilets and 4 wells to 5 different communities.
Former RCTC Employee Kim Sin says, "It means a lot."
Cambodian native Kim Sin has been there every step of the way.
Sin says, "It's a lot of work. I really admire her for her hard work and getting up and running."
A program that will continue running, helping hundreds with every trip.
Wente says, "The smiles of the children and the young women and the adults, to the kind of looks on their faces and the handshakes and occasional hug, you don't need words for the smiles and the gestures."
It's appreciation from kids just like her, for helping one toilet at a time.
Naomi, her parents and Kim plan to take another group of students to Cambodia over RCTC's winter break.
If you would like to donate money towards a toilet or a well you can go to our links section to get to Naomi's One Toilet at a Time page.
6 comments:
Thank very much Naomi Wente for your help !
yes, please help educate all people in cambodia what the west knows or have and what cambodia lacks or don't have as cambodia can always adopt or learn from the west and from everywhere who know more than disadvantaged people in cambodia. please help cambodia to become better in every ways possible as people in cambodia did not get a chance to travel and be exposed to the material or convenient world of the modern living etc... tourists from around the world can help to contribute to cambodia's growth, and standard of living, etc... thank you all for doing god's work to help your fellow human beings like the cambodian people. god bless you.
yes, please help make a difference in cambodia, no matter how little one can contribute i.e. ideas, concepts, helping hands, donation, teaching, etc... as cambodia is looking for ways to improve its people living condition. everyone can help, not just depend on gov't to take action. everyone can take initiative to help. please teach the western ways like be proactive or what have you as see fit while at the same time respect the local custom, culture, and tradition. just help to add the color to the evironment. some parts of cambodia needs it more than other parts. thank you.
Too bad we don't have too many Cambodians wanting to help their own compatriots.
All they want is more money, power, and titles.
No, it's too bad that Cambodians could do it themselves with all the time they have. Cambodians must learn to be leaders, no followers, learn to initiate things for the benefits of their community. It is now time for everyone to step up to do something that will make a difference someone's lives and their lives.
well, if this is the case, then we must be willing to adopt to new ideas and concepts and make some changes or reforms to some of our thinking and attitude; i mean it won't take much at all, if you think about it. it's called will-power, self-control, or self-discipline, etc... we must cleanse ourselves all the bad, negative energy like hate, violence, greeds, too much self-interest, and when we forget about the good of the nation, then that's when trouble's creeping in again. so khmer people must be strong-minded to overall so much negativity. have you ever heard of self-fulfilling prophecy? all this is saying is that if a person keeps thinking that they are always the victims or keep being pessimistic, cynical or negative all the time, then their believe can cause those feelings to come true. so to avoid such pitfall, we must practice positive thoughts and feelings and always think optimistically and have more hope and self-determination, etc, then we will overcome. thank you and god bless cambodia.
Post a Comment