Leigh Mathews has been named Victoria's 2009 Young Australian of the Year. (Photo: JOSIE HAYDEN)Fairfield woman’s Cambodia work hailed
21 Jan 09
By Elizabeth Allen Victoria Leaders News (Australia)
FAIRFIELD resident Leigh Mathews has been named Victoria’s 2009 Young Australian of the Year for her dedication to improving the lives of Cambodian children.
Devastated by the conditions she saw while teaching English in a Cambodian village in 2004, the then 23-year-old felt compelled to do something to help.
“I couldn’t just leave without trying,” Ms Mathews said.
She spent six months volunteering with local organisations, looking at what medical and social services there were for the displaced children, street kids and families.
There were none.
She formed the Future Cambodia Fund, a charity developing projects to improve education and health, including a street kids clinic and water sanitation for communities who had no access to clean water.
“Many people are dying from treatable and preventable diseases,” Ms Mathews said.
On top of her full-time job at a women’s crisis centre, Ms Mathews, now aged 27, works seven days a week with other volunteers, fundraising and organising projects with help from charity organisations in Cambodia.
Ms Mathews is now a candidate for the Young Australian of the Year, which will be announced on Australia Day 2009.
She hopes that her Victorian award will bring attention to the plight of displaced children around the world, and motivate other young people to make a difference.
“I really hope this award can inspire young people who see injustice in the world to believe they can do something about it,” Ms Mathews said.
Devastated by the conditions she saw while teaching English in a Cambodian village in 2004, the then 23-year-old felt compelled to do something to help.
“I couldn’t just leave without trying,” Ms Mathews said.
She spent six months volunteering with local organisations, looking at what medical and social services there were for the displaced children, street kids and families.
There were none.
She formed the Future Cambodia Fund, a charity developing projects to improve education and health, including a street kids clinic and water sanitation for communities who had no access to clean water.
“Many people are dying from treatable and preventable diseases,” Ms Mathews said.
On top of her full-time job at a women’s crisis centre, Ms Mathews, now aged 27, works seven days a week with other volunteers, fundraising and organising projects with help from charity organisations in Cambodia.
Ms Mathews is now a candidate for the Young Australian of the Year, which will be announced on Australia Day 2009.
She hopes that her Victorian award will bring attention to the plight of displaced children around the world, and motivate other young people to make a difference.
“I really hope this award can inspire young people who see injustice in the world to believe they can do something about it,” Ms Mathews said.
2 comments:
What are you saying, ''There were none'' Did you spend 6 months walking around with your eyes closed.
Yes, almost literally none, comapred to Australia. Why don't you just get it, your head is so thicjk. Why don't you just open your own eyes and jump out ofthe frog hole ?
I know two Australians on Monday will be awardedthe Order of australia Medal for their services to Khmer refugee orphans during the 1980s. They are academics at Adelaide University.
Thanks for your help to the Khmer.
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