$1,000 in pennies for Cambodian kids

June 5, 2012
By Matt Law
Surrey Now (Canada)

The last penny may have been minted on May 4 but the little copper coin is still making a big impact.

Students at Woodward Hill Elementary in Surrey spent the month of May turning over couch cushions and emptying their parents' pockets to raise approximately $1,000 in pennies to help children in Cambodia.

Over the past three years, students at Woodward Hill have raised close to $4,000 to help fund a free school 30 kilometres outside of Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital.

The school, called Krang Thmey, was started in 2005 with the help of Woodward Hill's principal Anne Mackie.

While teaching in Cambodia, Mackie was struck by the severe poverty and the impact of sex slavery on Cambodian children.

"I'd never seen such abject poverty in my life. People who have absolutely nothing live on maybe $40 a month," Mackie said.

"The terrible sex trade in Cambodia is because they have no money. Terrible things happen to children because their families can't look after them," she added.

By offering children a chance to learn English for free, Mackie hopes this will enable them to find jobs and look after their families.

But the school has become much more than a learning centre thanks to funding efforts like Woodward Hill's penny drive. The school now offers something to the whole community and people in surrounding villages. "The school has almost become a community centre, so we get services to the poorest people in the village," Mackie said.

The money raised will go directly to funding the school. It will help buy school supplies and pay the salaries of three teachers working there.

For the kids at Woodward Hill, the experience of helping children in another country has been invaluable.

"It is just really inspirational to see that it doesn't really matter how old you are you can always make a difference in the world," said Savannah Dhaliwal, a Grade 7 student involved in the fundraising.

Additional fundraising events, including a pancake breakfast and another coin drive, will be held in June. Those interested in contributing to the fundraising effort can contact Woodward Hill Elementary at 604-594-2408.

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