Dr. David Wyman and his family donated a year’s worth of dental supplies to the Harpswell Foundation Dormitory for University Women in Cambodia.Arlington, Mass. - During a recent family vacation, Dr. David Wyman found a way to give back a smile. Friends and patients of Wyman know that he loves to travel and go on adventures with his family. And if there is a way that he can help or do a little something out of the ordinary to make it more exciting, he always finds a way.
Why Cambodia? Well, it is far away — always a first priority — and has one of the wonders of the world (Angkor Wat) — another priority. As well, it’s a chance to experience, with his wife, Maryellen, and sons, Micah, Ethan and Luke, how blessed they are here in the States and tohow war and poverty can affect people and places. The country was left devastated by the Khmer Rouge in the 1970s.
“We want to teach our family about giving back, helping, little or big,” said Wyman. “In fact, the experiences during this trip were, by far, some of the most humbling that we have ever had.”
A few months before leaving for Cambodia, Wyman read the article “Lightman’s Dream” in the Living Section of the Boston Globe, which appeared Monday, November 19, 2007. Alan Lightman who is an MIT physicist and author, is the founder and chief supporter of a new three-story dormitory in Cambodia for university girls called the Harpswell Foundation Dormitory for University Women. This housing gives women the chance to pursue an education. After reading the article, Wyman called Lightman to express an interest in contributing dental supplies to the students. Lightman was very helpful and encouraged the family to visit.
After a few days of sightseeing in Phnom Penh, the Wyman family ventured off to find the dormitory. They spent an entire morning traveling down narrow dirt roads covered in trash and full of potholes, making U-turns and wrong turns, sitting on a trailer being pulled by a moped until they finally found it.
The house manager, Peou Vanna, generously welcomed the family, saying she had been expecting them. Vanna gave the family a tour of the facilities. The family found the dorm rooms neat and tidy with two bunk beds. The students, who range in age from 18 to 22 and study law, accounting and nursing, each had a desk covered with books and study materials.
On a weekly basis, the girls rotate duties such as cooking, cleaning and hand-washing clothing. The second floor had a small TV room with two computers for Internet usage. None have ever been anywhere beyond the province they were born and Phnom Penh where they study. To call home, they call the one or two individuals in their villages who have a phone and arrange a time when they can call back and have a phone shared with their parent. Each girl receives a monthly allowance of $16, which is carefully managed and can last the month.
The Wyman family had the opportunity to meet each girl and sit in a classroom talking with them. David enjoyed telling them a little about Harpswell, Maine (their school’s namesake town) since he is from Maine himself. The girls, who spoke a fair amount of English, used every formal greetings, bowing to acknowledge each person separately before they spoke to us as a whole. Having spent an hour or more with them answering their questions, the Wyman family took group photos and provided them with a year’s worth of dental supplies. The students told the family that they will be smiling very brightly when the Wyman family comes back for a visit!
The family called it one of the highlights of the trip but felt their contribution was a drop in the bucket compared to what Lightman has done.
“Putting aside the toothbrushes, paste and floss,” said Wyman, “we touched them and they certainly touched us. It was a wonderful lesson about how much you get from giving.”
My Believe - by Peou Vanna, Dormitory Manager
“I believe that in the near future Cambodian women could do a great deal with self confidence and freedom.
I think it is important to promote young women who have a great idea and motivation to become the heads of big organizations.
I also want to see women who have had families, who have to deal with real life, I want them to apply their life practice and their experiences to change Cambodia in gender equality!!”
