Thank you: Dentist Gary Mack hands over a doona to Cambodian Cham Srey for her new home.Local dentist builds houses in Cambodia
16 August 2007
Moora (Australia)
MOORA dentist Gary Mack has just returned from the southern Cambodian province of Kampot where he helped build houses for eight poor village families.
Dr Mack led a team of 16 people aged between 11 and 60 during the school holidays to construct the houses as part of the Cambodian charity, the Tabitha Foundation.
In less than eight months of fundraising the group raised more than $13,000 which was enough to sponsor eight houses and a well to provide clean drinking water for a rural Cambodian village.
"Orientation began with a restaurant get together and meal in Phnom Penh allowing all team members to meet each other," Dr Mack said.
"The next day Tabitha Cambodia director Janne Ritszke gave an introductory talk outlining some of the recent history of Cambodia.
"This was followed by a visit to the notorious Tuol Sleng prison where over 20,000 men, women and children, including two Australians were horrifically tortured and killed.
"Then we moved on to the Killing Fields where thousands more suffered and were beaten to death or buried alive.
"Remnants of their clothes are still all around the large grave pits.
"The day finished with a boat trip on the famous Mekong River.
"The following day the team traveled south to the picturesque former French colonial resort town Kep, which is adjacent to the Vietnamese border where the construction of the houses commenced."
Dr Mack said the houses were built with thin corrugated iron sheets because the effects of stopping deforestation had resulted in the prohibitive cost of wood.
"This involved nailing floor timbers and Colourbond style metal cladding onto wooden frames," he said.
"After a final check the houses were handed over to the Cambodian families together with a gift of a quilted doona."
Dr Mack said it was a very rewarding experience and one he would recommend to others.
"Raising funds and building houses for Tabitha Foundation Cambodia is simple and fun to do," he said.
"Parents and their children can do it alike. It provides an opportunity to interact and work side by side in partnership with Cambodian village people in a way that tourists can never do."
If you would like more information about the program or are interested in joining a team in 2008 phone Gary Mack on 0424 626 106 or 9285 1848 or email him at garynmack@hotmail.com
You can also visit the Tabitha Foundation website at:
http://www.tabithafoundationaustralia./com
Dr Mack led a team of 16 people aged between 11 and 60 during the school holidays to construct the houses as part of the Cambodian charity, the Tabitha Foundation.
In less than eight months of fundraising the group raised more than $13,000 which was enough to sponsor eight houses and a well to provide clean drinking water for a rural Cambodian village.
"Orientation began with a restaurant get together and meal in Phnom Penh allowing all team members to meet each other," Dr Mack said.
"The next day Tabitha Cambodia director Janne Ritszke gave an introductory talk outlining some of the recent history of Cambodia.
"This was followed by a visit to the notorious Tuol Sleng prison where over 20,000 men, women and children, including two Australians were horrifically tortured and killed.
"Then we moved on to the Killing Fields where thousands more suffered and were beaten to death or buried alive.
"Remnants of their clothes are still all around the large grave pits.
"The day finished with a boat trip on the famous Mekong River.
"The following day the team traveled south to the picturesque former French colonial resort town Kep, which is adjacent to the Vietnamese border where the construction of the houses commenced."
Dr Mack said the houses were built with thin corrugated iron sheets because the effects of stopping deforestation had resulted in the prohibitive cost of wood.
"This involved nailing floor timbers and Colourbond style metal cladding onto wooden frames," he said.
"After a final check the houses were handed over to the Cambodian families together with a gift of a quilted doona."
Dr Mack said it was a very rewarding experience and one he would recommend to others.
"Raising funds and building houses for Tabitha Foundation Cambodia is simple and fun to do," he said.
"Parents and their children can do it alike. It provides an opportunity to interact and work side by side in partnership with Cambodian village people in a way that tourists can never do."
If you would like more information about the program or are interested in joining a team in 2008 phone Gary Mack on 0424 626 106 or 9285 1848 or email him at garynmack@hotmail.com
You can also visit the Tabitha Foundation website at:
http://www.tabithafoundationaustralia./com
