Jessica Harris
Wimmera (Australia) Mail Times
Tuesday, 4 April 2006
A TEAM of Horsham volunteers has returned from an overseas project to build houses in Cambodia.
Horsham East Rotary Club organised a self-funded trip for 16 people through not-for-profit organisation Tabitha Foundation to build houses in Toek Lok village.
The group worked with Tabitha Foundation volunteers to build six houses, each accommodating up to eight people.
Group member Robyn Lardner said there was no verbal communication between the builders and the people in the village but their gratitude was clearly evident.
"We had an official handover where we met the new owners; it was an incredibly special moment," Mrs Lardner said.
"They are simple dwellings, made of second-hand wood, but are secure."
In its first international project, the Horsham East Rotary Club contributed $14,000 to cover the cost of building the houses.
The club also purchased 18 pigs for the village.
"It felt as though we were able to leave them in some sort of sustainable way," Mrs Lardner said.
She said families in the village had to save $30 to qualify for a new house.
"We were there on their banking day and amounts like 12 cents were getting banked," Mrs Lardner said.
"One house we built was for a family of four orphans but because we felt their situation so needy, they were exempt from the payment.
"We built their house near a shrine to their parents who died of AIDS."
Group member Carl Loeliger said the experience was extremely rewarding.
"Learning first-hand something of the recent history of the Cambodian people and being able to contribute in some small way to the betterment of the poorest of the poor there made it a totally worthwhile experience," he said.
Horsham East Rotary Club formed a link with Tabitha Foundation through member Bill Ower.
Mr Ower's son, Craig Ower, works with the foundation.
Horsham East Rotary Club organised a self-funded trip for 16 people through not-for-profit organisation Tabitha Foundation to build houses in Toek Lok village.
The group worked with Tabitha Foundation volunteers to build six houses, each accommodating up to eight people.
Group member Robyn Lardner said there was no verbal communication between the builders and the people in the village but their gratitude was clearly evident.
"We had an official handover where we met the new owners; it was an incredibly special moment," Mrs Lardner said.
"They are simple dwellings, made of second-hand wood, but are secure."
In its first international project, the Horsham East Rotary Club contributed $14,000 to cover the cost of building the houses.
The club also purchased 18 pigs for the village.
"It felt as though we were able to leave them in some sort of sustainable way," Mrs Lardner said.
She said families in the village had to save $30 to qualify for a new house.
"We were there on their banking day and amounts like 12 cents were getting banked," Mrs Lardner said.
"One house we built was for a family of four orphans but because we felt their situation so needy, they were exempt from the payment.
"We built their house near a shrine to their parents who died of AIDS."
Group member Carl Loeliger said the experience was extremely rewarding.
"Learning first-hand something of the recent history of the Cambodian people and being able to contribute in some small way to the betterment of the poorest of the poor there made it a totally worthwhile experience," he said.
Horsham East Rotary Club formed a link with Tabitha Foundation through member Bill Ower.
Mr Ower's son, Craig Ower, works with the foundation.
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