Guest Speaker
Posted by Doug Sutton
on Mar 03, 2015
CREATING HOPE IN CAMBODIA
No introduction was required for Christine Hillis and Cathy Wallace who were today's guest speakers. Both Rotary wives, they became involved in raising funds for the project Creating Hope in Cambodia over four years ago. So far they have raised $200,000 through their August Ball.
The funds raised have helped to build a new school, accommodation and provide ante-natal and eye clinics.
The inspiration for Creating Hope in Cambodia came from Wagga woman Kim Ellings. Cathy and Christine made a second trip last August, as they wanted to make a movie, to show what has been done with the monies raised in Wagga. They said it does give a sanitised version of the conditions in Cambodia, but nevertheless it gives a better understanding of just how much has been achieved.
There are three schools on the outskirts of Phnom Penh: TLC, Praesor and Light of Hope. Our funds have built an entire school which conducts a morning and afternoon session for 120 children.
Cambodia is very poor. It has suffered from the holocaust of the Pol Pot regime. The population was decimated but has now grown back to 15 million, of whom 20% live below the poverty line earning less that $1.20 per day. Money goes a long way in Cambodia.
Another project is the Dump School. This was conducted by an old man who used his home each day as a school. He would clear out his belongings and bring in rudimentary furniture so that the children who lived on the nearby dump could learn. $600 was donated to this man and he was able to purchase a computer and put in shelving so that he did not have to move his belongings in and out each day.
It is proposed to build a new school at a cost of $28,000 for each section. Total cost wil lbe about $100,000 and this will be the goal of this year's August fund raiser.
So far there are three schools and facilities built through Wagga fundraising, including one in 2011 at the Slaughterhouse Village. They had no running water, the people lived next to an abbatoir with an appalling smell, in houses made from scrap timber and inadequate covering. The children were undernourished. $100,000 was raised in Wagga and a school and houses were built.
Christine and Cathy played the short film and it was evident from the faces of the children just how much this project has achieved. It has been literally life changing and all those involved in Creating Hope in Cambodia can be rightfully proud of their achievements.
Sponsors can donate as little as $45 per month to sponsor a child in one of the schools and this goes such a long way when $2 per day income puts someone above the poverty line.
Our guest speakers are looking for a partnership vehicle to further the work in Cambodia and Rotary is in an ideal position to pursue this via Rotary Clubs in Cambodia.
A vote of thanks was proposed by Pat Ingram who congratulated Cathy and Christine. He said the work that their committee has done has been inspiring and the benefits to the children and people of Cambodia, especially through education, are outstanding. Members showed their support with warm applause.
Background to this story is provided by an article In the Daily Advertiser and is reproduced here courtesy of our Newspaper.
"Inspiring Kim gets nod for charity work" by Caleb Taylor Mar 6 2013 9am
Photo Courtesy Les Smith Daily Advertiser
THE tragic death of her cousin Tarsha nearly five years ago was the catalyst that forged a new path for Kim Ellings - a path which has led her to being nominated for this year's Rotary NSW Inspirational Woman of the Year Award.
Ms Ellings, who has lived in Wagga for the past 13 years, knew she wanted to honour her cousin's memory, but she wasn't sure how she would go about it.
It wasn't until a trip to Cambodia with her family that she got the idea to build a school and, after much fund-raising, Tarsha's Legacy Centre was opened a year later, offering an education to children born into slums.
"I knew I couldn't let anyone forget her name," Ms Ellings said.
"And I wanted to create something with integrity; a school that would offer an education to children who would otherwise go without one."
The experience made her acutely aware of the poverty endured by millions of Cambodians, prompting her to found charity Creating Hope in Cambodia.
The relief organisation aims to provide shelter, education, access to safe drinking water and sanitation services to slum dwellers.
Ms Ellings said while she was humbled by the nomination, she believed it was shared by the community and the charity's 10 committee members.
"It's great to be recognised, but I share this with everyone who has donated to us and the committee members who work tirelessly for the charity," Ms Ellings said.
Through fund-raising efforts, the charity has recently built 24 homes for families who were living in a slum under an abattoir.
Its latest project is building two medical centres, which will offer Cambodians free healthcare services.
As part of her work, Ms Ellings doesn't draw an income from the charity, saying she believed it would compromise its values, preferring to ensure donors know their money is going directly to the people of Cambodia.
Ms Ellings was nominated by the Sunrise Rotary Club of Wagga and will make her way to Sydney for the awards dinner on March 8.
Ms Ellings said it was a quote she found in Tarsha's bible that motivated her through any challenges she's faced.
"The quote said 'life's too short not to live for something bigger'," Ms Ellings said.
"The quote said 'life's too short not to live for something bigger'," Ms Ellings said.