Wednesday, 16 July 2008

Continued support needed by Team Cambodia

By Jeff Shaffer
KEEPING THE SUPPORT GOING — From left, Pastor Pat Pittsnogle and Roger Watts, an endowment committee member at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, Milton, donate $2,500 on behalf of the church to Team Cambodia, represented by Milton Area High School history teacher Mike Conn. While Team Cambodia raised the funds it needed to build a school in Cambodia, more support will be required to help maintain the school.

By Jeff Shaffer
Standard-Journal
Tue Jul 15, 2008

Milton, Pa. -
Anyone who owns a home or car knows you never seem to stop putting money into those purchases.The Milton School, under construction in the Kampong Cham province in the Mean District of Cambodia, is no different.

The school is about 32 percent complete at this time.

Standard Journal readers should be very familiar with the efforts of Team Cambodia, a student group at the Milton Area High School that led efforts, with the support of history teacher Mike Conn, to raise $30,000 to build the school for needy children in the southeast Asian country.

Through seemingly countless activities, and with the generous support from within and outside of the school, they were able to raise the lofty amount of money in less than a complete school year — about six months.

While the money is in place and construction is underway, there will be a need to help keep the school running, including teacher salaries and renewing supplies.

Some organizations have already answered the call to see that the school continues to stay up and running.

“We knew there was money to complete the school but we want to see it keep running,” said Roger Watts, an endowment committee member for Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, Milton.

The church recently donated $2,500 following the request of a member and a presentation by Conn. Watts said the church has been blessed by large bequests and feels this is a good way to put the funds to use.

Conn and Team Cambodia are truly grateful — from the smallest donation to the largest, every amount has and will lead to the success of The Milton School.To date about $36,000 has been raised, according to Conn. On Sunday, the Center for Nonviolent Living in Lewisburg turned over $200 in donations from members to Team Cambodia and CNL member David Young.There is another need, and that is to see that students, who played important roles in the fundraising, are able to dedicate the school this December during the cool, dry season in Cambodia. Eight students and four adults, paying their own way, will be traveling there.

The student travel company ACIS (American Council for International Studies), which Conn has stood by time and time again to provide memorable travel experiences to his pupils, will send the students to Cambodia at-cost — $3,300 each.

“Any money that comes in to support the kids is appreciated,” Conn said. “Whatever is raised will be split among them.”

To help send the students to Cambodia, write a check to: Team Cambodia, c/o Mike Conn, 700 Mahoning St., Milton, Pa. 17847.

The students will try to do some fundraising on their own.

Conn has experienced Cambodia firsthand, and that experience changed him. When he relayed the impactful journey to his students, they rallied to do something to support the people of Cambodia, who among the poorest in the world.

Conn noted the travel company ACIS is even building a school there because of Milton’s efforts.

To follow the completion of The Milton School online, visit www.cambodiaschools.com and click on the Rural School Project link.

Next, click on the Rural School Project Map and scroll down to number 404.
Jeff Shaffer: 570-742-9671jeff@standard-journal.com

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