Bristol's Decker Focuses Lens On Cambodia

Brian Zelasko/Western New England College

Western New England College junior Brittany Decker recently departed on a two-week trip to Cambodia. The Communication major will shoot a documentary about a local foundation's efforst to bring education and medical care to villagers there.

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On Campus

Submitted by Western New England College on 2009-10-16.

When Brittany M. Decker started her junior year at Western New England College, little did the Bristol native realize it would take her half-way around the globe. But that's exactly where she's heading to document a charitable foundation's efforts to provide education and medical care to the poor.

Decker departed Oct. 15 on a two week trip to Cambodia. There, the communications major will videotape a documentary project on The Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation's work outside the capital of Phnom Penh.

"I feel very fortunate to be able to travel abroad, meet some exceptional people, and hopefully make a difference in a global perspective," said Decker, a native of Bristol, Connecticut. "I look forward to being able to apply what I have learned here at Western New England College in such an incredible way."

Since 2004, the foundation has funded schools in small squatter communities outside Phnom Pehn, serving more than 500 students in five schools. The foundation also supports a group of orphans, and funded a project to create a medical clinic serving more than 2,000 people per month, with an emphasis on maternity care for women and children.

The trip wasn't even on Decker's radar at the start of the semester seven weeks ago. She knew she would be producing a video on the foundation. When Dr. MaryAnne Herron, director of special projects for the foundation, extended an invitation to accompany her to Cambodia, Decker worked with her advisor and other professors to clear her schedule and make the trip possible.

"The Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation welcomes the vision of Western New England College to participate as a global partner with the foundation's charitable programs in Cambodia," said Herron. "We are so pleased that the college has stepped forward to allow Brittany to take part in this significant mission."

Decker became involved with The Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation through the Western New England College Institute for Media and Non-Profit Communication. The Institute connects students with area non-profit organizations in need of video production services. The projects provide students with professional experience writing, producing, shooting, and editing video projects, while the non-profit organization receives professional-quality video production at low or no cost.

"These unique opportunities make Western New England College a special place to learn," said Brenda A. Garton, director of the Institute and a member of the College's communication faculty. "Creating this video will provide Brittany with an extraordinary experience that will impact the rest of her life and assist the Grinspoon Foundation with their remarkable work in Cambodia."

Decker hopes to blog about her experiences during the trip and will show her finished documentary video at the college when it is complete.