via Khmer NZ News Media
11 Jun, 2010
LOCAL outreach volunteer workers Chris and Rhiannon Foster have returned home after a year’s voluntary work in Cambodia.
The Kempsey couple spent a year with volunteer organisation Cambodia Outreach helping poverty stricken families and providing specialised education.
Rhiannon was a volunteer English teacher, teaching 40 Cambodian students a day English, while Chris conducted his own free business seminars.
Chris said the Cambodian education system is shocking.
“Public school teachers are on such low wages that for them to make a living they will withhold a curriculum,” Chris said.
“That forces the students to pay for extra tutorial classes. If you don’t do the paid classes when you sit down for the exam you often don’t know a whole topic.”
Based in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh, their outreach work also continued into the provincial areas.
“The thing I love about Cambodia is you can go there with nothing other than your skills and do a lot of good,” Chris said.
“Our volunteer services ranged from our education to delivering food to orphanages and helping families get out of poverty.
“We also taught the locals how to grow vegetables for the right conditions and encouraged them to be sustainable.”
Since arriving home in April, Chris and Rhiannon have been working long hours at McDonalds saving their money for their next adventure.
Their love for Cambodia and its people has grown and they have decided to volunteer for two more years.
They will launch a new internship program to help Cambodia’s youth with employment.
“We both love the Macleay Valley but for the time being we really feel at home over in Cambodia,” Chris said.
“The aim is to get young Cambodians straight out of high school to come and learn how to lead health care clinics and children sponsorship programs.”
They will fly out of Australia on June 29.
Before they leave Chris and Rhiannon will hold a Tasting of Cambodia at the Christian New Life Centre, Frederickton on June 19.
They will share stories about their voluntary work in Cambodia and host a small dinner. The night starts at 6.30pm and dinner is only $5 per person.
No comments:
Post a Comment