Weymouth volunteer can now fulfil Cambodian dream

From left to right, Naomi Burke, Jack Baker, Emily Carlile, Simon Angell and Ellis Langdon

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via CAAI

Saturday 26th February 2011

By Laura Kitching »

A WEYMOUTH man has achieved his goal of working with underprivileged children in Cambodia.

Simon Angell, 21, held a series of fundraising events in order to raise the additional £450 he needed to secure a place on the challenge of a lifetime.

He combined his fundraising proceeds with money he had saved up at a Christmas job in the town centre Debenhams to pay for the trip in full.

Mr Angell, of Preston, Weymouth is now undertaking three months of volunteer work in schools in the Siem Reap area of Cambodia, with non-profit organisation Bunac.

He said: “I've been placed at Salarin Kampuchea, who are a small organisation founded in 2003 when four Swiss people fell in love with Cambodia whilst doing voluntary work at Akira’s Landmine Museum in Siem Reap.

“They are a not-for-profit organisation founded with the aim of helping a large number of Cambodians have the opportunity to enhance their own and their families lives through education.

“My role will be teaching assistant, helping out with classes and lesson planning, as well as taking my own classes to benefit the local people and gain some valuable skills myself.”

Mr Angell caught the volunteering bug last summer when he assisted special needs youngsters in America.

He gave up his job in an estate agency to take part in Camp Greentop in Maryland from June to August 2010.

He achieved his latest fundraising target by carrying out a five kilometre charity run, an eight-hour awareness event in Debenhams, and a cake sale in the store’s staff restaurant. Mr Angell, who had to have eight injections before he flew out to Cambodia earlier this month, said he could not wait to begin the adventure.

Now in Cambodia, he has completed his four-day orientation and is helping to teach evening classes from 4.30pm to 8.30pm in both the organisation’s schools and prepare lessons with the teachers at the office three mornings a week.

Mr Angell said he was looking forward to helping at the ‘grass-roots’ level of the community.

He added: “I would like to thank everyone who has supported me with fundraising activities and donations, their support has been greatly appreciated.”