CAMBODIA 2007  
 
 
The team at ecohomes donated time and expertise to a school building project in a small village approximately 50 kilometers outside Phnom Penn, Cambodia. Organised by the Glenn Mills Foundation of Barwon Heads.
 
Ben Allen, Dave Cornall, Caleb Walker and Courtney Dalton supplied tools while equipment and materials were donated by Faggs Mitre 10.
 
Our mission was to build a rotunda over the newly installed well and install a solar powered pump and a new tap, providing easier access to the water below. Previously, villagers used a rope and bucket which was difficult and dangerous; especially for the smaller children.
 
The second stage was to design a new home and build the foundations and frame for a new dwelling for the teachers who live and work in the school. Talk about working from home! The current dwelling was not much more than a shed with divisional walls for privacy between each of the teachers and families.
 
This was truly an experience. The conditions were hot and the site muddy and slippery. The OH&S was highly questionable also! Our scaffold was two student desks with a plank and the 3.6 meter ladder we were provided with had a safe working load of around 10 kilograms!
 
The completion of the dwelling was by local trades and a second volunteer group from Australia.
 
Ecohomes intends to return in 2008 to undertake another project in an extremely poor village, in a more remote part of Cambodia.
 
Courtney Dalton