Considering the state of the world’s financial condition this week, I hesitate to write this newsletter, because only positive things are happening here. Several projects are going on simultaneously and in a few weeks we should be ready to move in to our new Douglas A. Campbell Foundation volunteer dorm which just a few months ago was only a topic of discussion at the breakfast table. These pictures show the progress of our construction team which consist of all local labor, including several of our children.
The final picture was taken on the 10th of August 2011 with most of the cement work done. Now all we need do is paint it and put down the tile floors. We have had between 6 and 11 volunteers at a time staying here over the past couple of months and so the new dorms will be a great help. Our girls are also looking forward to taking over the present volunteer dorm, which will open up more space for the boys.
Another team is drilling a water well for us, they started yesterday but ran into rock and so the progress was slow today. This well will be pumped by hand / foot power and is sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Sinjeju (Korea) and Phnom Penh. Our electric bills have run around $400.00 a month and so we are trying to find ways of using manpower instead of electric. One of the engineers suggested that we use a bicycle for pumping the water and tie me to it. I think he was joking but it probably is a good idea.
We had our first meeting in several years with some of the outside community youth who are HIV Positive. Some had been here for the original Youth meetings when we first started back in 2002. They are now in high school and unsure of their future. We were able to talk about their concerns and also had a discussion on sexual responsibilities. This was a joint effort of Wat Opot and Global Service Corps (GSC) http://www.globalservicecorps.org/ who provide some of our volunteers from the States.
Brian Reyes, who is working for GSC on a fellowship grant, is volunteering 6 months of his life with us.
He is teaching us about gardening and composting and if successful we hope to be able to teach others outside of our community as well… but even if it never reaches that point, our children are getting some get experience by helping Brian with his projects; experience that may one day help them to feed their own families.
And after seven years of retirement, he is back on the dance floor teaching breakdancing to our youth. It isn’t part of his assignment but with so much interest it is hard to say no.
We do a 15 minute musical meditation everynight, which is mandatory for all residents, staff and volunteers of Wat Opot. Most nights we are in the dining hall but tonight we sat outside on the freashly mowed lawn, and enjoyed the coolness of the evening. Regardless of how hectic the days can get, these few moments of community silence always has a positive effect on everone.
We are very grateful to all of you who have been so generous with your donations and also a special Thanks to The Douglas A. Campbell Foundation, The Rotary Clubs, and the Sakka Foundation for their generous assistance in helping to fund our program.
The Watopotians
