Donations needed for Cambodian orphanage trip [for Australian volunteers]

25th Oct 2012 

The Whitsunday Times

HELPING HAND: Gemma Craven is heading to Cambodia to teach swimming, photography and other skills to underprivileged children in orphanages.

WHITSUNDAY resident Gemma Craven will soon embark on a three week trip to Cambodia to help educate and empower under-privileged and abused children.

On November 22 Ms Craven and a small team of volunteers are flying to Cambodia to teach swimming, photography, beauty therapy and education in Cambodian orphanages.

The children range from infants to late teens who have been victims of abuse, poverty, sexual slavery, abandonment and violence.

"We will be visiting two charities on our travels, Cambodian's Children's Trust (CCT) in Siem Reap and Open Arms Cambodia in Phnom Penh," she said.

Over the past few weeks Ms Craven has received over 50 cameras to take to the orphanages to help teach the children lessons in photography. She was quick to thank everyone who had donated to the cause.

"Now we are after swimming and educational supplies. I am calling on the Whitsunday community to help me in any way possible. My goal is to raise $2000 to give to the charities so they can purchase equipment for the children," she said.

"We will be spending two weeks with CCT, involved in their 'Learn to Swim' program and holding a number of photography workshops. CCT and Open Arms are both run by Australian's who live in Cambodian orphanages and care for the children personally."

Ms Craven and her team will be in Cambodia for a little over three weeks volunteering in these orphanages. She said any assistance or donations from businesses, families, schools and other groups would be greatly appreciated. Over the next few weeks she plans to personally approach local businesses and ask for their assistance and donations and encourages residents to read more about her cause by visiting her 'Gemma's Cambodian Campaign' facebook page or going to www.openarmscambodia.org or www.cambodianchildrenstrust.org.