29 January 2013
http://northern-district-times.whereilive.com.au
By Robert Kennard
Engineer Matt Poole was
looking for something outside the corporate sector. Below: Mr Poole
using a hand-washing station in Cambodia.
A GLADESVILLE engineer is on the trip of a lifetime.
Matt Poole has left his homely comforts in Australia and joined a
small group of engineers on a 12 month volunteer program in Cambodia
through Engineers Without Borders Australia (EWB), a not-for-profit
organisation that provides humanitarian engineering.
Currently learning the local Khmer language, Mr Poole will work as a
water and sanitation advisor for a local Cambodian organisation, Rain
Water Cambodia (RWC) on a rainwater-harvesting program.
Cambodia is in need for new water solutions in rural communities as
much of the ground water has become contaminated with arsenic, iron or
faecal matter, causing serious health consequences.
"I first got involved with EWB because I was looking for something different outside the corporate sector," Mr Poole said.
In just two weeks in Cambodia, he has already set up dialogue with
rural community chiefs and leaders in Kampong Cham province, negotiating
a plan for improved sanitation in Cambodia's isolated villages.
"It was a very humbling experience," he said.
"We are there for technical capacity development but at the end of
the day you want to make your job redundant so locals can work
independently."
Apart from his engineering work, Mr Poole has already been initiated
into local Khmer culture, participating in an Amazing Race-style
challenge around Phnom Penh where he had to eat a fried silk worm.
He described it as a "little bit of crunch and a little bit gooey".
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