A Change of Guard

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Tuesday 29 January 2013

[Australia's] Gladesville engineer Matt Poole, humanitarian in Cambodia


Engineer Matt Poole was looking for something outside the corporate sector. Below: Mr Poole using a hand-washing station in Cambodia.
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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