[UK's] Lifesaving work in Cambodia thanks to top town donations

A well and community in Siem Reap, Cambodia built thanks to donations by customers of Antigo. Picture submitted

Published on Wednesday 2 January 2013

http://www.kenilworthweeklynews.co.uk

 

KENILWORTH fundraisers have helped bring in over £1,730 to provide water wells for Cambodian families one year after a charity was registered in memory of a town resident.

The Friends of the Cambodian Child’s Dream Organisation (CCDO) held the raffle in town where over £1,730 was raised to build new wells and support African families.

The event was hailed as a “great success” by chair of trustees, Margaret Jarman who thanked everyone for their support.

She has also praised Craig and Eva Percy from the Antigo Store who have already collected enough to fund three wells after collections in the shop, and Tha Tha kitchen who provided the food on the night.

Margaret, who has lived in Kenilworth for past 12 years and worked tirelessly to secure the charitable status and raise funds, explained that just 12 months since the group was granted charitable status in the UK, volunteers have already provided over 40 water wells and reduced death and illness from infection by 25 per cent.

And that the huge amount raised on the night will be used to build six more wells, start an adult literacy class to teach 30 women to read and write and help send children to school by providing the vital equipment needed for them to get there each day.

“We are a real grass roots charity and almost 100 per cent of the money raised goes to Cambodia to make a real difference,” she said.

“People there are so grateful and to see how much difference such a small amount of money makes is just unbelievable.”

Margaret who got involved with the charity several years ago after buying a £150 water well in memory of her late husband. Peter John and said she has never looked back.

She was made trustee and travels to Cambodia at least once a year to see what work is being done to improve lives and what more they can do to help.

“When I saw the well that was ‘in memory of Peter John from Kenilworth’, It was just overwhelming,” she said.

“It is amazing to see how much difference can be made to so many lives with such a small amount of money.”

She explained that as many families have no access to clean water, many have to walk miles to a dirty store each day and risk illness and death from disease as a result.

The wells are given to families and shared by the community to save lives.

For more information visit http://www.friendsofccd.org/