http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk
Pammy Michell and Paul Shevlin pictured during their recent trip to Cambodia
Paul Shevlin and Pammy Michell are looking into ways of developing
links between Stroud and Siem Reap in Cambodia following a recent visit
there. They have written this article for the SNJ ahead of a talk they
are hosting at the Black Book Cafe.
A NUMBER of links already exist between Stroud and Cambodia.
The landlord of our local pub, The Crown and Sceptre, is a regular visitor and often wears an Angkor beer T-shirt and there is a market stall in Stroud selling Cambodian goods.
We have also talked with a Stroud woman who is running a training organisation over there.
Cambodia is still suffering from the ravages of Pol Pot's brutal Khmer Rouge regime which left a quarter of the population dead and destroyed not just the physical infrastructure but also educational, medical and other essential services.
Although there are many projects trying to make progress sadly corruption is a significant problem, which is why personal contact is so valuable in ensuring any funds raised and voluntary work offered are used to provide services that will directly benefit the local people.
We recently visited a school in Siem Reap, near the famous Angkor Wat temple complex, which we have been supporting since our first visit two years ago.
It is run by a Buddhist monk, providing free education both for children and adults and we have been raising funds for the school over the last two years.
Whilst there, we met Michael Horten, the director Concert Cambodia, an organisation which checks projects and coordinates volunteers.
He is very interested in the aim of developing special links with Stroud.
This could include Stroud people both young and old taking part in various volunteering projects.
We will be hosting an evening on Cambodia in the Black Book Cafe in Nelson Street, Stroud, on Wednesday April 24 at 7pm.
Everyone is welcome to come and explore how we can develop links between Stroud and Siem Reap.
There will be written information, photos and hopefully a short video.
There will also be some Cambodian and other goods for sale to help raise money for specified Cambodian organisations.
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