- PerthNow
- July 16, 2013
Wesley College students Stuart Smith, Jayden Chin and Brian Joo helped fundraise for Cambodian students. Picture: Richard Polden
Source: PerthNow
THREE Perth schools have joined forces to raise enough money to
equip 1500 Cambodian students with school supplies for a year.
Atwell College, Wesley College and Lake Joondalup Baptist College
students chose different projects to raise thousands of dollars to help
underprivileged children in the third world country as part of Awareness
Cambodia’s ‘A Case for Change’ program.
The entire Year 6 class from Wesley College devoted themselves to chores to raise enough money for backpacks for 136 of their Cambodian counterparts.
Headmaster David Gee said the project had taught the students the value of money.
“Many of our boys come from privileged backgrounds, and completing chores for their cash gave them a practical insight into how great we have it here in Australia,” Mr Gee said.
The entire Year 6 class from Wesley College devoted themselves to chores to raise enough money for backpacks for 136 of their Cambodian counterparts.
Headmaster David Gee said the project had taught the students the value of money.
“Many of our boys come from privileged backgrounds, and completing chores for their cash gave them a practical insight into how great we have it here in Australia,” Mr Gee said.
“We have been involved with Awareness Cambodia for five years, and it is rewarding to provide Cambodian students of a similar age with the same opportunities we enjoy in Australia every day.”
Year 11 students from Atwell College organised a quiz night, which raised funds for more than 100 backpacks, while Lake Joondalup Baptist College students raised more than $1200.
Awareness Cambodia founder Gary Hewett said every $15 raised provided a Cambodian primary school student with a backpack filled with a year’s worth of supplies.
“It’s truly life-changing for young children in Cambodia, with many struggling to gather enough money for the basics we take for granted her in Australia – a pencil and a book,” Dr Hewett said.
“Education enables children to break the cycle of poverty and inequity that can lead to trafficking, gender-based violence and other human rights abuse.”
Dr Hewett’s wife Kim gave out the backpacks in three primary schools in Cambodia’s Kompong Speu province this month.
“The look on the kids’ faces is so gratifying,” she said.
“Seeing their huge smiles as they sling the new backpacks across their shoulder for the first time is truly moving.”
Since the program’s launch in 2008, more than 3000 backpacks have been distributed to primary schools in Cambodia.
For more information, visit www.awarecam.org.au
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