Speaker Meeting: Samuel Mark

24 October 2019Cambodia – Samuel Mark

Mike Bell, IPP of Southwell Rotary Club, visited to thank us for our support to his race event at Southwell Races to raise funds for DMRC (Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre)at Stanford Hall, which raised £17k.  So they are repeating it this year and also at Doncaster and Haydock Park Races. Assistant Governor Trent, Susan Pickford also had a message about the importance of our delegates voting on the 16^th November.

Our Speaker tonight was Samuel, an 18 yr. old student in his 2^nd year at Brackenhurst Campus, Nottingham Trent University, who recently returned home after completing a 4 week student volunteer program (Camps International) working in Cambodia, with the help of our £250 support cheque. He competently delivered a very interesting talk about his work experience in the rural areas around Siem Reap supported by a well-chosen collection of supporting photos.

He neatly conveyed to the audience what the daily living conditions were like – the heat, the humidity, insects, roads etc. and the friendliness of the Cambodian people.

Supported by his photos he covered the range of projects he was able to participate in during his time there.

These comprised:

1. Building a sanitary toilet unit for a family which was badly needed as the youngest daughter was dangerously ill with dengue fever- she survived thanks to medicines the group raised funds to provide.
2. Upgrading of a road so that food vehicles (and others) could supply the village during the rainy season.
3. Bricklaying to help in the construction of a new house for the family and constructing a chicken coop.
4. Assisting in the planting out of rice plants in the paddy fields.
5. Replanting in a rain forest.

He also gained his PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) card which is his international licence permitting him to go SCUBA diving. They also managed a school visit as well as a trip to the World heritage site at Angkor Wat.                       DG/AR