Rotary and Legatees Make a Difference

Rotary’s “World of Difference” (WOD) takes participants on combined cultural, donating and social impact/hands-on tours to Cambodia.  

Each tour is tailored to a particular group.

 

 

     
In November 2023, the first VicPolice legatee tour was held. In November 2024 another tour was held, with approximately 40 participants including legatees, VicPol Legacy staff, VicPol leaders. The group was split into 2 groups the first timer group which was lead by D9800 PDG Bronwyn Stephens and PP RC Brighton Barry Hickman and the returnee group (“the retreads”) lead by PP Rotary Hawthorn, Katrina Flinn. The legatees carried out a number of projects chosen by them & the projects were funded by their fundraising activities (both personal and as a group) with the financial assistance of a grant from D9800 Rotary Foundation and donations by Rotary Hawthorn and Brighton North Project . The projects were designed and facilitated by WOD leaders with assistance from in country partners including Water for Cambodia (www.waterforcambodia.org), Cambodia Clean Water and Toilet project, & Reach Siem Reap. Some of the projects had a hands-on component and some were a funding opportunity only.
This report concentrates on the Retreads group.
 
 
Projects included:
  • Building and installing Biosand filters, providing safe and clean water
  • Building of villager toilets including septic tank and drilling a well for safe water
  • Activities in classroom as well as dental hygiene training including provision of every student in 2 schools with a toothbrush and tooth paste.
 
                                                   
 
The signature project for the “retreads” was the work at Prey Torteung school in Broma Village, a 30 minute Tuk Tuk ride out of Siem Reap. The school has 684 students with classrooms in need of repair and school fixtures needing replacing. Fundraising by tour participants funded the refurbishment of one of the school buildings including a new roof, whiteboards in every classroom, new desks as well as the building of a new toilet block.
 
Hands on activities included digging the septic tanks for the new toilet block, painting buildings including the new toilet block, design and painting of art murals on the wall  with a hand washing them as well as installation of a new playground. We have also been able to reserve a  recycled playground from Melbourne that will be installed in the new space (Rotary Overseas Recycling of Playgrounds). It was so rewarding to see the delight of the children to have a playground. The art mural provided interaction with the children as their own had prints were applied as leaves to the tree and then they practiced handwashing as the green paint was washed from their hands.
 
When we asked the Retreads group for input as to potential projects, they identified bike repair training as being needed. We partnered with Siem Reap to provide basic bike repair training and as a team (bike repair experts and trainers from Reach together with the students and the Retreads we were able to repair 90 bikes.  With guidance from the Reach team we replaced as needed peddles, seats, brakes and installed a new basket to each bike. This project enabled the school students to practice their new skills and to work collaboratively with our team. Reach also installed for us a bike repair station including a compressor. It was decided that 10 of the bikes were not repairable and downright dangerous so we decided to replace these bikes and also to donate 10 new bikes for the neediest of the children.
 
We are all so proud of what we have achieved together, WOD leaders, support of our project partners as well as the efforts of our Vic Pol legatees both in terms of the incredible fundraising efforts and the team work and effort whilst on the tour. 
 
Thanks also to the financial support of Rotary Hawthorn, Brighton North Rotary and a D9800 Foundation grant.