My first exposure to Cambodia was in 1995 operating as a volunteer dentist along the Mekong River. It was a dangerous time with 6 Westerners abducted and killed in the previous year, but while there I couldn’t help but be impacted by the poverty, chaos and absolute devastation left behind after the Khmer Rouge, under Polpot’s guidance, systematically wiped out 25% of the most educated people in the country. The trip had such an impact that I came home and established Awareness Cambodia. What started out by sending up 2 teachers to live in Phnom Penh in 1996, to learn the language, teach English, lecture at the University and supervise short term medical trips has moved on to the establishment of a growing number of projects in Kompong Speu, the poorest province in Cambodia.

Its important to realise Awareness Cambodia doesn’t simply raise funds to pass onto other organisations; instead projects have been initiated in response to ongoing needs that fall within our mission guidelines. Together these projects form an environment that provides a seamless structure for Cambodian children to transition from places like the local tip and slums into well adjusted and self sufficient leaders, so necessary in rebuilding Cambodia’s future.

We also see Cambodia’s cultural as something quite unique so all efforts are taken to ensure our presence doesn’t simply result in these children being westernised, relocated to other parts of the world or being reduced to the indignity of a dependency on overseas handouts.

Effective training for indigenous staff, a non adoption policy, working in cooperation with local organisations and government departments as well as the inclusion of self funded business components in projects are assisting in seeing the dream become a reality.

As you read on I urge you to consider how you might become involved in helping us shape a brighter future for those less fortunate.

In the words of Lyndon B. Johnson, “There are no problems we cannot solve together and very few that we can solve by ourselves”.

Dr Gary Hewett OAM