6
7DAYS
WEDNESDAY MAY 13, 2009
www.7days.ae/news
A real education
CONTENT: Not even the
rain can dampen the
spirits of the volunteers
Sean O’Driscoll reports on the work of Dubai volunteers who are making a big difference
W
hen Angelina Jolie shot the hit
THE GOOD NEWS PAAPERPER
“When we left for Cambodia, there them. The new school was so
film Tomb Raider in the Share yours: goodnews@7days.ae was a lot of doom and gloom around important because it made it much
Angkor Wat temple in about the economic crisis. People in easier for them to get an education,”
Cambodia, it had an unexpected The charity has just completed a six- Joe said: “I had never heard of the Cambodia don’t have mortgages, she said.
effect - local tourist numbers week programme in which Dubai Angkor Wat temple and a few people they don’t have credit cards, yet they Like Joe, she learned that many
rocketed, bringing much needed residents flew to Cambodia for one mentioned it was in Tomb Raider. are as happy as Larry and appreciate children travelled over the border to
cash to an area that had been week to build schools and learn The locals were so keen to learn everything they have in life,” he said. work in farms in Thailand.
ravaged by Khmer Rouge militias in from local people. English and get jobs in tourism. Another volunteer, Labiba El “It was the difference between
the 1970s and 80s. “It cleansed my soul. It was truly a “It was humbling to see because they Husseini, remembers shovelling earning dhs1.5 a day in Cambodia
Now, Dubai Cares, the government- life changing experience,” said Joe were so eager to get books and pens sand, painting walls and laying tiles compared to two or two and a half
sponsored charity, is hoping to build Morrison, who comments on and school uniforms. for a new school. dirhams in Thailand,” she said.
on the area’s tourist trade by european football for the ART TV “In the west, some children couldn’t “I was really surprised by how much The country itself still carries the
building new schools for children network in Dubai. He was with the care less.” we did in just one week. It was very scars of years of vicious civil war and
seeking a brighter future. first group to arrive in Cambodia. The group threw themselves into intense,” she said. the crazed policies of former Khmer
building new schools - laying tiles, Cambodia’s beauty was “just Rouge leader, Pol Pot.
building a flood-proof approach stunning”, Labiba said, adding: “It “We saw many people with missing
road and fixing roofs. was so fascinating, its culture and limbs. There were a lot of young
They left after a week and another its people.” people who really wanted to go to
group came, with the line of She was so impressed that she, her school and start a new future,”
volunteers continuing for six weeks. husband and two children will be Labiba said.
Morrison said the experience returning in July by paying a local The visit was a pilot project for
changed his view of charity. NGO for a package holiday. It is a Dubai Cares’ Volunteer Globally
“It’s so easy to put money in a box way of seeing the country while also programme and ran from March 27
and you’re never sure how much contributing to the local economy. to May 7.
reaches the final destination,” he She was shocked by how little Volunteers helped build three
said. “If you actually go to a country education many children receive in schools, which will providee 700
and help, there is a massive reaction Cambodia. Many parents work on Cambodian children with access to
coming back to you. You are seeing the fields all day, leaving the oldest primary education.
smiling faces, rather than just your children to look after the youngest. “I definitely want to go back,” said
donation envelope. That often means that the older Joe. “When you get such a response
“It has a powerful effect when ones do not attend school until the for what you do, its addictive. It’s
people are so appreciative.” youngest are old enough to go. really like a drug. I don’t think
Morrison recommended Dubai Some of the children in the local anything in my life is going to be the
Cares volunteer work for anyone, area walked 9km to school and then same again.”
if only to get some perspective 9km back again. Find out more about Dubai Cares
HARD WORK: Volunteers prepare the land for one of the new schools (inset) on their lives. “It was very difficult for some of projects at Dubaicares.ae
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