Today was the last day of our build.
After all of our sweaty, hot and dirty efforts, we have finally come to the end of Community Project House Build.
On the way to the village we stopped to buy school supplies, food, specifically rice and other necessary items. We bought them as gifts from our fundraising money to help them through times when food is scarce.
When we showed up, we started to realize the enormity of what we have contributed to and created. Not only giving them a new home, but a new leash of life.
But there was still plenty of work to do!
With the money we raised these people will benefit from the house many different ways. Their health will improve dramatically because the high stilts will protect them from the monsoon weather and the destruction and disease it brings. It also allows their money to be focused on educating their children and not health issues and generally make them happier and their lives more enjoyable. A few of us tore down the old house. The house where a family of 6 lives, yet it is smaller than our bathroom! Pulling down the final walls of their old lives, we realised the poverty that we are lifting them away from.
Afterwards they gifted us with a ceremony full of singing and dancing while we circled their new home three times. The smiles on their faces made all the pain and effort worthwhile. We then took our final steps up to their new home to celebrate their new life. Lucinda began to speak, but couldn’t hold back the tears knowing how much it means to the family to have this amazing opportunity. Felix ended the speech beautifully with the family smiling uncontrollably. They then gave us some heartfelt words in Khmer that our local Cambodian Guide translated for us. I think we could all agree the best bit was the laughter and happiness that took over us all when the gifts were given to the village people and children!
By Lucy Callahan and Jack Skelly
P.S. To all the Families we are having the best time!