Help for the Village of Prakeap, Cambodia · Sep 20, 06:15 AM
By Ida Bowers
Mao Roth, BRIDGE Cambodian Senior Cultural Advisor and Interpreter, has been returning to Cambodia every 3-4 years since 1992 to help the village of Prakeap in northwest Cambodia. Mao and his family fled Cambodia after the Khmer Rouge reign of terror and genocide was ended by the invasion of Vietnamese troops in 1979. Although Mao and his family were challenged daily as they struggled to build a new life in this strange new land, the United States, he has never forgotten his homeland or the people of his village.
Mao works through the Paradise Road Buddhist Temple and his west Modesto community to raise funds before each journey home to Cambodia. He purchases the supplies that will be needed for whatever project is planned for that visit, and also buys food, blankets, clothes, mosquito nets and other necessities for the village as well. He works with the villagers to plan and complete each project.
Prakeap is located in a drought-prone area, so Mao helped the villagers dig four deep water wells. He taught people the importance of using that well water rather than water from rivers and ponds which is often polluted and causes illnesses such as typhoid and cholera.
Another project was to build and maintain an elementary school. The school presently has four classrooms and includes grades 1-5. With funds collected, Mao purchased tables and chairs for the classrooms. He also personally built restrooms for the school.
In addition, Mao has taught people how to compost organic matter to improve the very poor soils of the village. He has brought seeds to improve the range of vegetables and fruits available for gardens, and taught intensive gardening techniques. He has also warned villagers about pollution dangers from old kerosene and oil dumped on the ground, and from chemical pesticides and fertilizers which are readily available in the markets.
The school is always in need of funds to pay the teachers (their pay from the government of Cambodia is very little and sometimes is several months late), buy books and school supplies, and purchase blackboards. They also plan to develop school gardens where children can learn science lessons, good gardening, lessons in nutrition, and can actually grow food for their families.
To help with the village school and other projects in Prakeap, The BRIDGE has a “loose change” drive. People can drop their loose change in the Prakeap box at The BRIDGE, or if they happen to be on the CSU Stanislaus campus, there is a Prakeap “loose change” box in the Anthropology/Geography Department, room C215E. Come join Mao Roth in making a real difference in the world!
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