OUR WORK

Our project is to help build a vocational school outside of Siem Reap. The school will eventually provide 300 students with skills to work in tourism and the environment. It will also have a focus on training landmine victim survivors.

Ronnie Yimsut, a Killing Fields survivor is the driving force behind this project. He is well known in the Khmer community and an author of a book about his experiences.

During our trips, we have distributed school supplies, supported a cow bank, distributed bicycles so children can go to school, provided soccer uniforms, worked in orphanages and taught English.

Update – June 2016
Message from Ronnie Yimsut, Founder & Chair, BTC

We have been working really hard at BTC campus since the last group visit. You won’t believe the transformation and progress we have made to date. Three of the five buildings are finished, more or less, and are just about ready to admit the first group of registered students. There were over 200 applicants during the first week of open registration, for only 80 slots available (initially). A committee of three locals will review all applications and decide who we will admit into our school, based on many criteria and merits.

We are planning to begin several classes and levels on June 1st, 2016 in three initial program areas. Before we are able to run we must first learn to how to crawl, then walk and finally run…

Courses currently in the work at BTC campus include:
1. IT/Computer Literacy Program – several levels.
2. Business English Program – several levels.
3. Khmer Culinary Arts Program, – for beginners and tourists.
4. BTC Internet Cafe, for best Khmer food at countryside experience.
5. Exceptional volunteer opportunities await, working, living and enjoying rural Cambodia.

Eventual expansion to other programs in technical and vocational fields.

We do need additional funding support to go operational. We need chairs and tables for 150 students ( We have 40 chairs thus far at $35 each). We need ten teacher’s tables at $125 each. We need five sewing machines at $250 each. We need other basic items, but we can and will manage.

Please support us by LIKE and SHARE and visit us at : WWW.btc-cambodia.org, detail pictoral reports on FB at: Bakong Technical College
Thanks.
RESPECTFULLY,

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Rotarians & Friends Sweat Equity Trip to Cambodia – November 2009 in partnership with a charitable organization and Bakong Technical College(BTC)

This Sweat Equity Trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia was sponsored by The Rotary Club of Toronto and included 20 Rotarians & Friends from 9 clubs. From RTC where Brian & Joyce Westlake, Chris & Pat Snyder, Nina Cole(a former member and now with the Forest Hill Rotary Club played a major role), Bob Fisher(the son of former President, Frank Fisher) and Anne Fisher, parents of a former Rotary Exchange student also participated.

The backdrop in Cambodia is war. The Civil War ended about 11 years ago but there are many reminders namely landmine victims and survivors of the Genocide in which 2 million people (25% of the population were murdered). Our main work was to help build and provide initial funding for a Vocational School but we did much more. In total, we provided $60,000 US to the projects.

Here is a list of some of the things we did.

BTC Vocational School Site

Making Rebar

• Made 1800 cement blocks.
• Constructed 25 tile pipes.
• Formed 500 rebars.
• Staked out parameters of buildings – helped remove 6 mango trees.
• Provided funding to complete 2 of the buildings – the remaining work on the building will employ local people.

Enrichment School

• Built bookshelves in library, an artist table with a storage area, did extensive plumbing work
• indexed some books, did some teaching
• built 50% of a new building and paid for all of it

General

The Enrichment School

In addition to the schools, we:

• Taught English in several orphanages and the Landmine Museum
• Reviewed the possibility of building and funding a new home for a landmine victim – the decision was no – better the money be used for vocational training
• Explored
  the possibility of upgrading an orphanage for abandoned blind children – still in process – it was decided director needs guidance and training before help is provided – still in progress
• Frank Newell(Aurora) provided 8 soccer team uniforms to a number of schools and orphanages – it will allow one of the orphanages to field a team
• Provided Cambodian-bought school supplies to 1,500 students at a school, a number of orphanages, the Landmine Museum and children living on a floating village
• Visited Handi Cap International Centre where prosthesis are provided to landmine victims
• Attended the opening ceremony of a very poor school (Muskoka School – funded by Gravenhurst and Bracebridge Rotary Clubs), also provided books and soccer balls and school uniforms
• Participated in distributing approx. 75 bicycles to children – money came from Muskoka clubs – $50 will provide a bicycle
• Witnessed a cow bank and micro credit operation – cows can be bought for $300
• Upon return, our group has bought a further 5 cows and 17 bikes – if interested in providing, contact Chris Snyder @ or 416-364-0181 Ext. 2501
• Spent time at the Landmine Museum and explored ideas with the director, a Rotarian, Bill Morse(Palm Springs) for future activity – many landmine victims are around – there are still 5 million landmines in Cambodia

Miscellaneous

• On arrival after 24 hours of travel, we were met in Siem Reap by Ronnie Yimsut, Lisa McCoy(Rotarian from Gravenhurst) – both did an enormous amount of leg work -also present were other Khmer and BCT people who gave us special hats, local Khmer scarves there and a huge welcome – we hopped immediately into our Tuk Tuks to go into town – a great start
• People were beautiful, gentle, kind and the Khmer people bent over backwards to make our stay meaningful and enjoyable
• There was an opening ceremony for BTC primarily to express their thanks to us – present were senior local politicians, many villagers and school children – there were speakers (Chris Snyder spoke), dancing, music, and presentations of bicycles-part of it was filmed for a documentary
• We had a number of speakers including Arun on women’s issues in Cambodia – Dr. Sussod, a renowned doctor who ran several refugee camps in Cambodia and Thailand and Jon Morgan who runs a medical service for people in the floating villages – his wife also spoke – she runs a water program with water filters provided by Rotary
• Ronnie Yimsut – our main contact and survivor of the Killing Fields gave us much info on the local culture and history including information on canal he helped to build as forced labour while a teenager under the Khmer Rouge – 10,000 dug this canal, only 900 survived
• Attended meeting with governor to obtain building permit along as the building process was not as advanced as we had anticipated – we received support from Hon. Lloyd Axworthy, the architect of the Ottawa Treaty banning landmines
• Our meals were excellent – a lot of local food(vegetables) – no one was sick – accommodation very good
• The weather was very hot – first few days 34C and 90-95% humidity so we went to the job site at 6 a.m.
• We met with several local Rotarians – their club has 10 members
• As usual, the camaraderie amongst the team members and with the Khmer was outstanding

Other

On our down time, we:

• Took a side trip to Phnom Penh –went to Royal Palace, Killing Fields Museum(the war only ended 11 years ago), visited prison, orphanage and school in garbage dump – run by a Toronto Khmer woman
• Visited UNESCO site Angkor Wat, Floating Village, Stilt Village, several local markets, silk farm, children’s’ hospital – we had a cultural dance and music evening

Our partner is Bakong Technical College

(www.bakongtechcollege.org).

Map of Cambodia

Cambodia is a poor country recovering from a 30-year war and a horrible genocide.

It is located in Southeast Asia bordering on Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.

Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city. Cambodia has an old and rich heritage. Siem Reap is the location of the World Heritage Site, Angkor Wat.

The project is close to Stilt Villages, Angkor Wat, the Landmine Museum, Floating Villages and rural markets.

Thank you Rotary Club of Toronto for sponsoring the trip. It allowed 20 people the opportunity to do humanitarian work, generated much good will for Rotary and started projects BTC can build on which will have many future benefits for the Khmer.

If interested in participating in a future trip, please contact Chris Snyder at snyder@eccgroup.ca or 416-364-0181 Ext. 2501

Chris Snyder
Co-ordinator,
Rotary Sweat Equity

The following are those who participated:
Brian & Joyce Westlake, Chris & Pat Snyder – Toronto
Jim & Joanne Stewart, Doug Cunningham – Cobourg
Debra Selkirk – Etobicoke
Tom Sears – Campbellford
Nina Cole – Forest Hill
Diane Allen – Whitby
Al MacLean – Mississauga Lakeshore
Frank Newell – Aurora
Lisa McCoy – Gravenhurst

Friends
Pat Blachford Widit McLean
Anne Fisher     Bob Fisher
Lynn Ross        Bob Ross
Lee Sneddon

PHOTO GALLERY

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