Day 3 - The Building Begins

Some very keen team members started the day off crazy early doing training with the Cambodian Police. Troy Roberts and his team run fitness and other training for the Cambodian anti trafficking police as this training is not provided by the government and some fitness freaks decided to join in.  After breakfast we pushed a mini bus to its limits on a ride on very rutted road to Gunty's island where we started building a house for two children who lost there mom to aids 3 months ago. Gunty has organised for the kids, boy aged 5 and a girl aged 13, to live with a teacher from the school but they did not have anywhere to live. There was lots of sunscreen and more plumbers cracks than necessary as the boys went to work on the house while the majority of ladies interacted with the kids from Gunty's school and the surrounding orphanage. To celebrate our achievements we had tarantulas as an appetiser which a few insane people actually tried. 

Athol teaching Amy which end of the hammer to use

Jo hanging out with some pretty cute kids

Nom nom nom. Yummy tarantula for a snack. 

PERSONAL VIEW by Lyn Prior of the kids at Guntys 

Today I was looking forward to spending time with the kids at Gunty's island. I got to spend a lot of time with the kids from the school and also ones that came in from the village. I taught the kids knuckle-bones which they had never seen before but within half an hour I had gone from teaching 2 kids to 12 who had not only mastered the game but created new ones using the knuckle-bones. It was great interacting with the kids and there was no language barrier as they all spoke English quite well. I also did some other activities such as colouring in, sticker books and some much needed nit removal. I am really looking forward to tomorrow as I feel in my element playing, helping and giving attention to these kids. 

Lyn teaching the kids knuckle-bones

Having fun playing ball

PERSONAL VIEW by Rob Hartley of the building 

It was hard but rewarding work today as we started building the house. Because it was over 2m off the ground it made normal jobs extra difficult.  It was amazing to see how the locals worked with hand tools and do a better job than I can with power tools. After the last couple of days where we have seen and heard all of the bad things that has happened to Cambodia, I felt like I was able to give back and achieve something worthwhile today.

Building 101 Cambodian style

Day 2 - Culture Immersion

Today the team was fully immersed in the devastating history of Cambodia and how this has helped shaped the current culture.  We visited the Killing Fields where prisoners under the Pol Pot regime were brutally killed and buried in mass graves. A number of our team also went to S-21, where prisoners were tortured prior to being loaded into trucks and sent to the killing fields. We however finished the day on a high note as we visited the kids at Nu Picks orphanage. We played games with the kids and helped serve hungry kids off the street there dinner.  Being at Nu Pick's and seeing what he has done was an especially nice way to finish a day full of horrific history.

PERSONAL VIEW from Kylie Topperwein of the Killing Fields

In year 10 I conducted an assignment on Pol Pot, but by visiting the killing fields and hearing the personal stories was very real and confronting.  In particular I found the killing tree, where babies were killed by bashing there heads against the tree and thrown in the pit beside there mums, was extremely horrific and devastating.   What really struck with me was the philosophies used to justify these inhuman acts 'better to kill an innocent person by accident then not kill an enemy by accident', and 'to kill the grass you have to pull up the roots'. This has really put what we are trying to achieve on this trip into perspective. That we are not here to have a holiday, but to somehow help make a difference to a broken country. 

Mass grave of 450 victims dug up at the killing fields

Many remains have been dug up at the killing fields but more bone fragments and clothing are found everyday 

PERSONAL VIEW from Amy Chapman about Nu Pick's orphanage 

Tonight we went to Nu Picks and I expected the street kids to be sad and malnourished but every single kid was smiling and happy. We spent the time kicking the ball around, playing with balloons and making up games with bouncy balls.  It is amazing and surprising to see the difference between Nu Picks kids and those out on the streets of Phnom Penh. You can definitely see that God has his hand in this amazing outreach.  It is a relief to see that although this country has been through so much, there is a family who are will to give so much of themselves to try and make Cambodia a better place. I felt like I was able to help make a difference by playing and feeding the kids and showing them love but mostly they made a difference to me by showing me that you don't need everything to be happy. 

The boys helping dish out dinner to very hungry kids

Nu Pick and a group of very hungry kids off the street

PERSONAL VIEW of the day by Mal Topperwein

We were only there for an hour but it was such a different hour then what was spent at S-21 and the killing fields. There is such a polar opposite between the Pol Pot philosophy of terror and Nu Pick's of unconditional love. The way that Pol Pot was trying to poison the roots of the country is in such stark contrast to the nurturing philosophy that Nu Pick is fostering with his children.

Mangoes growing through the razor wire at S-21

Cell at S-21 where prisoners were tortured and sometimes killed

Day 1- Is Cambodia Ready For MAD4Cambodia Team?

 Today the mad4cambodia team arrived into Phnom Penh in a flurry off tuk tuks overloaded with suitcases. It was a day of acclimatisation to the sights and smells of Cambodia and in particular the dreaded "crossing of the road". We soon got the hang of it as our fearless leader Lloyd Plane bravely strode out amid headlights and horns with the team following behind like baby chickens. The hotel we are staying is surprisingly nice although there has been the occasional flooding of the bathroom and bed configuration mishap. However it is nice and close to the markets which we managed to quickly view before it closed. Our team leader, Troy, took us out to an amazing dinner to help acquaint ourselves with the local food. By the look of happiness on everyone's faces as plates of curries cooked in hollowed out coconuts and mock tails made of freshly squeezed juices, it was a huge success. A quick massage and ice cream finalised day one of what we believe will be an epic tour! 

  

Rob Hartley is overwhelmed by the variety of home wares at the market

Hang on Tuk Tuks can be crazy

Hotel room with a view

First dinner together as a team

Getting ready for MAD4Cambodia 2013

Everyone on the MAD4Cambodia 2013 trip are madly packing as it's starts in 2 days!!! Make sure you save this blog to your favourites or enter you email address on the left to follow, as regular updates on what the team are up to will be posted.

Monster Fundraiser!

A special screening of Monsters University will help raise funds for communities in Cambodia.

Where: Hoyts Carousel (map)
When: Sunday, 14 July 2013 at 2:20pm
Ticket Price: $16
Sales close: 3 July 2013 or when sold out.

Buy tickets online or contact Karen (0422 449 339).