The other night I went to a fascinating talk by some people I admire greatly. They’ve spent the last ten years building homes in Cambodia. No don’t switch off. You probably think you know where this is going but you’d be wrong. Apart from being a wonderful experience that you might want to get involved in, it’s an interesting model that looks beyond the immediate needs to impact at the soul level.
Like you I’ve heard about people building houses in remote areas before, but what struck me with this initiative was the depth of understanding about the impact on the local community, particularly the impact of generosity on their soul.
The organisers gave a brief summary of the history of the area and the legacy this has left on the psyche of the community.
As well as being ravaged by war from the French, the Japanese and the Vietnamese they have had to endure 23 years of civil war and unspeakable atrocities which only ended with the death of Pol Pot in 1998. Most of the population are uneducated cannot read or write and live on less than $US1.50 per day. Often they lose all their possessions each year with floods that cover much of the country. Some are so destitute that they need to sell one of their children in order to be able to feed the rest.
Building a house for them is a life changing event, for example:
- Instead of living in a leanto on the ground which gets washed away in floods they now are up off the ground.
- Parents are less likely to get sick so they can continue to work.
- Children don’t need to forage for food in the fields so they can go to school.
- In Cambodia most children don’t get to complete primary school but for families with a Tabitha House 84% attend primary school. This has a generational impact as educated people have educated children.
Aside from providing physical shelter having a proper house has an amazing impact. It changes their lives forever, makes them realise that they are deserving people who are valued. It gives them hope for the future. After only 6 months and the change is breathtaking.
I was also taken by the fact that the community decides which family gets the house. The family then has to raise $US25 which can take up to three years. This is a terrific idea as it provides a sense of involvement, ownership and excitement as they get closer to reaching their goal. The whole community is excited to watch one family get their home.
Meanwhile in Australia a group of about ten Australians raise $AUS1,825 each, the organiser prefers this to be raised rather than donated. The donations that go to Tabitha are used to pay for a house, a water source and also allow a family to be part of the Tabitha Savings Program for up to 7 years. The donations are tax deductable and administration costs are minimal as everyone working at Tabitha is a volunteer.
While the money is raised individually each home is built by the group. The group will spend seven days in Cambodia, two of which is spent building houses. First timers will also go on a historical tour so they appreciate what the local people have been through.
As I sat listening to the information being presented I pondered:
- What a clever idea. I loved the whole of community involvement and the sense of ownership created by having the recipients raise funds too;
- Seeing the impact on the community was beyond heart warming
- While my heart and head are most definitely in it, I’m afraid my body is not. My preponderance to wilt in the heat would make me more of a hindrance than a help.
- For anyone remotely interested I urge you to check this out. I have complete faith in the two people running this team and have worked with one of them for eight years. I know it will be a well organised, fascinating, highly rewarding trip.
- For more details go to Tabitha Australia In the meantime here’s some more information about Tabitha.
TABITHA FOUNDATION CAMBODIA
- Is a Cambodian Non-Government Organisation(NGO) Founded by a Canadian, Janne Ritskes, in 1995.
- Tabitha encourages and teaches poor Cambodian families to save their way out of poverty. Families save on a 10 week cycle for a dream (which might be a pot, a towel or a chicken). They save as little as 50 cents a week. At the end of the cycle they have 3 days to buy their dream and join the next cycle to save for their next dream.
- After 5 to 7 years most families have saved their way out of poverty. So far over 4 million people have been saved from poverty with Tabitha’s help.
- Some families require help to save for a house. These are the people we build for. They are often single mothers, orphan families, or families of land mine victims. These are the families we build for.
