Gap on TULEENI ORPHANS HOME

Taking a break from our daily project work, we had the opportunity to visit a local orphanage in Moshi. With all the stereotypes and media coverage of orphans we see back home, particularly orphans within Africa, we weren’t sure what to expect. However, when we arrived (after a very bumpy and cosy trip in a Daladala), we were overwhelmed by the friendly welcome we received from the children.

After meeting the children, we took part in a number of games and were shown the cramped living conditions.  This involved seeing rooms with up to 10 bunk beds and on average 3 children per bed, which was an eye opening experience. Despite the language barrier, the children were all eager to interact with us and very enthusiastic.  While the younger children were keen for more active games, the older girls were happy to chat and get to know us a bit more – even practice some English or teach us some Swahili!

After the initial introduction to the children, the administrator of the orphanage, Mama Faraji, was kind enough to talk to us about the orphanage and its history. This particular Children’s Home was started in 2006 with 18 children, which has increased to around 50 children being under her care with many children having to be turned away everyday. We learned that she started the orphanage because she was an orphan as a child herself (although was fortunate enough to live with her grandparents).  This made her want to help children who are not as lucky as she was, even though she must fund this herself while also relying on donations.

Some of the kids at Camp before going to Moshi FM for the program

Before we left, we were invited to join hands in a circle, sing songs and dance with the children followed by a variety of ball games. On our journey home we reflected on our experience and agreed that what the lady was doing was inspirational and admirable as well as finding the whole experience affecting and enjoyable. It made us want to support the orphanage during our stay here. This was made possible by an idea put forward by camps staff with whom they suggested to purchase food stuff among other bits and bobs. There is so much more that these poor souls need apart from just food. These kids need medication, School uniforms and other basic needs. Having said that it does not necessarily have to always be monetary. Showing them love and affection, helping them live just like any other child means a lot than a million Dollar donation. Hence we arranged for them to come out of the orphanage and participate in a weekend Live radio show at Moshi FM.  We wanted the kids to live just like any other kid around even if it was for a few hours. We each made a donation which enabled this idea to become reality.

Listening to the kids singing and answering riddles and story telling live on Radio was awesome. The kids were also happy to hear themselves over the Radio and narrating how life was before finding a home at the orphanage and how they aspire to be Teachers and Doctors of this country. It was an emotional afternoon and made a few of us shed a few tears. Seeing the children have the opportunity to become more involved in the local community and enjoy a new experience was rewarding for all volunteers involved…

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This summer Camp Tanzania also hosted 160 students from various schools in the UK. They came out with one objective and one aim only: to make a difference. It is going to be an understatement if we said they met their targets. They surpassed them to be honest…

In Moshi: Mbokomu School – the pupils and the institution are in dire need of a sports/playing field. Currently, they are using a plot full of ridges and holes caused by erosion. This prompted us to “kill two birds with one stone”. Deal with the erosion problem by sorting out landscaping and create a playing field for the students.

Kingdown Team was busy plastering one of the class rooms at Msaranga School and teaching English. The target of this particular project was met 100%

At Mnazi School there were a number of projects: plastering Teachers quarters, constructing a water tank and cementing both a floor and veranda of one of the classes. Rydens College and Kings Langley were involved with these projects.

Ndarakwai Wildlife Sanctuary: The Teams were involved in wildlife conservation related projects including conducting a wildlife census, nature walks and wildlife identification, habitat restoration and ranch maintenance. The students expanded an already existing watering hole for the wildlife to drink water from. They also dug furrows that feed the watering hole from the thawed glacier of Mt. Kilimanjaro. And of course, a Camps wildlife expedition would not be complete without making paper from Elephant pooh!

Nothing satisfying and worth the students time than seeing a herd of Zebras quenching their thirst just after project!

The teams also had an opportunity to work at a local School called Ol molog Vet. Most of the pupils here are from the Masai tribe. Here the teams were involved in Painting the inside of 4 class rooms and their window frames and doors. They also painted 2 staff quarters. They started on a trench/foundation of the Schools’ kitchen and made 360 Bricks which will later be used for the kitchen construction.

The headteacher on Ground breaking day!

In Meru: All mountain expedition Teams go through this location. The projects here ranged from establishing a vegetable garden for the school, constructing a kitchen to learning the whole process of coffee making, helping the mamas with their daily chores of tending to their cattle and preparing their little shambas for planting maize and beans.

Based right in the village, it gave our teams the first hand experience of living life the African way. The camp setup is right on a farmer’s plot of land where they camped amongst the goats, chickens and cows. And if you need to wash your clothes follow the singing mamas down to the local stream. It was lovely to see our clients interacting so well with the community going to church service with them, playing ball games with the local teams…

Students helping mamas with daily chores..

Camp Tanga: Our latest treasure…Many had thought that it was more of rest and recreation spot than a working camp but that would not be very Camps… Projects as usual and goals to achieve. There was a Boat to be built, Seaweed mama’s to be helped and a classroom to be constructed.

A great summer all around. Kwaheri na karibu tena!

We would love you to join us out here working on wide range of long term initiatives where you really will make a difference, experience the bio-diverse rainforest on earth, most fascinating wildlife, unique culture and traditions of people in Borneo,  and spice it up a bit with some adventures we have to offer!

Talk to our Gap Year expert on Facebook Chat to find out how you can travel and earn 70 UCAS points and Add Sammy here: http://bit.ly/aISYV2

We hope to see you out in Borneo soon and help us achieve our long term goals with our pledge to save the planet!

The idea was for them to give us an insight into their daily lives by taking pictures of their friends, family, pets, school and their village. Hopefully giving us a chance to see a true side of what life is like as a young child of Bongkud. A side that we would otherwise rarely get to see.

Eight children from the local school were given the cameras and all but one camera was returned, once developed the plan had worked and we were presented with a great selection of fun photos.
Have a look at some of the best photos put together in this slideshow.

For more information on how to get involved in our volunteer gap programmes in Borneo, Malaysia click here.

To request a free brochure & DVD click over….here.

After just few days of arriving home in UK from Borneo, Hope Carmichael emailed us on behalf of Sponne School team, a wrap up blog of their trip.

There are many things that Sponne School have done on this trip including… cry, laugh, sing, attempt to dance and become a family. We’ve done things on this trip that we never thought we would and over come obstacles that have made each other and ourselves proud.

The last time you heard from us, we’d just left the jungle and were on the way to Bongkud where our final camp awaited. We left the jungle after a night of cultural celebrations with the locals and a night of sleeping on the jetty which came as a welcome relief to most of us. We said goodbye and left the jungle with heavy hearts – something that we really weren’t expecting!

After 4hours on an air-conditioned bus (something of a luxury!!) we had arrived at Camp Bongkud. We were given coconuts with the tops off and straws so that we could try the local welcome of coconut milk. While drinking our milk, we were introduced to our new home. Eve, the camp manager, also introduced us to Michael who was the conservationist who would be helping us with our project work. We quickly realised that our time at Bongkud would be taken up by project work. There were 2 main projects at Bongkud, one was the water project that once completed would provide clean water for the village and the community centre project where we were helping to rebuild the community centre. Our time doing project work was spent primarily doing the community centre as there was a massive hole that needed filling and that required shovelling, hoeing, wheel barrowing, pick axing, stomping and the power of 17 students, 2 teachers and 1 expedition leader! We worked very hard on our project work and were proud of ourselves when we managed to fill the hole. Of course, we had rubble to help!! We had a lovely 2 days where we got to go to pouring hot springs and have our feet nibbled by fish. It was only supposed to be one but our bus was late! It was Malaysia and things don’t always go to plan…

The days R&R gave us the incentive to work harder on the projects for our final days and we managed to make a substantial contribution to the projects at Bongkud!

Before long it was the final night and we were up to say goodbye. Half of danced the bamboo dance we’d been taught by the locals and half of us gonged like the locals had taught us! We were never going to be as good as them but we certainly gave it our all! It was a sad thing to say goodbye to Bongkud, we’ve made some really good friends there. They’ve got our names and are waiting to add us on FACEBOOK. We played guitar, sang and took photos with them and all too soon the camp was shutting which meant that they had to leave and it was fast approaching the end of our last night in Bongkud.

The next morning, it was time to leave. We were up and breakfasted at 7 and ready to leave at 8. We watched the other school leave for project work and wished that we could go and help. We could hear the kids shouting for us so we went up for one last play. We sang and took photos with them and they were just as sad when we got on the bus and they waved us off.

It didn’t take long before we arrived back in Kota Kinabalu. We went shopping bought the final souvenirs and then went back to Step In to get ready for our final night!

We were all glammed up and ready to party the night away by 7pm – the girls were even wearing make-up for the first time in a month! We all headed down to the sea front and went to the restaurant that we had spent our first night in; it was becoming something of a regular haunt for us! We had a lovely meal with numerous toasts to things that had happened throughout our trip and awards being handed out for what people said about us on a piece of paper. It got quite emotional as we realised that we had spent a month with these people and we’d shared so many life-changing experiences together. After Pappin (our team leader) had handed out the awards to us and our teachers, it was time for us to thank Alex. He’d been a really good team leader to us and we couldn’t have asked for someone who would have been any more fun and helpful than Alex. Now, thanks to his famous phrase “Antiseptic and plaster!”, we all know what to do when we get an injury. Thank you Alex!!!

After our meal, we headed to The Loft where we met up with some of the Camps staff who helped us celebrate the end of our trip.

The next day we had a chance to do some last minute shopping and packing before we had to head to Kota Kinabalu airport to catch our flight. It was a sad moment when we said goodbye to Borneo but I’m sure the memories we’ve had and the friends that we’ve made will stay close to us for a long time.

It’s hard to put into words what Borneo meant to us. There were times when we loved it and didn’t want to leave and when we did we felt homesick and then there was a night when all we wanted was a dry set of clothes and a proper cup of tea, not easy to get when you’re in a rain storm in the middle of the jungle!

But all in all, we’ve had the most life changing experience and memories that we wouldn’t trade for the world. We’ve become a family and for people that didn’t gel too well before the trip, it will not be the last time we meet as a group of 20 – and that includes Alex Pappin!! He won’t get rid of us THAT easily.

So thank you to Alex, who was a fantastic leader and the one best suited to us. To LG and Woods who were fantastic teachers, worked very hard and got us through from start to finish. To US! We are proud of each other and ourselves who have done things that we never thought we would. To the communities, who made us feel so welcome and have made us promise to return!

But finally to Camps International – both in the UK and in Borneo who have helped us through the expedition. From the planning stages to the times in country where we met up with them and helped Alex deal with us.

Thank You Camps – you’ve given us an experience we’ll never forget!!

Love,

Sponne School

Wednesday, 21st July
Been a favorite day for many as they have all been successful at the practical diving test stage 1 and enjoyed the group preparation for teaching local school children about the importance of preserving the coastal environment.

Singing around the beach bonfire under the unfamiliar southern hemisphere stars, it is clear that the group is well integrated and really getting into the expedition experience (despite the horrific things we find inside the tents!).

Saturday, 24th July
Lion fish, scorpion fish, giant land hermit crabs, geckos, spiny sea urchin – the list goes on!

All of the students passed the exam and completed the last two dives successfully and so are now PADI qualified open water divers!

Washing your own clothes is a new experience for most as is the intermittent water supply! All are coping well and there have been no significant problems.

Sunday, 25th July
At first the 20 students from the nearby school were a little shocked when they arrived at the camp to be entertained and educated by us. They soon relaxed and joined in the beach clean-up where we collected 26 bags of rubbish from the strand line as we walked a mile or so north.

Following a 20-a-side football game we returned to camp and the team involved the pupils in a range of activities. Everyone found it very rewarding.

One big shock for the team tonight was having to pack their bags for early departure tomorrow – several struggled for some time and needed a lay down afterwards!

Food has been generally very good with several options even for the fussy eaters.

To recognize the team’s excellent start there are a couple of treats for them before we disappear to the sacred forest camp (kaya) and the hard work starts!

Wednesday, 28th July
A long and tiring day saw us split into groups and undertake various forest conservation tasks. Some helped build a traditional wood and palm leaf shelter for the foresters; others cleared half a football pitch of forest removing undergrowth and invasive tree species. Later everyone dug a hole and planted a sapling of a native hardwood species. During the day groups had to pull a cart with water containers 1km to pump water and then return and fill the water tank at the camp. After lunch we said goodbye to the school children that had helped us and set off to walk the 6 miles to Makongeni camp.

The team has worked very hard over the last two days and unfortunately Vicki has picked up an infection too and so has spent the night at hospital. She should rejoin the group soon.

Sunday, 1st August
The three bedroom mud hut was our focus today and the team really gelled with groups carrying water, trampling and mixing mud, tying stick lathes, applying mud pats etc. Eventually the team completed the mud wall to a height of four feet on both external and internal walls but the wooden frame is complete to the full height. The Fundis (local skilled workmen who have guided the team) will complete the roof over the next few days.

At the end of the afternoon’s works (when it again looked like more mud has been applied to flesh than sticks) we were surprised when the widow who will live in the house appeared to look at the progress with her family. It was quite an emotional experience for all!

Showers have been a long process and towels are as stained as the clothes worn by the orange mud! It looks like an explosion in a fake tan salon!

Tonight we have the camp to ourselves as the venture scout group has moved on so after our Swahili lesson tonight we are having a camp bonfire and then looking forward to the rest day tomorrow back at Diani Beach.

So everything here is nzuri sana and we are off to lala salama!

Tuesday, 3rd August
Our transit to Tsavo was due to take 4 hrs however 7 and a half hours later we arrived exhausted and hungry. A nightmare journey is a phrase often over used but is more than appropriate for today! A long queue at the Mombasa ferry meant an hour delay the there was a delay in our rendezvous with our police escort followed by several traffic jams on what is the main route to Uganda. When we turned off the main road we had 25 km on a red dust track through a very dry acacia scrub land dotted with the dung piles of elephants and scarlet towers of termite colonies.

Eventually we arrived at Camp Tsavo in the Rukinga Wildlife Sanctuary of 80,000 sq km. There are two other groups here staying in the tents but we have been fortunate to be allocated the Banda (huts with palm leaf roofs) and all are very happy with this remotest of camps.

Our lists of animals seen will be boosted over the next few days but the following need to be added from the last few days – mud skippers, fiddler crabs, whip scorpions, locusts and the very noisy bush babies! (Apparently they climb up to the top of the palm trees and drink the naturally fermented sap getting louder and wilder with their screams often ending in them falling out of the trees and scampering of madly into the bush!).

Wednesday, 4th August
The team split this morning into two activities reversing in the afternoon.

The first involved undoing a huge pile of wire snares collected by the rangers that had been set by poachers to trap all sorts of animals including elephants. They are then attached to a life size metal framework of an elephant. This will eventually be displayed around the region and cities to highlight the problem of poachers.

The second project was an opportunity to produce elephant dung paper from start to finish and see how this is being used to generate income by the local community. Everyone enjoyed making their personalised paper with some intricate designs.

An interesting array of creatures have been seen today or should I say last night and mainly in the bandas! Geckos, lizards, very large spiders (that even the boys have asked for staff to remove them), bats, so many birds and insects and best of all a gennet (try google!)

Saturday, 7th August
This morning we departed for Imani camp which is a new and basic tented camp (with bucket showers) on the site of the Imani women’s group facilities. After meeting the camp manager, Danson, we had lunch of fish curry with potatoes and vegetables. The fish used is Tilapia, a freshwater fish that is being farmed widely to supplement the protein intake of many Africans. Many meals are curry based with rice or potatoes or even a type of noodle and nearly always supplemented with green beans and carrots. Spicy bean dishes are common as is a special herb potato and kidney bean mash. It is noticeable that fussier eaters have become quieter as not only is there little in the way of alternatives but awareness of the Kenyan’s dietary difficulties makes us aware of our usual privileged existence.

Back to today – after lunch we met the very impressive founding member of the Imani Women’s group, Mama Mercy, who gave a talk on the group’s projects. She and her group of 60 ladies (and their families) have managed to get funding from various organizations including World Vision to buy this plot of land, build a community hall and other buildings. They are very entrepreneurial with projects like renting rooms to teachers at the local school, growing oyster mushrooms on elephant dung, making and selling bracelets and clothing, making and firing bricks for sale and a host of other initiatives. They now have a Camp Kenya camp here and the teams provide the labour for some of the communities projects. The Imani group have trained members of the community to go out and teach about HIV awareness, and on dietary, social and other health issues. They have successfully reduced the transmission rates of HIV and reduced the stigma attached to sufferers and their families. They give financial and practical support to AIDS orphans and taken men who marry underage or very young girls to court. This is just a brief summary of what they do.

Back to today – again! We then were invited to participate in various cultural activities and split into groups. Some pounded maize in the giant African pestle and mortar, others ground maize to flour on the simple hand-turned stone mill and some made beads bracelets.

Later the women performed dances and sung their welcome and appreciation of the work we are to do during our stay. Imani camp is high above the plains where we saw the elephants and zebra yesterday and the night will be cooler and much windier than previously.

Before we were treated to a wonderful sunset silhouetting the gneiss peaks against an orange-pink sky we beat the local football team 4-2 on a pitch that looked like it had just been ploughed by a team of oxen.

Monday, 9th August
Black backed jackal, snake head eagle, mongoose, eland, black faced monkey, and Cheetahs! Other groups were very jealous of our close encounter of the furred kind. We watched cheetah for some time sitting in the shade and then it got up and walked towards the road and slowly crossed in front of us! Photos to follow of this and a close encounter with elephants too!

We started out from Imani camp at 6.00 am and many thought this was the camp they felt was making the biggest difference to the community. As a result the team decided to make a donation to Mama Mercy that was enough to fund masons for a weeks work on the nursery school.

After the safari we returned to Camp Tsavo which feels like home to many and looked forward to a nights sleep in proper beds!

Wednesday, 11th August
This morning was an early start as we were to be working in the open in a completely cloudless equatorial sky.

Bottles filled, sunscreen applied and with hats glasses and boots we left the camp on foot with armed rangers and guides. We walked the 400 metres to the nearby waterhole and were divided into 3 teams each was given a section to work on by either reinforcing banks, excavating dried sediment or building new retaining walls. The work with our usual tools of African hoe, shovel, pickaxe and wheelbarrow was hot tiring and dusty but all the teams worked flat-out on what is our last hard day’s work. Frequent stops for water were essential.

The waterhole is basically dried out apart from a small concrete trough at one end that always has a small amount available. The work we are doing now will allow more water to be held from the wet season in May through the bulk of the dry season that we are clearly in now. Most trees are currently bare branches and all ground vegetation is dead except for the occasional deep rooted shrub that stands out in the brown and red desert forest. Comments had been passed by some that the job of armed ranger guard was ‘ a bit of a doss’ but suffice it to say they have a different view of the role now!

Two and a half hours into our mornings work the rangers shouted short command to one another and then came running towards us saying firmly ‘elephants elephants, haraka, haraka!’ (No translation needed). We turned and there was the huge head of a bull elephant looking at us. We stared in amazement and almost in frustration of us not departing immediately he took several large steps forward from the cover of the Acacias and revealed another six or so huge animals behind him! The tools were dumped and we were shepherded along the path rapidly. The Kenyans use the phrase ‘pole pole’ a great deal meaning slowly slowly but there was no pole pole in their faces or voices and we gathered pace until we were a safe 300 metres away before they allowed to stop and take pictures. The sight was amazing as these were the biggest elephants we had seen and many were moved by the experience. It seemed to us as though they had come to inspect the work we had done and say thanks and goodbye. It was certainly a real ‘once in a lifetime’ experience! The value of our efforts here had been emphatically underlined.

After lunch we have been given a bush survival session were groups have to design and build an emergency survival shelter without tools or assistance. Later tonight we are celebrating our last night in camp with a fancy dress evening and some of the ideas are already making me nervous!

Thursday, 12th August
Last night was our last in camp and was celebrated with a fancy dress evening! Cross-dressing, chippendales, lookie-likes, lollipop lady and zebra crossing, manic masai and Harry Potter all featured in what was a slight bizarre and disturbing array. There was even an appearance of the ghost that had apparently haunted Pat and others the night previously causing them to adjust their sleeping arrangements!!

Following this we held a presentation of awards for both serious and more light-hearted contributions to our expedition. The evening concluded with our usual session of star-gazing (there is only electricity between 6 and 10 in the evenings and no towns within dozens of miles). Visibility at night is astounding with the Milky Way clearly visible along with orbiting satellites and shooting stars.

In the morning the traditional choral rendition of birthday greetings to James Talbot wore thin after the 15 time! We were due for a relaxed start to the day as our transport to the hotel in Mombasa was not due until 12 midday. Unfortunately this was delayed until 2. During the morning all students and staff completed feedback forms and we had a group discussion and reflection of the expedition. It is a fair summary to say that all have valued the adventure and feel they have made a real contribution to communities and conservation. There were suggestions for improvements such as fewer projects but seeing them through to conclusion, less kidney beans and other minor points.

All of the team have clearly benefited whether in developing their confidence, leadership skills, understanding of 3rd world issues, teamwork and especially in helping them not to take things for granted in our privileged existence in the UK. They have appreciated the opportunity of putting in to practice our gospel values in a very real way and understanding they can make a difference in our world and their role in the stewardship of his creation. How long this will last and how deep the effect is obviously down to each individual but all of them will have found themselves permanently changed by their time in Kenya.

Our flight to Nairobi will leave around 5.30 and arrive an hour later. Four hours later we will leave to arrive at Heathrow on the evening of the 13th. We shall confirm our arrival time at Campion when we land. I would like to publicly thank on your behalf Expedition leader, Leo Biles, and teachers from our partner schools, Nick Randall and Carrie Scott who have assisted Maria and I in making sure the team enjoyed the experience to the full! I know this is getting like an Oscars speech but all the Camp Kenyan staff need a mention as they have worked so hard for us and without exception been helpful, cheerful and welcoming. Asante sana!

Hi everyone! The last three months have been a very productive time for us at Harmony Farm. While the kids are winding up the last of the school year, studying hard, the rice is growing and we prepare the ultimate reward, a beautiful new home! Please enjoy the latest newsletter and thank you to everyone for your continuing support.

Land for food.

Dreams are becoming reality for us at Harmony Farm. We received donations to allow us to buy 7 hectares of land for us to grow food. We have direct seeded 5 hectares of rice by hand which we predict to feed all our 35+ members for 1 year minimum and provide employment for 2 full time workers. There was a lot of work to do on the land for preparation and we were employing an average of 13 workers a day. On Sundays the kids and staff would come out to help too. Some of the kids really enjoy planting rice, others prefer just to play or go hunting for bush treats to munch on. We have also planted corn and have plans to grow a diverse selection of vegetables after harvest in Dec. With much of the hard work done, now we can enjoy the rain and watch our food grow!

Bees Unlimited

In June Harmony Farm were host to Bees Unlimited as part of a government trial for training sustainable bee keeping and honey harvesting. We had around 18 people attend the training session and in the afternoon, the bee crew visited our school to speak to the children about ecology and the importance of bees. Talking so much about delicious honey has since inspired Han and some of the older boys to make their own bee boxes and give it a go. We are very keen to get Bees Unlimited back out for a full training course which would result in a sustainable level of honey production for our kids and other local participants and possibly income generation and future training demonstrations. For anyone interested to sponsor this, please contact us for the full project proposal and quotes.

Bicycle Program

With sponsorship from Anza Cycling in Singapore as well as Volunteer bicycles we have managed to supply another 30 local children with bicycles. For many children in Cambodia, a bicycle can be the difference in attending school or not. Children from Beng Mealea Commune must travel an average of 16km each day to attend middle school. Harmony Farm crew arranged an assembly to present the kids with their bikes. All the children’s families attended t as well as Denise from Anza cycling who played a key role in fundraising. The bikes mean so much to the kids and it was such a pleasure to see them all ride away on their new bikes.

Home Sweet Home

Our house is nearing completion and everyone is looking forward to moving in. What a big difference to where the kids are living now! We had to change to bricks for the lower storey due to the builder’s advice on safety and lack of experience and skills in earth building although it is still something that interests us greatly.

Bio Char Field Trials

Harmony Farm is taking part in field trials for a research project of the use and effects of Biochar in Cambodian agriculture. The project funded through the Asia Pacific Network (APN) includes partners from four countries, and it is led by the Appropriate Rural Technology Institute (ARTI) in India. Other partners are International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), SME Cambodia and the University of Edinburgh. This original research will look at the agronomic benefits which the addition of biochar can have to agricultural systems in South Asia. Biochar’s carbon storage properties also make this project useful to address the issue of CO2 for the Asia Pacific region, and will also provide sustainability and social benefits.

Living Values Training

Living Values Education is an international education program designed to alleviate violence and social problem through positive, values based learning. In May, one of our teachers and two volunteers attended a course hosted by Peace Café in Siem Reap. The aim of the course is to train teachers how to help student explore and develop positive values and provide a safe and caring school environment. For more info see www.livingvalues.net .

Dental Care

After our initial dentist visit we received donations to help continue the program and do some follow up surgeries in Dom Dek. One young man in particular is beside himself with joy with his new front teeth. Coming from a very poor family, both his front teeth had rotted to the roots and he never thought he would have the opportunity to have them fixed. It’s a pleasure to see his great big smile as he shows of his new teeth. Through education and supply of toothbrushes and tooth paste to our students (and stories of dentist drills!) we hope to improve dental health and hygiene for children in Beng Mealea Commune.

Mongolian School Group

Harmony Farm was host to a visiting School group from Mongolia. After a look around the school and an introduction to the children, we all went to the farm to plant cassava. Coming from the cold mountains of Mongolia the heat fairly took its toll but all the kids gave it their all and did a great job. Afterwards we all had lunch together at the centre teaching each other words from each language and a little rest before they headed back to Siem Reap.

Institute for Opportunity

Volunteer groups from the Korean and Japanese Institute for opportunity Visited Harmony Farm for a day of volunteering. With such a big group we broke into a roadworks team and a mud wall team, working on the wattle and daub wall of the staff hut. Both crews were enthusiastic and enjoyed getting their hands dirty. The work was followed by a shared meal with all the children. We were treated to kim chee and seaweed snacks which were new for our kids. Institute for opportunity has helped fundraise for the construction of our house. Thank you to everyone involved.

Permaculture Courses @ Harmony Farm

Our Permaculture teacher Rico Zook will be returning for his annual migration to Cambodia. Harmony Farm will be host to another 3 permaculture courses from Dec-Jan. We plan a 5 day introduction to permaculture from the 6th to the 10th with 16 places available. The cost is $55 for Khmer, $100 for foreigner including accommodation.  In January we’ll have a three day advanced course for those who’ve had previous training. The cost for Khmer is $30, Foreigner – $50 including accommodation. We are looking for sponsors for some locals and Harmony Farm crew to attend both courses. The third course is a kids PC camp. We have 6-8 places available for visitors interested in an integrated permaculture learning experience. Learn about permaculture with our kids and help with projects on the farm as well as arts and activities. The cost is $120 per person including accommodation for 5 days. For more info or to register please contact Marli… harmonyfarmcambodia@gmail.com

Welcome

We’d like to welcome Ken Thompson to the Harmony Farm Crew. Ken has moved to Siem Reap from Australia and is now our new treasurer. Ken is also a member of our Board of Directors. Thank you Ken for volunteering your time and giving so much to the development of Harmony Farm.

Seaside Adventure

Two of our children were rewarded for all their hard work and dedication to study with an adventure to Phnom Penh and then to the sea side. The opportunity arose with a visit by a child sponsor and an invitation for their child, a friend and staff member to join them on their tour of Cambodia. The boys had a wonderful time, trying out lots of new food and seeing the sights of their nation’s capital. It was such a fantastic opportunity for everyone involved and much appreciated. The trip was topped of by a gift of photos which are poured over by the other children and treasured by the boys. Thank you Julie and Ivan for your generosity.

Busy Builders

It’s all go at Harmony Farm. We have built a compost toilet, nursery and chook yards. Thank you so much to all who supported these projects.

Camps International.

Harmony Farm would like to announce their partnership with Camps International, a volunteer company from the UK. Camps international cater to volunteer school groups focusing on sustainable development and environmental care and education. They will be building a camp next door to Harmony Farm and work with us on projects in and around our community. We look forward to working together and giving our children the opportunity to hang out with children from other countries as well as teaching foreign children about life and reality in rural Cambodia.

Good luck to Vannak and Srey Pouv

Our director and his wife are expecting a baby in mid August. We would all like to wish them both the best of luck and welcome the new little member of our very big family.

Thank you all. With your help may we continue our fight against poverty and provide a bright future for our kids.

” Hello everyone, it’s Cat ,

We spent 4 days living it rough in the jungle! NO toilets or shower, a lovely long drop (well, short drop!) Went on a river boat cruise. Saw monkeys, various birds, crocs and an ORANGUTAN!

We Planted 52 trees in 1 hour and it was not we were impressed with our efforts, we had fun hashing the weeds away with a machette from the previous planted trees. After the 4th day and no shower, we went to the Orangutan Sanctuary and people refused to sit near us after planting  in the school and having the children hold their noses at us!

So we travelled down to the Sandakan memorial park for the death march of Borneo which was incredibly emotional! and also we spent some time at the Buddhist Chinese temple and attempting to put some money in a vending machine for some coke was an adventure in itself! The temple was beautiful and every detail was incredible!

Apart from the sanctuary situation, we had beautiful food and lovely guides! We are now at the last Camp (Bongkud) tucking in to the building projects one up 3 LARGE HILLS which was a big achievement to get wheelbarrows full of gravel up there! We had a lovely cultural welcome and had a go at it ourselves. All doing well and having fun! See you at Heathrow! ”

Yours,

Catriona Gillespie

The mangrove planting was a great success!  We planted over 1200+  mangrove seedlings in an area that was in need of mangrove  reforestation right in front of the camp! The students worked side by  side with the villagers chosen from the village who have been trained in outplanting seedlings.  The reforestation will hopefully provide  new breeding grounds for many different kinds of marine life, and help  prevent continued erosion.  It was a great day.  The only casualty was  a shoe that got sucked of into the deep mud while collecting the seedlings.

We are also actively involved with seaweed planting and harvesting. During spring tides we are out in the shallows tying lines with the seaweed farmers and offer many hands to help do a very labour intensive job, that allows these women to provide some income into their households.

During the neep tides, we offer assistance onshore  preparing the lines that hold the seaweed, as well as working to build  a boat for the group to use!  This boat will better enable them to  carry more seaweed from the harvesting areas. We are working side by side with a local ‘fundi’ or craftsman to build the boat in traditional ways that have been used for hundreds of years.

On days when the tide isn’t perfect for farming or mangrove planting  we help the villagers where they are in their homes, preparing and plastering houses using mud and other local materials.  We have learned and offered assistance in preparing local palm thatch for roofs in the area, or for income generation for the households  preparing them.  We are improving cooking and sanitation by building fuel efficient stoves and digging garbage pits to better dispose of  rubbish in the community.

We are also spending time at the secondary school, building two  classrooms and spending time with the students after construction, engaging in a variety of sporting events. After work, there is usually a pick up game of football on the village  pitch just near the camp.

We have a had a blast this season and looking forward to keeping Camp Tanga growing from strength to strength. This is just the beginning..

(Lots more pictures of Camp Tanga HERE)

Then in 1998 Wildlife Works took over the management of the ranch. They immediately moved the cattle from the land, began unarmed patrols to remove any snares set for wildlife, and worked with the local community to peacefully move the illegal squatters onto more prosperous farmland located outside of the wildlife corridor.

In only a few short seasons, the wildlife began to return; elephants first, then ungulates and then finally the predators, and Rukinga Sanctuary is now a healthy and balanced ecosystem with an abundance of wildlife that can live in relative security.

There’s very little to say when we have a series of spectacular shots, (most of which have been taken by Peter Luck, a teacher from Campion School) so I will let these pictures tell their own story about the red soils of Tsavo…

It takes a thousand wire snares to make this elephant, it takes one to kill it…

With over 80,000 acres to protect, the rangers are critical to the survival of this fragile ecosystem. Last year, we built one rangers post and this year our teams are assisting to lay the foundation of another.

And the view from above…

And just one good reason why we do what we do…