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The Times Advocate, 2006-06-07, Page 14Crossroads 14 Exeter Times -Advocate Wednesday, June 7, 2006 O'Rourke seeking help for Cambodian children By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF SINGAPORE — Keriann O'Rourke, daughter of Pat and Gwen O'Rourke of Dashwood, is looking to help children in Cambodia — and you can help, too. O'Rourke, teaching at The Canadian International School in Singapore, is planning a trip this July with her boyfriend to Thailand, Australia and Cambodia. When she gets to Cambodia, O'Rourke plans to visit an orphanage and school and make a large donation. She's hoping readers in the South Huron area can help donate. O'Rourke's school has been involved with Cambodia for many years and that's how she learned about two orga- nizations in that country: Sok Sabay, a centre that rescues and cares for child victims of sexual and other abuses, pros- titution and trafficking; and the People's Improvement Organization, which edu- cates and helps the underprivileged peo- ple of Cambodia. It is estimated that two million Cambodians died by starvation, torture or execution during the Pol Pot -led Khmer Rouge reign, which started in 1975, when the communist guerrilla group took over Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh. Cambodians are still suffering the effects of that reign of terror more than 30 years later. Many children work and live in unbearable conditions, with a large population living in the Stung Mean Chey Garbage Dump in Phnom Penh. Workers at the dump, according to information provided by O'Rourke, earn about 40 cents a day. The dump is also home to many orphans who lost their parents to AIDS. Some children have been forced into prostitution. "The initial connection I have made to Cambodia was that the country is so close to where I am now in Singapore and yet so very, very different," O'Rourke says. "Singapore is a well- developed and rich nation that has so much, yet only a one-hour airplane ride away is a country that is still recovering from the effects of a war that happened years ago." O'Rourke has researched the country's history and has read eyewitness accounts of those who were there dur- ing the war. She says visiting Cambodia "will be a great learning experience and one that will remain with me forever." Learning about Cambodia "has opened my eyes to see what people can do to help and how thankful people in Cambodia are for the support they receive." O'Rourke will spend July 16-21 in Cambodia, where she will start by visit- ing temples in the Siem Reap region. "Most of these temples have been ruined by the Khmer Rouge, but still hold the beauty as they were built to reflect." From there, O'Rourke will travel to Phnom Penh where she will visit both Sok Sabay and the People's Improvement Organization, when she will make her donations. O'Rourke has just started collecting donations and hopes to raise as much money as possible. She points out that all donations will go directly to the orga- nizations. She said it costs $65-$100 US a month to sponsor a child. Sok Sabay is a private, non-profit orga- nization set up in 1994 that relies on donations and support from all over the world. The organization helps children to leave behind the abuse they've suf- fered and look to the future in a positive way. About 40 children between 30 months and 18 years live at Sok Sabay at one time. The centre is a large house with a computer room, three class- rooms, a kitchen, living rooms, dorms, a nursery, pharmacy, garden and play space outside. The People's Improvement Organization includes the Boray Keyla Centre, The Phnom Penh Centre and the Stung Mean Chey Centre. The organizations provide education and activities for those in poverty. O'Rourke has been teaching in Singapore for nearly a year and will spend at least another year there. "I really like Singapore a lot," she says. "It is a great place to live and also to travel from." Her sister, Erin, teaches at the same school and will return back to Canada this summer with her husband Randy. Erin has accepted a position at a private school in Toronto. Donations to Cambodia can be sent to Pat and Gwen O'Rourke at 69982 Bronson Line, RR 3, Dashwood, Ont., NOM 1NO. Pat and Gwen can be reached at 237-3762. Donations can also be sent to Keriann O'Rourke at 345 Upper Bukit Timah, 06-11 Hillside Condo, Singapore, 588197. Track and field events held at Zurich Public School Zurich Public School students hit the field last week for the school's annual track and field event. Competing in the high jump event were Brandyn Webster, above, and Zack Ott, below. (photos/Scott Nixon) Natalie DePaepe lands after a successful triple jump.