We are sitting at KL airport feeling pleased with what we have accomplished over the past 10 days for Eyes Wide Open and Rotary. 

This research trip has confirmed in my mind the impact Rotary can have on current and future generations of people all over the world through Eyes Wide Open trips. 

Rotary has an opportunity to educate people by giving them first-hand humanitarian experiences and hopefully inspire them to contribute in some small way to those living in need in developing regions of the world. By introducing more people to the outstanding work of Rotary, we can spawn the next generation of humanitarians and Rotarians and see more people join the organisation as a result of a compelling and meaningful experience with Rotary.

Our group managed to touch the lives of many in an albeit small amount of time. In return, we were all touched by the bravery of these people whose daily struggles we can't begin to comprehend. Having read the team's blogs, hopefully you have some idea of how this trip has started to affect their perspectives on life and desire to become more involved in service-orientated work. 

There have been countless positive outcomes from this trip; some which will reveal themselves in time as our youngest team member reaches her adult life. 

I hope those who have read our blog along the way can see the value Eyes Wide Open will bring to those communities we visit, to Rotary and its future relevance and to participants who immerse themselves in Rotary's humanitarian work. 

Thank you to the Rotary Club of Melbourne South for being so far-sighted as to see the long-term benefits of Eyes Wide Open. It's time to start engaging more people in the work of the world's largest humanitarian organisation and Eyes Wide Open is one way to achieve this. 

We are looking forward to showing you the photos and documentary from this trip. 

-Lena

my second last word on the matter...

WELL! what now???

I speak for myself when I say that I am a little sad to be coming home so soon, although I am looking forward to seeing my family for a belated Christmas and seeing in the new year at home. What we are leaving behind will be thought about a lot over the coming days.

I believe that this trip is just the beginning and encourage everybody to get behind Lena and do what you can to see the Eyes Wide Open dream rocking along...

Anyway, there will be opportunities to view the entire photography portfolio and there is a short film to come from me yet. 

Until then stay safe and know that I am really proud to have been a part of the first EWO trip (if only my teachers at school had told me research could be this much fun!)

Speak soon,

Jungle Jim

Untitled

Twisted limbs and broken souls remain,
Coloured by the poisonous orange
That ravaged a nation,
Distorting children's endeavour
With enduring rage.

Man's destruction lies dormant
In fields that bore witness to battle
While generations unknown to war
Live with its burdens
Of body and mind.

It bled its toxin into a people
That yearn for liberty and peace.
And it is only with new life
That hope arrives
For a future absent
From the horror that preceded.

-Lena

A post from Michael

Hi there it's Michael, the international man of mystery. As usual I haven't blogged yet but its only because the others have been doing such a great job. :) It can be hard for me to articulate exactly what it is that I want to say and how I feel but here goes... 

The Eyes Wide Open slogan "see the world, make a difference" is a good reflection of how I feel about this trip. For me, it has been very much along those lines. I have ventured outside my comfort zone completely. This is my first time to what you would call a developing country, but it has just been one surprise after another, from the growth of their cities to the amazing beauty of the country side and the grandeur of the Ancient Temples. The trip has been a total immersion into the culture of these countries, the way of life, the people, customs and of course the food.

For me, being from a building background, being able to watch the construction going on and the restoration of the Ancient Temples has been for a want of a better word delightful. All of the temples I have visited are breath taking, from there sheer size, the design and the craftsmanship, to the wonderful masonry carving on every wall and every square inch of the the Temples. 

But there has also being the other part of the trip - the humanitarian side - which has honestly caught me a little bit off guard. With the team we have visited quite a few orphanages, an unwed mothers home and street kids' homes. The orphanages are what have gotten to me the most, being able to interact with the kids, read books, sing songs and of course play time. Their bright faces and disarming smiles really got to me. Even at the earliest of ages, these kids understand that education is their way out and their way forward. The children have a way that connects with you straight away and for me it is a little weird; they just come up to you hold your hand and just start to ask you lots of questions. It gets harder every time we have to leave. It's been a very humbling experience and I must be honest with you that it has bought this man to tears during one of our debriefs. 

These places that we have been visiting are not asking us to take control or run anything, they are simply asking for a little bit of assistance to help make life a little better for the people that live there. If you ask me did i make a difference in these kids' lives, I would have to say yes, just a tiny little bit, for I know that for at least one afternoon I was able to provide them with an outlet of fun and laughter which to a little kid is priceless, and I know for me they have given it right back ten-fold.

Eyes Wide Open has given me a very unique opportunity to be able to discover myself and explore possibilities of another country. I am ready for the next trip and will be telling others about this experience.

Merry Christmas.

-Michael

Wheelchair distribution

Jorji Explains

So it's Christmas Day, I hope everyone's enjoying themselves!
This morning we completed our final project for this trip, the wheelchair distribution.
There were a few locals waiting for us and once we'd handed over the chairs, talked with them about their needs and lifestyles we got to see their grateful faces.
We jumped back in our taxis and followed Sue Mckinney's jeep to a little house not far off to deliver a wheelchair to an elderly woman who had suffered a stroke and had since been lying in bed receiving full time care, unable to venture outside at all.
While there we met a young girl of twenty three who has what seems to be catarax so we're going to try and see what we can do.
We've just arrived back at our hotel and said our goodbyes to Adam and Marie who are now on their way back to Cambodia.
I hope everyone has an amazing day while we're off to stake out a fitting place for a Christmas lunch in Viet Nam.

- Jorji

In the spirit of Christmas...

Merry Christmas to all who have been following our blog. We have appreciated your thoughts and support from afar.

The team is about to undertake a distrubution of wheelchairs to victims of landmine accidents and other paralysing diseases spawned from the use of agent orange during the Vietnam War. One of the wheelchairs has been donated by the Rotary Club of Melbourne South at a cost of US $165. We are very pleased to be making this contribution. The remainder of the chairs have been sponsored by an American professor.

It is with a great deal of pride that undertake this activity on Christmas Day; not for our own self-gratification, but for spirit of giving that surrounds Christmas and forms the core of Eyes Wide Open.

Merry Christmas,

Sue, Jorji, Michael, James and Lena.

pics of 24 Dec 08...

Rotarians: Lena, Sue, Robin and Sue

Jorji Explains

...So after the museum everyone headed back to the hotel while Marie came with me to get my second rabies shot. (an encounter with a Gibbon in phnom penh, don't worry it was just a scratch!)
We had lunch at a great cafe/restaurant called Ciao, freshened up at the hotel and then jumped in to a mini van to go to the market for supplies to bring to the women at the Unwed Mothers Home of Ho Chi Minh City run by Sister Pascal.
Michael had wrapped some soap donated by Rotary in some gorgeous tissue paper which the girls there absolutely loved as well as our donation of fresh fruit.
When we arrived at the Unwed Mothers Home we talked to Sister Pascal about her help centres and were introduced to the ten women that were staying there, after which we bought some of the trinkets that the women had made (silk quilts, money purses, bracelets, keychains etc) and then went on a tour around the buillding.
We left the home at around 5 and headed to Sue Mckinney's Christmas dinner where we met some rotarians and got a chance to look around Sue's home and see some of the amazing pieces she's colleted.
Our mini van picked us up at 8.30 pm and took us back to the hotel, after which we had a refreshing drink at Ciao (as we've become quite fond of the place) and now we've just got back to get ready for bed and an early start tomorrow to donate wheelchairs.

Merry Christmas everyone!
We'll keep you posted and will be seeing you in a few days!

- Jorji

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Sorry for the typo! it was late after a huge day...

Merry Christmas :)

Jorji Explains

This morning we woke bright and early to have breakfast before heading over to the war remnants museum.
When I first entered the building and saw the horrific photos of mutilated bodies lying in streets and the disfigured children that had been affected while in the womb from napalm blasts etc I was absolutely mortified.
The Viet Nam war isn't actually fully taught in Melbourne schools other than to depict Australia's brief involvement (well at least that's from my personal experience), so what I haven't read about of my own accord was right there in front of me.
The saying that a picture says a thousand words is completely appropriate.
I looked on at the photos in complete horror as the complete truth was finally revealed to me.
I probably would've stood there for hours, just contemplating the cruelty in the world and how man can stand to commit these terrible acts, if a school group hadn't asked to have their picture taken with me.
Just as they were asking me what Eyes Wide Open was, an officer came up to us and told them (rather aggressively) that they weren't allowed to talk to foreigners.
That shook me a little more than I had been from the effects of the museum, the fact that some of these kids simply aren't allowed to find out more about a person and what they stand for simply because they were born in another country...

American Remnants Museum

It doesn't matter what side you are on or what spin you want to apply - war is ugly.  Our visit to the American Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) was in stark contrast to our other group projects during our tour with Eyes Wide Open.  Whereas Green Gecko, Future Light, Sunrise projects are all about people caring for those less fortunate, respect and compassion, the Remnants Museum demonstrated the horrors that humans are capable of in times of war and occupation.  Whilst this particular museum had an agenda to push, which was very obvious, the same pictures could easily have hung in the Cambodian Genocide Museum or the Holocaust Memorial or the Displays from Changi Prison- just the faces would have been different.  A strange experience on the day before Christmas but I guess it just underpins the importance of the humanitarian work that is ongoing in the world which is a counter-balance to the atrocities of war in any country.   

-Sue

Gift of Music

Hi Everyone,

First time blogger here - it seems these countries provide ample oportunities for new experiences!

I haven't tried my hand at this new fangled way of communication but I have been making notes in my trusty note book - but I decided I had to tell you all about the chance I had to donate the guitar I brought with me from Australia.

Before leaving Australia I had emailed my friends and family asking if they would be interested in donating some funds so that I could purchase a guitar, strings, music books etc to take with me to Cambodia. I thought it would be fun to sing a few songs with the children we were visiting and then eventually leave the guitar where it seemed most appropriate.

For those of you that know me are probably thinking what did those poor children do to suffer my guitar playing - harsh..... but fair! However it all went very well as the photos show (sound not included luckily). I was surprised that Christmas songs seemed the most popular - a rousing chorus of Jingle Bells was unexpected but great fun. I was starting to worry a little that I wasnt going to find a suitable place to dontate the guitar - as I wanted to give it to someone that understood the instrument and could change strings and tune it - otherwise it would just have been a waste.

As it turned out I need not have worried because when we visited the Sunrise Childrens Village one of the first things we saw was a guitar student and his teacher having a lesson with one guitar between them - problem solved. After we had a jam near the childrens play area - many Khmer folk songs ensued. I explained that I intended to leave the guitar with them and the music teacher was thrilled as it now gave him an oportunity to show his student chords without having to share the one guitar. I was really pleased that the idea has such a great outcome and I want to take this oportunity to thank everyone who donated some money to the guitar and to also let you know that I raised 100USD more that I needed for the instrument so I have donated 50USD to the Future Light Orphanage and will donate the other 50 USD at one of Vietnam projects where it is most needed.

Christmas is just around the corner and I can assure you that the gifts donated and the money donated have helped to brighten the world of some wonderful children. Whilst I'm thanking people I would just like to than Barry Dorr from Jo-Jo's publishing for the great Childrens books which have been enthusiastically received, Steve Berry for the great T-Shirts (featured in many of the shots) and finally to my great parents, Jen & Kev, for their financial support and also for the colorful recorders - which the kids just love.

One of my most humerous memories so far is seeing one of the boys from Green Gecko leaving on the back of a motorbike with one of his family, orange recorder in hand. So now we are off to discover Ho Chi Mhin City so I hope you are all enjoying the blog and our adventures. Have a wonderful Christmas - see you when we get back!!

Sue.

Jorji Explains

So we arrived here in Ho Chi Min City at 2.30 pm after crossing the border in a coach. The trip took us 6 1/2 hours from Phnom Penh.
There is an amazingly vast difference between Cambodia and Vietnam, Vietnam is so much further developed - It's crazy!
The whole city seems to always be in a rush, streets are crowded and shopkeepers are selling you their wares at every turn.
It's scary when you make an attempt to cross the main roads, even at the pedestrian crossings, so much so that as soon as I got to the other side I patted myself down and yelled, "I'm alive!"
We've had the afternoon off to explore and it's an experience in itself trying to make your way around without getting lost, although I have to admit that Sue and I did walk a bit far and had to get a taxi back to the hotel.
I miss Cambodia but I think once I get used to it, Ho Chi Min City will begin to appeal to me.

That's all for now,
We'll keep you posted!
- Jorji

Sunrise Children's Village - Monday 22 December

Some of you may know Adelaide ex-pat Geraldine Cox from her book, "Home Is Where The Heart Is", or from her publicity on 60 minutes, or from newspaper photos featuring her unmistakable red hair that is always tied in a high bun. She is the founder of Sunrise Children's Village which is located about 25km outside of Phnom Penh.

Although we did not get to meet Geraldine, (she is in Australia on holidays), we met over 50 of her children who are living testament to her commitment to bettering the lives of Phnom Penh's poorest children.

The orphanage cares for over 130 orphans whose mostly only have one parent, usually too poor to care for them. They arrive as babies or toddlers and spend the rest of their childhood in the care of the live-in nannies. They take it in turns to cook and do chores around the orphanage. They of course go to school and undertake extra curricular activities such as dance lessons and sport. SUnrise is located on a magnificent 4 hectare property which is managed on a voluntary basis by a former Echuca dairy farmer, Michael. He and his wife have lived in Phnom Penh for three years and as Michael says, "Mowing lawns and putting a smile on these kids' faces is far better than milking cows at 5am in the morning"!

Michael has a special relationship with one young orphan. He was brought to Sunrise at eight-months of age after both of his parents died of HIV. He developed a special bond with Michael because most of the staff were too scared to touch him. As it turns out, the young boy, now three, is actually HIV negative. Apparently the test results can show up either way when children are very young.

I met with Chamreon, one of Sunrise's senior staff members. He is looking forward to more Eyes Wide Open groups visiting in the future. There are many ways groups can interact with the children: there are tennis courts, open fields to play soccer or AFL, a music room, classrooms for English teaching and a library for story time! There is even a playground which was built by Rotary Clubs in District 9800! In fact, many Rotarians from the 9800 District sponsor children at the orphanage. I can report that their contributions are guaranteeing these children will have opportunities to learn and develop, hopefully educating them to the point that they can earn a good income in their adult life thus breaking the cycle of poverty within their communities.

The pictures James took speak for themselves.

Lena

Jorji Explains

Yesterday we had the morning off so we decided to check out the markets to find some good presents for our loved ones back home.
After meeting back at the hotel we jumped into the mini-van and ate our lunch on the way to the Sunrise Children's village.
As soon as we got there we were asked for our passports so that they could be scanned and then led on a tour.
However some of us didn't make it around the whole tour as we were dragged off by children who wanted to show us their friends and favourite parts of the village.
When the tour (with not many of us left after the children were through) finished, we made our way to the dance/music hall to watch all of the gorgeous younger children tell us stories of romance, hunting and joy through traditional dance.
The kids came down of the stage rather excitedly and surrounded us, playing with our hair and telling us as much about themselves in english as they could manage.
Everyone then hurried to the playground where we played with the children until near exhaustion - they have so much energy!
Sue donated her guitar to them (they had an amazing music program with a few guitar students so they really enjoyed it)
When it was time to head home we were all a little bit upset as the children were rushing to say their goodbyes but we thoroughly enjoyed making them smile.
When we got back to the hotel we had 15 minutes to freshen up before our sunset boat cruise over the Mekong, after which we headed to an american diner for some food to remind us of home.
We are now on a bus ride to Vietnam, will post when we get there.

- Jorji

King of the Kids