Friday, May 07, 2004

Contact: Bob Warick

Executive Director

University College of the Fraser Valley

Community Relations and Development

Phone: 604-864-4611

Email: warick@ucfv.ca

Cambodian widows to benefit
from UCFV students’ $5,000 fundraising project

In areas of extreme poverty, the most urgent needs are often ones that people in the developed world take for granted: water, food, and shelter. UCFV students have worked hard to ensure that the widows and orphans of Cambodia have access to water to drink as well as to grow food crops to eat and sell. 

The UCFV International Development Student Association has been working with Hope International to raise $5,000 to build 17 water wells that will supply the Cambodian village of Roleap with clean drinking water.

Decades of war, unrest, and its legacies, such as landmines and disease, mean that many women in Cambodia are widows – there are four women for every man in Cambodia – and there are many orphans with no extended family to help them.                                                                            

Hope International is a small Western Canadian aid organization that focuses on the poorest people in the most neglected areas.

“By raising $5,000, UCFV students and the Abbotsford community have been able to help make a whole village of 300 people self-sufficient,” says John King, Hope International's director of development. “There are a great many extremely poor people in Cambodia, but they respond very well to the kind of help we can give them and are very excited about building better lives for themselves.” 

UCFV’s International Development Student Association (IDSA), which is made up of Canadian and international students, promotes international relations and development within the UCFV, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, and the international community. IDSA is more than a development association. It is also intended to be a support group for international students. By participating in development projects and raising awareness on current world issues, students become involved in the community, which helps them to adjust to Canadian culture.  

Douglas Okero, an international UCFV student from Kenya and past president of IDSA, learned about the project when attending a presentation facilitated by Hope International at UCFV. He was fascinated by the idea of participating in a project of such international scope. 

“IDSA has a very rich multicultural dimension with students and members from a variety of countries,” says Okero. “We believe that because of our diverse background and the resources Canada has to offer, we are compelled to also look beyond our borders when choosing projects that assist people in need.”  

IDSA would like to thank the UCFV Community, Abbotsford residents, IDSA members, and all the people who donated generously towards the success of the water project. “All of the donations and support are highly appreciated,” says Okero.

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Photo caption: From left: Douglas Okero, past president UCFV International Development Student Association Karola Stinson, director of UCFV International Education, Jocylene Blanchette, president UCFV International Development Student Association,  Dr. Skip Bassford, President UCFV, John King, HOPE International's director of development.

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