About Me

Sok Sobi. I enjoy taking pictures of people and places, particular interest in Landscape, People and Travel photography. Pictures and stories that bring Social Awareness and the potential for long term social change or policy are important to me. I use Canon Digital Cameras (EOS 2,4 plus ,Fuji X Pro 1,2 XT2,3 Xe1,2) with a selection of Canon lenses, the 24-105 IS f4L being my favourite at present. I use Lightroom & Photoshop Elements to edit my work. Canon equipment and lenses give me just what I need, reliability and high IQ. I am now living and working in Cambodia, South East Asia, using Phnom Penh as a base to explore the region. I publish stories that are important to me on my blog but always try to give a balanced picture.

Friday 5 April 2013

Volunteer House Builders from Tabatha Foundation, Cambodia

I have just spent a most interesting and informative couple of days in Battambong Province, Cambodia with a Volunteer house building group from Tabatha Foundation .

The foundation set up in 1994 by Janne Ritskes, a dual citizen of Cambodia and Canada with 20 years of international experience with integrated community development programs and cottage industry.


Lets get started. Day 1

This group of people came together as a team from across the globe, from Germany, USA, Israel and Canada, to help complete 10 homes for 10 Cambodia families living near Battambong.

Nailing floors was harder than it seemed

The group worked hard in the heat of the Cambodian dry season with temperatures above 30'C, and found the work challenging. Many had obviously not wielded a hammer and nails much before but they certainly gave it there best shot with skill and support provided by Steve Wrigley and Margaret Ellwanger who did a wonderful job on First Aide dealing with all the blistered hands and Steve filling in the gaps and getting the job done. The locals whose houses were being finished also threw their weight behind the job and after two, long hot days, the houses were completed.

Working together.

Steve get the job done.
 

The village women waited patiently, but with obvious anticipation, for their new homes to be finished.

Waiting with anticipation to move into their new homes
The job was completed on time and the new homes, that these people have saved hard for, will give them a base to work towards new goals with the support of the Tabatha Foundation.

More pictures from the trip can be found here