A Hoppers Crossing father and son are heading to Cambodia later this year to help rebuild a floating school.
Mathew O’Donnell, son Patrick, 13, and 11 others from Apex, will fly to Cambodia in September to begin work on a school on Tonle Sap Lake that is in a state of disrepair.
The group is also hoping to raise enough money to fund 1000 cataract operations at the Battambang Opthalmic Clinic, which relies on private donations.
The operations cost $40 per person.
“The clinic is helping us to source local material and labour to help repair the school so all the money we spend will be going back into the community,” Mr O’Donnell said.
“We will be staying at the school site while we’re repairing it and then it will be in-home stays.”
Mr O’Donnell said the trip came about after an Apex club in Wagga, New South Wales, visited Cambodia in 2013 to build wells and toilet blocks. From there, Apex Australia turned the aid program into a national priority, urging all clubs to do what they could to help.
The O’Donnells have already raised close to $10,000 for the trip, thanks to the support of the community and Patrick’s school, Hoppers Crossing Secondary College.
They hope to increase this total by hosting a dinner on May 31 at Bopha Devi Cambodian restaurant at Docklands.
Details: mathew_odonnell@yahoo.com.au
Laura Michell
