Cambodia Day 11: Prey Veng

Today we had an early start as we left for a Cambodian village near Prey Veng at 7 AM. Therewere three groups today; one from Sovann, one from Millbrook and another from the local university. We traveled south to a ferry and crossed the Mekong River in Cambodian style. After an hour long ride over a barely improved road we arrived at the school. The government built the school but did not fund it with any teachers nor any school supplies or books, not even a bathroom! Additionally, this village did not have a well until two weeks ago when SKOPE, which is a community outreach program started by Ruth Lemon at Sovann,  put a in the first well.  We helped finish the well by making concrete and grading the top of the well. Other students helped to finish a playground which had been designed by Jack, a boy from Sovann. Still other groups helped plant trees in around the school. We finished the day by handing out 50 individual water filtration units as no one in the village had access to truly clean water until today. After another trip across the Mekong we headed back to Savon to finish up the last bit of painting on the playground that the rain stopped yesterday. After a short break the community hosted us to a banana boat launchIng.  These quite large and well-designed boats were made the previous day. They are generally sent off during the water Festival when the Tonle Sap River changes direction after the end of the rainy season. Notes, money, incense, and candles are included and sent down the river. We then had a wonderful meal cooked by the local Sovann families. This was followed up by the Millbrook students performing riptide and twinkle twinkle little star featuring Ben Berg.  Then the Cambodian students played and sang two of their favorite traditional songs for us. After a short dance party everyone was exhausted and happy and we had to say goodbye to our new friends.