For many years, the Rotary Club of Mt Eliza has proudly supported the Overseas Development through Art (ODA) School in Siem Reap, Cambodia, helping provide opportunities, education and stability for vulnerable children.
At a recent club meeting, longstanding Friend of RCME and ODA Communications and Fundraising Coordinator, Shirley Hawe, shared an update on the incredible progress being made at the ODA boarding school and its journey towards greater self-sufficiency.
Each year, RCME has funded school uniforms for students at ODA. In Cambodia, uniforms are essential for children to attend school, making this support a practical and meaningful investment in education and opportunity. Over the years, many RCME members have also visited ODA firsthand, strengthening the connection between our club and the community it supports.
Today, ODA is taking an important step towards producing more of its own food to feed the children living at the boarding school.
With funding from the Rotary Club of Mt Eliza, supported by a Rotary Foundation District Grant through Rotary District 9815, a new tractor has been purchased for the ODA Kulen Farm.
And the timing could not be better.
The tractor has been delivered , just as Cambodia's wet season gets underway. While the fields are only beginning to soften, its arrival will be perfectly timed to prepare and cultivate the land.
Leng and the older residential children at ODA are reportedly thrilled and cannot wait to see the tractor in action.
The farm is already making a significant contribution to the school. A colleague who recently spent almost a month at ODA described the farm as "quite amazing" and was particularly impressed by the quality of the fresh food being brought into ODA several times a week. Having previously owned a restaurant, he commented that the quality was good enough for his own kitchen.
The vision is for the farm to provide an increasing proportion of the fresh food required for the boarding and residential children. By producing food locally, ODA can reduce costs and redirect valuable resources towards other areas of need, while providing children with fresh and nutritious meals.
For ODA, the tractor is much more than a piece of farming equipment. It is an investment in sustainability, self-sufficiency and the long-term wellbeing of the children.
ODA's Leng has expressed his sincere gratitude to the Rotary Club of Mt Eliza for its kindness, patience and commitment throughout the process of securing a tractor robust enough to handle the farm.
He also hopes that, in the future, RCME members travelling to Siem Reap will have the opportunity to visit ODA, tour the farm and see the tractor working firsthand. Visitors will also have the opportunity to see the village schools and experience the broader impact of ODA's work in the community.
This is one of the wonderful things about Rotary partnerships. What begins as financial support can grow into something much bigger: a practical project, a sustainable solution, stronger relationships and opportunities for members to see the impact of their contribution firsthand.
The Rotary Club of Mt Eliza looks forward to following the progress of the ODA Kulen Farm and celebrating the first harvest made possible with the help of its new tractor.
This is Rotary in action: supporting education, sustainability and brighter futures through international partnership and community collaboration.
