ActionAid Australia, a global anti-poverty agency, has been working in Cambodia to help farmers and their families create and build sustainable farming livelihoods. Since 2006, ActionAid has worked with these communities affected by landmines. The focus of ActionAid’s community development projects is now on increasing incomes through better farming techniques, training farmers in important business skills, such as selling and negotiating prices for their produce, and the benefits of rain tanks, water storage and management knowledge so that the productivity of farmers continues to rise. These skills together will help these communities start to build their own small businesses and farming co-operatives – initiatives that mean more food for themselves and their children as well as additional income.This March we are organising a First Hand Experience trip to Cambodia. It is set as a fun, physical challenge (cycling 50-90kms per day) – aimed at getting you out of your comfort zone! It is also a fundraising challenge – to raise money to support ActionAid’s work around the world. It’s all part of having an incredible life-changing experience. The area where we will be working is one of our Child Sponsorship areas so it’s a great opportunity to see how your support directly benefits the communities – whether it’s through better education, training for women or improved water facilities.
It’s a 10 day adventure, 6 days of cycling through the breathtaking countryside of Cambodia, where you will visit the incredible ruins of Angkor Wat, and the vibrant city of Phnom Penh. After that you will spend several days at one of our current projects, working alongside the local community, sharing their hardships, their progress and their joy first-hand as you work in partnership to change their lives for the better. These First Hand Experience adventures raise between $40,000 and $100,000 on average which will make a massive difference to the communities.
Are you passionate about traveling and making a difference? ActionAid would love for you to get involved. While the actual trip does not take place until March, the registration deadline is coming up. If you are registered before November 1st you will go into the draw to win some great prizes; we have great outdoor clothing and accessories from GORE-TEX ® (value $900), DEUS Cycleworks ($300) and North Sails ($150) as well as a trip from Greater Port Macquarie Tourism ($2,000).
The ActionAid Australia site has all the details, including an information pack which you can download. Visit our site to learn more.
We would love to hear from you and hope you’ll join us on this amazing journey. It will be a ride of a lifetime!
---Guest post from Hannah DeMilta
