Koh Rumdual is an island located 25km from the Phnom Penh town centre on the Bassac River, in the district of Takmao. The island, previously known as Koh Kor, is home to over three hundred Cambodians who were displaced during the Pol Pot regime. Many of these people are widows or handicapped with very little access to medical facilities, food, clean drinking water and other basic amenities.
The land on the island was provided by the Cambodian government with the hope that those inhabiting the land would one day become self-sufficient. They live in bamboo huts constantly in need of maintenance and repairs. These small single room huts are often overcrowded with some housing three generations of family members. Given that nearly all of the islanders are uneducated, they find it not only extremely difficult to make a living, but also challenging to break the cycle of poverty, struggling on a daily basis to teach their children the necessary skills needed to improve their quality of life.
July 2015
In July of this year, The University of Technology Sydney travelled to Koh Rumdual and built another four houses on the island for those families most in need. The build was lead by University lecturer, Dr. Michael Er, who described the trip as a great success with all students getting involved and delivering on all four houses.
The original plan was for students to also complete work on the roof of the community/training centre. However, due to safety reasons with working at heights, this did not go ahead. As a result, The Fenwick Foundation is currently in discussions with The Family Care Foundation on the Island to arrange for a contractor to complete the roof once the total funds have been raised.
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