STTC Cambodia Impact Tour - Saturday 24 November

We started the day with a good breakfast before heading out across the paddy fields to the mountain we were to climb. It was a steep climb to the top that only saw one person drop out from the exertion.

When we arrived back at Sunshine House we were greeted by water pistols and a massive water fight ensued.

After a quick lunch we were all packed up ready to head back to Phnom Penh.

Arriving back at our hotel we hit our rooms to freshen up before heading out to The Blue Pumpkin for dinner.

The before shot:

and the After shot:















The Royal Palace - lit up in mourning for the late king

Enjoying the lounges at The Blue Pumpkin

STTC Cambodia Impact Tour - Friday 23 November

The power has just gone out again so this blog post will appear gradually as long as the laptop power lasts.

Today has seen the completion of our work here at Sunshine House. The boys have worked extremely hard in conditions that would have seen a lot of tradies downing tools and hitting the pub. They have worked diligently and to a high standard and they can feel very proud of what they've achieved this week.

As well as a new computer lab, we have been able to install fans and upgrade the wiring, lighting and power outlets in the childrens and guest hut rooms, install whiteboards in all the classrooms and install a TV/DVD unit in the Toddler's classroom. Very little of which would have been possible without a very generous donation.

Tonight was also the Sunshine House Concert. We had just sat down when the lightning and thunder that had been teasing us all evening turned into solid rain which threatened to drown out the concert with its drumming on the tin roof. However the show - as they say - must go on and the enthusiasm was unabated by the weather. Our boys put in a guest appearance and even unearthed some hidden song-writing and Hula Hoop skills.

Tomorrow we climb a nearby mountain straight after breakfast before arriving back to Sunshine House for a water fight and lunch followed by our drive back to Phnom Penh. 

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Do you ever feel like you're being watched...?  - photo by Mrs Fairclough


Our first gastro casualty

Started life as a vortex - now a dodgeball








Up in the roof it was broiling. The guys couldn't have been wetter when they got down if they were
testing a sprinkler system



Thanks to a generous donation, we have been able to do much more than just the computer lab.
We have also been able to install additional lights and fans in the bunkhouses and classrooms...

...whiteboards in all the classrooms and a new tv/dvd in the toddlers classroom.








We had one minor miss-hap...

...which is why Nick wears this hat

For some reason, Ben chose to do this to himself - it wasn't a punishment

Re-hydrating after working in the roof-space

"IT Guy" (Mr Bullard) - photo by Mr Bolt

photo by Mr Bolt

photo by Mr Bolt

Mr Blattman rocking it out at the Concert

STTC Cambodia Impact Tour - Thursday 22 November

We have been at Sunshine house now for 4 days and it has been an amazing experience. This afternoon a few of us went to the markets in the local town. It wasn't as big as the Russian Markets in Phnom Penh but it was still a good experience.The weather is very hot and sticky. Last night was the first time we really talked and played with the kids. They are really cute and funny and just good fun to hang out with. The project is almost finished and on Saturday is the mountain climb. (Liam Mawby)

Today was the second last day of working; all progress is going well and the majority of the work has been completed. While Nic and I were working in the roof of the building in the most severe heat so far on the trip, the rest of the boys proceeded to the markets to freshen up.  The tension is building between the boys which is going to be a challenge to keep it in. We have one more day of work and in two days we are back off to the hotel to freshen up! Seriously looking forward to the pool! (Toby Foster)

The boys have been working really hard in mid thirty degree heat and 85% humidity. They have really been doing a fantastic job and we are really proud of their quality of work and their work ethic. The younger children in the orphanage have had a fantastic time wrestling and playing with the boys and the older boys have had great patience playing volleyball with our boys.  As I finish writing this the power has just gone out across the area. Good thing iPhones and laptops have batteries. (Mr J-P)

The progress so far...


Installing new fans in the visitors huts



The boys from both countries have bonded around the volleyball court



The boys have been well and truly adopted as big brothers






Pushing into overtime to get the benches finished ready to install
computers tomorrow.

A moment to rest at the end of a long, very hot day



Thumb Wars is a big favorite

STTC Cambodia Impact Tour - Wednesday 21 November

Today was our third day at Sunshine House. We started off the day with the usual 6am start, which was followed by some intense electrical work with the boys. We worked for half the day and at lunch time 11 lucky students and 2 staff were able to experience the rush and stench of one of the local markets of Kampong Speu. There we saw a lot of things that we were not used to seeing such as meat sitting on the open floors and all different types of clothing and traditional instruments. Later on this arvo us trade boys played against the children of Sunshine House in a game of volleyball which we got flogged in, and then Liam Mawby went to bed. (Nic Groom)

So far its been very repetitive with the work but still getting a lot out of it - an experience we will never forget! We woke up at 6am to Mr King bursting through the doors telling us to get up. After breakfast we had 10 to 15 minutes and then got straight into work. The boys worked hard and fast 'till 12 when lunch was served and 11 boys and 2 teachers went off t o the markets while 9 of us stayed back as the metal boys started installing the tables into the classroom and the electrical boys started to paint the room. We finished at 3:30pm and we were all pretty proud of our efforts for the day. The rest of the group got back from the markets and we knocked off work to relax or verse the cambodians in either soccer or volleyball except for Liam Markey and myself, who decided to keep painting which we finished at 6, just in time for dinner! (Ben Chopping)

Morning briefing before commencing work for the day - Photo by Mr Bolt

Photo by Mr Bolt

Photo by Mr Bolt

Photo by Mr Bolt

Photo by Mr Bolt

Practicing for the Concert on Friday night



The view from the front gate.

This tree, once the site of death and destruction, now echoes with the laughter of children

The "Pink Hat" - awarded for the biggest mess up of the day...and worn with pride

Photo by Daniel Barnes

Photo by Daniel Barnes







We opted for some local transportation into town for some afternoon shopping

We outsourced the preparation of our blog posts ;-)

STTC Cambodia Impact Tour - Tuesday 20 November

Cambodia so far has been a great experience and a big eye opener for me. The past few days i have seen the way these people live, and  i realise how easy life is back in Australia and how lucky we are to have such luxuries. Today was the second day of working but the first full day. It was very hot and we are constantly sweating throughout the day. I have been doing a lot of conduit work and running cables and everyone in the team is making great progress. We have two more days of full work and I am really looking forward to seeing the finished project  and so are the children in Sunshine House. (Daniel Barnes)

Here at sunshine house we are up to our second day but first full day of work in the hot Cambodian sun, and to make things worse we had to re-do a whole lot of work that had been messed up due to the uneven floor, however it is still great experience filled with smiles from both us Trade Centre boys and the children at Sunshine House. At the moment we are about half way through finishing the computer lab, leaving just some wiring up and installing the benches to go, which should only take a day or two. These past few days have really let me come to terms with how little these people have and how back at home we take our lives for granted. It's been a great experience so far and I'm glad to be able to be a part of it.  (Ben Gatti)