In March 2005, the West Pearl Harbor Rotary Club, lead by past club president Mark Silliman, completed the first and second water wells located in Phnom Srong, a small rural farming community about 40 miles outside the capitol city of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. But it had been earlier in Fall 2004 that the West Pearl Harbor Rotary Club first began its humanitarian outreach to Cambodia with the delivery of clothes and money to the KruaSaa Thmay (New Family) Orphanage. The project was so successful that interest quickly grew to respond also to the harsh realities reported by UNICEF: "A child dies every 15 seconds from water-related diseases. This amounts to nearly 6,000 deaths every day; the equivalent of 20 jumbo jets crashing." (WHO/UNICEF (2002). Global Water Supply and Sanitation Assessment 2000 Report. Geneva.)

With the combined help of the Venerable Monk Sau Wain, Abbot of the Phnom Srong Monastery, donations from generous Hawaii residents, and the West Pearl Harbor Rotary Club, the Club was able to complete the third and fourth wells by November 2005. When Mark first approached the Phnom Srong community in 2004, he anticipated that the construction of a well might cost several thousand dollars. To his great surprise, he learned that the total cost (including labor and materials) would be no more than $500. "Given the nominal cost," Mark commented, "how can one walk away and do nothing." Mark also learned that costs are kept low because many community members and resident monks volunteer to help dig the wells.

Last fall the Venerable Monk Sau Wain grimly reported four deaths in the drought stricken area due to the lack of water. Tragically the very old and the very young are the most affected by the parched conditions. With the advent of the New Year, the West Pearl Harbor Rotary Club plans to sustain their resolve to finance and enable the digging of new wells in order to help stem the tide of deaths.

With barely enough water to subsist, traditional backyard agriculture no longer yields enough produce to enable the community to survive. As an alternative, the Venerable Monk Sau Wain envisioned establishing a new cottage industry that revolves around the spinning and weaving of silk. "A loom can be purchased for just $150," he explained. "With a modest amount of start-up revenue, we can teach silk weaving to unemployed women, and give them a fighting chance." Thus far, Mark reports that donations for the well and the loom projects have been substantial; notwithstanding, fundraising will continue until he returns to Cambodia in November 2006. "It's heartening to see people give, even modest amounts, when they see that their contributions are saving lives."

If you are interested in learning more about the West Pearl Harbor Rotary Club's humanitarian projects in Cambodia or in making a donation, contact Dr. Mark Silliman, the Club's current Director of International Service, at sillimanm001@hawaii.rr.com

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