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Books For Chres Library

Soon students from Chres Village Orphanage will have their library filled with books.

On a Quad Bike tour in March 09, after being shown around the Chres village orphanage, Tanya Jaw was immediately struck by the small number of books available in the school library.

“For over 400 students, one shelf of books was obviously not enough. After speaking with the caretaker and teacher, Phat Fiphon, I soon learnt books in English were difficult to find in Cambodia. For a school which teaches English, this was a definite set-back”.

Returning to Australia, as part of a Self Expression and Leadership Program, Tanya embarked on a community project to stock the library.

“Every year local libraries and schools stock-take to replenish their books, so it was a perfect way to recycle and obtain books for the orphanage at the same time”, she said.

The State Library made up any shortfall with an enormous donation of hundreds of books.

Retired teacher, Kevin Anderson begins the heavy task of packing the books.

A few phone-calls to various shipping companies, recycling firms and Tanya soon had boxes, a warehouse and a means to ship onto Cambodia.

“Companies have been extraordinarily generous with their help; special thanks to Betta Boxes and Continental Freight Services for their advice and assistance. Without people saying yes to what I was doing, none of this would have been possible”.

Students from Hamilton Senior High School were equally generous with their time, cleaning and boxing books for shipment. Every year students from Hamilton Senior High School volunteer their time to community projects, so the project was an opportunity to demonstrate their skills.

Hamilton High School students busy sorting books

“Principal, Val House has a marvelous ’can do’ approach and the students are equally supportive. I would love to involve them in more projects in the future”, Tanya said.

With the books underway, Tanya will be back in Cambodia in October to check the shipment and whatever else the library requires.

“A Singaporean business will be building shelves in December, so we can plan the layout. Any excess can be moved onto another school nearby, so they too can benefit”.

If all goes well, Tanya hopes to continue supplies of books to the orphanage each year so students will always have new material to use.

Finally, ready to go…