BUILDING a house in a third world country is a big task – but one sisters Alana Hannaford and Tameeka Rush are determined to see through.
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The Ballarat siblings will travel to Siem Reap, Cambodia on Saturday to help locally-run charity Volunteer Building Cambodia build a house for an in need family of four.
The charity is ethically run and helps equip locals with skills and knowledge to gain jobs in construction and build their own houses.
Ms Hannaford, who has worked with the charity before, said the charity was distinct from condemned “voluntourism” groups that were accused of exploiting vulnerable people.
The sisters will work alongside local community members and the family – which includes a mother and her three primary school aged children – to create a stable environment that will equip the family with independence and stability.
In the lead up to their trip, the sisters have raised more than $6000. Nearly $3000 will be used for the housing materials while the rest will be donated to Life Project Cambodia- an education fund.
The organisation focuses on breaking the poverty cycle for children through education.
“The principles of this organisation are really well aligned (with my beliefs),” Ms Hannaford said.
“Often children in ‘orphanages’ – their parents are still alive, that is a really awful commercial aspect of ‘voluntourism’.
“By working on this building we can have a positive impact without the negative social implications.”
A local social worker will conduct periodic impact assessments after the building is complete – to inform the charity of the impact the building has had on the family.
“The girl who I built the house for (last year) wasn’t working – she had never had a door with a lock,” Ms Hannaford said.
“Since she moved into the house, she is sleeping and working in the field and is reportedly really happy.”
The local charity convener is currently in the process of establishing a workshop to locally make building parts – which give locals more work and income.
“Whenever I have been to third world country I have tried to donate, but when I went to Cambodia I was really perplexed what to. This has fulfilled that goal.”