Charity support
Matt would like to ask you to take a moment to read a little about a charity that is very close to his heart.
Reach Siam Reap October Challenge 2021 – “A Pound a Pedal”
Schools in Cambodia have now been closed for 19 months as a result of the global pandemic. The vaccination programme has been well received and rates are high, resulting in the government preparing to re-open schools.
The families struggle is very real. The U.N. calculated the hypothetical rise of poverty in this region in 2019, predicting that the impoverished population would increase to 17.6%, more than two times the count in 2019. The unemployment rate in Cambodia in 2020 was 3.2%, much higher than the 2019 rate of 0.7%
For REACH students to return to their government school and help enable the poverty cycle to be broken they need basic school resources, including a school uniform and a stationary set. Sadly these incur additional fees that most parents are unable to fund. The struggles with daily life since losing their jobs due to Covid are hard, putting food on the table takes precedence over school supplies.
I have raised $1992.00 which will allow 100 children to return to school with:
- A brand-new public-school uniform
- A pencil case with pens, pencils, ruler and eraser
- Graph books for all their classes
I am very proud of the support from my network, having had old school friends, clients of Cogent and family donate to the cause.
Now to think of what we can do to support in 2022 and beyond…
Matt was fortunate to be able to spend some time travelling after University, he visited and worked in amazing places but the one that stood out, was Cambodia, particularly Siam Reap and Koh Rong Samloem. Obviously, the sunshine and lifestyle played a part but it was the people who had the greatest effect, their warmth and zest for life in the face of, what we would view in the west, adversity and hardship, is a lesson to us all. They have nothing but they have everything. Matt left the country with a different perspective….
Please, if you have a moment visit their website:
https://reachsiemreap.org/pages/donation
Matt set himself some challenges in January, one of which was to support a charity ran by a friend, Reach Siem Reap. Focusing on supporting families most in need; providing education, food, shelter and much more!
Steve (Matt’s brother) and him took part in Side-by-Side ride alongside youths who were part of the programme. Whilst they cycled 200kms across the Cambodian countryside, we unfortunately had to settle for the pot hole ridden roads of the UK. After 5 months of training they were joined, virtually by 55 people from 11 countries who cycled, ran, walked, skated and rowed the 200Km Side by Side. What an achievement for those young people who took part, knowing that they trained, cycled and their efforts have helped keep their NGO in operation during these Covid times. Back in the UK we raised over $2500.
In Cambodia the dollar stretches so far, and an example of what a small amount of money can provide.
$35 – provides a family of 5 with monthly food and hygiene support
$50 – repairs and modifies 4 broken bicycles
$75 – can pay the whole schools electricity bill
Reach Siem Reap is built on strong core values and he truly believes that every penny is spent on delivering the greatest impact possible. Matt hopes to return to Cambodia in the near future, to see some old friends, maybe coach a bit of sport and to support future projects in anyway he can.
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