Life is full of coincidences. Like the time Nick and I flew into Australia from Brunei where we were living with our three daughters, settled into a hotel then started chatting to the first person we met in the bar there. No, we didn't know him but we knew all his friends, we had lots in common and we both had had homes in Worcester. Well today was another day a bit like that. 

Over the last few days I had announced that I was suspending all energies apart from keeping my sewing, Play and Share, groups going and my next few weeks were to be concentrated on introducing a hygiene programme into both schools. Nick would keep the English work going in a scaled down but beautifully planned way. As we only have about a month left here I was determined that we would make a mark in this area. Over the years the level of personal cleanliness does not seem to have improved so this week was going to be IT! I'd been to the market, bought up brushes and soap, hand wash and bowls ready for SSF Wonder Wash Week.

Then we get an email that Phoeum, one of our English teachers, was bringing in a lot of University students to introduce the importance of hygiene to our Grade 4, 5 and 6 students at Kurata. Not only that, parents too were invited in, exposed to the evils of diarrhea, dengue and other problems, and it was all happening this Sunday. Brilliant!

So Nick and I, along with some local friends headed out there to see how it was going. 

What a great turn out ! One room contained parents and children of various ages and the other held our  students. Each set was receiving excellent instruction from Health Care students about the need for health awareness in a fun but informative way. Many questions were asked, some laughs had and the Wonder Wash Week was launched. So a very fortuitous coincidence and we hope in future we will continue these important links.

So WWW will hopefully get going this week. The sewing group will be encouraged to use some hand made puppets to get the message across, some posters will be made by the children, some demonstration on hand washing will be given and we hope to have some lasting impact on the good health of our children and their families. One concerning problem discussed by parents was how they often hate going into town to the clinics or hospitals. They find the overworked staff there rather rude and abrupt and doctors get angry that children weren't brought in earlier. So a vicious circle ensues. Vebol was made aware of this and we hope earlier intervention in health matters will make a difference.

And more accidents!

As previous readers will be aware Vebol has had a nasty accident but is now back at school on light duties after coming off his moto. Last week also saw Jim, our volunteer coordinator, being struck by a moto while on his bike. Despite chipped tooth, cuts, grazes, shock and needing stitches he has still managed to preserve his good looks (he believes) ready for his return to the US this week. The roads are certainly a lot busier now as high season approaches and cycling doesn't hold the attraction it had earlier on.  (Nick has also sprained his ankle slightly - or, as he puts it 'broken his navicular metatarsal talus in several places'.  Anyway, he is limping in an exaggerated way and hoping to gain attention.)

And finally ...

We send our best wishes to Danny Spitler and his intrepid friends who are hiking through the Grand Canyon in order to raise money for the Spitler School Foundation.  And - once again - you can contribute by clicking on the link to the right. Or go to:

www.razoo.com/story/Canyon-To-Cambodia