First Time

My first visit to Cambodia in 2004 was to experience what the country was like.

The first place I visited is a vocational training centre at Kg Speu. A 2 hours drive eastward from the Pochengtong International Airport. They teach english and basic hospitality management for the hotel industry. The students are orphans from nearby orphanages who has grown up and poor rural villagers in desperate need to be equipped with basic vocational skills to be economically viable.


They had their official opening ceremony in October 2004 and the architech was receiving his recognition for his contribution to the training centre.

Next, I went eastward, a 8 hours drive, crossing the Mekong river on a ferry to an orphanage in Prey Veng. The name Prey Veng means long forest but the place is currently a barren land with all its trees cutdown! One of the poorest province in Cambodia. and firewood is expensive.


The orphanage is located in the main town of Prey Veng. A former residence of the French ambasodor, French Mansion. Renovated to house 120 orphans. It has about eigthy orphans when it started. It is supported by sponsors who believed in helping the poor orphans.





The food at the orphanage is simple, always a one dish meal. Rice is plentiful but not the dish.



I visited a poor villager, his house is behind. A small house which can be carried by four persons. There is no electricity. They use kerosene lamp for lighting at night, made from a used tin can.

My first hand experience of poverty in a third world country. This is my journey on technology for the poor where if possible, I can make a difference.