This evening Margaret and I each received an award by Rotary International for our work over ten years in Cambodia. How nice, the citation says we made a difference! We’ve each received the Paul Harris Fellow Award.
The Rotary movement was founded in February 1905, by Paul Harris, a lawyer from Chicago, who recognized the potential of an association of like-minded professional and business people who could meet and share common interests on a regular basis. In 1957, the Rotary Foundation launched the Paul Harris Fellowship in memory of the founder as an expression of appreciation for those who have contributed to the Foundation’s humanitarian and educational programs.
We also received a cheque for $500 – we know just what we’ll do with that – buy a second-hand “remok” (Khmer). Just what we need to transport rice from the paddy fields. Also we have in mind providing transport for our village children on Sundays for computer lesson at the finely equipped library of the national Youth Centre. It’s under-utlised and they’ve given our associate, Kourosh, permission to use it for free. I think they’d be glad to show their Korean donors that it’s money well-spent!