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When my friend Sue rang to ask if I would be interested in going to Nepal with Eyes Wide Open, I practically jumped down the phone at the opportunity to travel to a country I would never have visited of my own volition.  I had heard all about a previous Eyes Wide Open to Vietnam and Cambodia and was inspired and excited by the idea of a broad based humanitarian trip.

Like many people, I harboured an inclination to do some international volunteer work at some stage but doubt anything would have come of it had I not discovered Eyes Wide Open. Confidence in my ability to contribute something positive from within our team waned a little when the only ‘special skill’ I could think up was that I can sing. Slight panic set it when Sue and I were given the task of teaching HIV prevention at the Bhaktapur Women’s Refuge. This was clearly out of our area of expertise and it began to open a Pandora’s box of philosophical questions about the possible negative impact of short term involvement in an unfamiliar culture. However, we studied up on our facts and met with some experts at Melbourne hospitals. Armed with a donation of 288 condoms, we spent an amazing day imparting knowledge that in the simplest sense could potentially help protect these courageous women and their children from contracting HIV. The refuge now has a condom distributing service and over a hundred women now know how they can avoid contracting this potentially fatal disease.

It was after our experience at the Women’s Refuge that the penny dropped as to how anyone can make a difference if they are willing to give some of their most precious commodity; time. The direct contact that Eyes Wide Open afforded in Nepal allowed us to understand in the most tangible way the importance of children learning English to secure a higher paid job in service, tourism, management, finance, teaching, health or education sectors. An illiterate woman can face a difficult life of manual labour.

I am compelled to say here a huge “hats off” to Kew on Yarra Rotary Club who have generously helped fund the Bright Future Community Centre and Dreamtime Computer Centre in Kopan. The local children come to the library centre before and after school to learn English, read, play, dance, interact, learn about recycling, gain computer skills and so on. This was a great example to me of a Rotary project that engages local abilities and promotes human dignity. The children are from extremely poor and often difficult family situations but the centre promotes education as the key to better futures and I would not hesitate to assist this program in the future. Again, Eyes Wide Open has provided an opportunity for direct contact and an establishment of trust in a country where public services are largely a civil responsibility. Our trip also included an extraordinary four day trek of the Annapurna mountains. Our total exasperation at the lack of public services, policy change and implementation was immediately surmounted by awe of the beauty of the Annapurna range, the Nepalese people, their music, culture and optimism. 

I can honestly say that every human exchange organised by Eyes Wide Open has touched me in on a profound emotional level. From reading, swapping songs, playing or painting at the orphanages to delivering wheelchairs to the children’s disability centre, touring the leper home and buying their goods to visiting the cancer hospital and seeing the radiation machine that cannot be used until a calibration machine is acquired. More importantly it has given me an understanding of Rotary’s impact and the importance of each individual project.

Travelling to Nepal with Rotary and Eyes Wide Open has personalised my involvement in humanitarian aid – it has been a gift to be part of this team of diverse individuals who are motivated to help people in desperate need of assistance. Our group ranged in age from 32 to 72 – all with an adventurous spirit, a sense of fun and only the occasional grumble about the third world conditions.  I recommend anyone to jump at an opportunity to participate in this remarkable program, and invite a family member, friend or colleague along they will be rewarded with the most unforgettable experience!

Find out about the next Eyes Wide Open Trip

16-year-old Melbourne resident Jorji Fox was part of a recent Eyes Wide Open trip to Cambodia and Vietnam. She was greatly impacted by her experience which has inspired her pursue studies in international development. Read part of her story below:

At Green Gecko Centre for Street Children, there were so many young children who, even so early on in their lives, knew what it was like to have nothing while they were orphans living on the street. Yet, when I interacted with them, I saw how courageous they were even with the burdens they once, and still do, carry. As we were nearing the van to leave, I heard a tiny voice call out my name, a little girl who had become quite attached to me during our time there. She was running full pelt towards me to give me a final hug goodbye. It was immensely heartwarming and I look forward to visiting again as soon as I get the chance, just to see her gorgeous smile, I only wish we could have stayed longer.

It felt great helping these gorgeous kids to better their understanding of the English language and giving them the opportunity to listen to their favourite stories through a new voice. It seemed to soothe them and give them hope.

It is these children that have inspired me to move forward, to drive myself closer to my goals, so that I can one day work in a role that allows me to help poor communities like this everyday.
   



31-year-old Michael Hick also participated in an Eyes Wide Open tour to Cambodia and Vietnam. Being a carpentry and joinery teacher, he was amazed with the ancient temples and captivating architecture found in these countries. But it was the volunteer work he undertook with Rotary that has had enduring impact on him.

All of the temples I visited were breath taking, from there sheer size, the design and the craftsmanship, to the wonderful masonry carving on every wall and every square inch of the temples.

But there has also been the other part of the trip - the humanitarian side - which has honestly caught me a little bit off guard. We have visited quite a few orphanages, an unwed mother’s home and street kids' homes. The orphanages are what have gotten to me the most, being able to interact with the kids, read books, sing songs and of course play time. Their bright faces and disarming smiles really got to me. Even at the earliest of ages, these kids understand that education is their way out and their way forward. The children have a way that connects with you straight away and for me it is a little weird; they just come up to you, hold your hand and just start to ask you lots of questions. It gets harder every time we have to leave. It's been a very humbling experience and I must be honest with you that it has bought this man to tears during one of our debriefs. I hope to be able to use my skills as a builder to one day contribute to one of the villages we visited.
 

The Eyes Wide Open research team recently whirled through Cambodia and Vietnam to scope out itineraries for 2009.

The team has come up with three incredible trips which will be departing from August 2009. Book to go on one of these journeys and you will be deeply rewarded with an authentic humanitarian experience that allows you to help communities in desperate need and make a difference to the lives of people whose daily struggle is survival.
   
The trips on offer are to:

• Cambodia - 12 days (August & October)
  
• Vietnam – 14 days (September)
  
• Cambodia and Vietnam – 14 days (December)
  

As an Eyes Wide Open traveller, you will experience the culture, cuisine and attractions of an exciting new destination, but what makes you different from the next tourist, is that the focus of your trip is the grassroots humanitarian work you will be undertaking at Rotary-supported facilities such as orphanages and hospitals. You will see first hand the deprived circumstances in which millions of people live in the developing world. In this way, we hope that you become more aware of the issues affecting people living in disadvantaged circumstances and feel inspired to contribute in some small way to solutions towards a better world.

View our gallery of images from the trip... 
   
Enquire about this tour or book now!

The Eyes Wide Open research team recently visited three orphanages, all supported by Rotary Clubs from around the world. The team visited Green Gecko Centre for Street Children, Sunrise Children’s Village and the Future Light Orphanage. All are based in Cambodia and care for children orphaned or abandoned as a result of the Khmer Rouge war, HIV, extreme poverty or landmine accidents.
   
Green Gecko is located just outside of Siem Reap. It provides care for 60 children whose previous existence was on the unforgiving streets of Cambodia’s second largest city where they begged to survive and lived with hunger, no security and no education. The Centre is run by mainly Australian volunteers who are dedicated to nurturing Cambodia’s next generation of leaders. The children are polite, eager to learn and love practicing English with visitors. The team helped them with their reading, taught them some new songs and played a game of volleyball -  girls versus boys of course! Their laughter endures long after you leave this place and their energy is infectious. Eyes Wide Open can’t wait to introduce groups to this much needed facility where more value can be added to the lives of these children.

Sunrise Children’s Village is an equally inspiring facility funded by Rotary Clubs from Australia. It cares for 162 orphans and offers them schooling, a real family environment and a variety of activities such as computer classes, Khmer dance and English lessons. There are many ways future Eyes Wide Open groups can contribute to the lives of children being cared for at Sunrise.

The orphanage was established in 1986 by killing fields survivor Mrs Nuon Phaly. She is a two times Noble Peace Prize winner for her humanitarian work throughout Cambodia. She established the orphanage out of desperate need after the Khmer Rouge war; accepting orphans from many districts within Cambodia. With the immediate demand to care for war orphans over, she now cares for children whose parents have died of HIV or landmine accidents. There are 262 children living at the orphanage and 100 others living in nearby villages who are still supported by the orphanage. Nuon has cared for over 600 orphans     since the establishment of the facility and has many grandchildren!

The site is set on four hectares and contains boys and girls living quarters, a library built by the Sunrise Rotary Club of Honolulu, a dining hall, outdoor music hall, offices for the 27 staff and classrooms. The children go to the local public school but on weekends attend computer, English and Japanese classes. We can’t wait to introduce groups to these beautiful children eager to practice their English!