Projects WE support through YOUR volunteer work

Eyes Wide Open works in conjunction with several Rotary projects and facilities. Your Eyes Wide Open trip will involve your participation in some of these projects and giving much needed, hands-on help. More information about the volunteer aspects of your trip will be provided in your registration pack.

Green Gecko Project (Cambodia)

Green Gecko is a centre for street children and orphans supported by Rotary Clubs from Australia and Canada. It provides a vital service for sixty children whose former life was begging on the streets of Siem Reap. The facility provides these 60 children with food, shelter, security, education and lots of love and care administered by volunteer staff.

Children at Green Gecko can be sponsored children for $365 per year.

MaD for Good (Cambodia)

Located in Siem Reap, Make a Difference for Good works in partnership with rural Cambodian communities to empower individuals, families and villages with the knowledge and resources they need to build themselves a sustainable future free from poverty.  Through Rural Community Development and Children’s Welfare Programs, MaD offers Cambodian communities assistance in areas such as water, sanitation, housing, construction, sustainable agriculture, healthcare, childcare, orphan care and education. There is also MaD for dogs which provides veterinary care for stray dogs.

Kampong Pluk School (Cambodia)

Kampong Pluk School located, within the rural province of Battambang, is a village school built on stilts. Located on the brink of the Tonle Sap, the community rely on the surrounding water for transport, food and income. Children of the government school barely have access to pencils and paper let alone text books and resources. We support this school with the provision of books, writing materials and school uniforms.

Angkor Children’s Hospital (Cambodia)

Angkor Children’s Hospital is Cambodia’s leading children’s hospital supported by Rotary Clubs from Singapore, Japan and Canada. The hospital provides health and emergency care for over 450 children per day, many of whom are suffering from malnutrition or respiratory diseases.

Future Light Orphanage of Worldmate (Cambodia)

Future Light is a wonderful orphanage founded by Killing Fields survivor and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Nuon Phaly. The orphanage cares for 262 children on a four hectare property. The children love visitors and are keen to practice their English at every opportunity.

Sunrise Children’s Village (Cambodia)

Sunrise Children’s Village was founded by Australian ex-pat Geraldine Cox and cares for orphans whose parents have died from HIV or landmine accidents, or, who cannot care for their children due to extreme poverty. Several Rotary Clubs in Australia support this orphanage located in the outskirts of Phnom Penh.

The Unwed Mother’s Home of Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)

The Home provides accommodation for young, unwed mothers where they can receive shelter, care and education until they give birth. Most give up their babies for adoption and will find it difficult to fit back into their communities. The Rotary Club of California supports this facility along with the Sisters of Mercy. Only female participants will visit this centre and will be involved in teaching these young women skills, such as western cooking, which will help them obtain employment when they leave the home. 

Rotary Wheelchair Distribution (Vietnam)

In Vietnam, many people are affected by agent orange related diseases and landmine accidents, leaving victims in need of wheelchairs. Eyes Wide Open groups will get involved in distributing wheelchairs which are manufactured in factories that ethically employ people with disabilities.

Ghar Sita Mutu (Nepal)

Ghar Sita Mutu means 'House with a Heart'. It is a home for abandoned children as well as a training and outreach centre for unskilled and destitute mothers in Kathmandu, Nepal. Founded in 2001 by volunteer social worker Beverly Bronson, it is home to 23 children and offers neighbourhood classes in reading, writing and maths. Daily training classes are run for women in literacy, felt making, sewing, knitting and candlemaking. Eyes Wide Open groups will assist with women's training and education as well as conduct 'playtime' with the children who love visits from international 'aunties' and 'uncles'. www.gharsitamutu.org                                                                                                                     

Bright Future Community Centre (Nepal)

Bright Future Community Centre was established by Australian Rotarian and ex-teacher, Isabel Armer. With help from several Rotary Clubs, the centre holds reading, English and maths classes for over 70 local children from Kathmandu who come before and after school to learn. Though a tiny centre, it's buzzing with activity including dance classes, singing, cardmaking (which helps fund the centre) and sport. Previously, Eyes Wide Open groups have conducted art and reading classes, taught new songs and games, donated books and toys and taught new forms of craft.

Shree Prarthana Mahila Samaj - Women's Learning Centre (Nepal)

This Centre is a community based, Rotary supported organisation which was established in 2002 to assist illiterate women in Bhaktapur, Nepal.Only 35% of women in Nepal are literate and 81% of the entire population live on less than $2 per day. Life expectancy for women is less than 60 years old. The Centre aims to empower women through programs including: literacy, job skill development, income generating opportunities, legal advice, environmental awareness training and health education. Eyes Wide Open assists SPMS's aims by conducting health clinics which teach skills and develop knowledge in dental hygiene, cervical cancer, HIV, smoking, English, tuburculosis and ovarian cancer. We have also run a knitting workshop which has helped some women generate an income from the sale of their products!

Patan Disability Centre (Nepal)

This Centre, whilst in desperate need of funding, manages to care for 29 mentally and physically disabled children from the local area. The facilities provided to these children are very basic and the Centre only receives funding from a local Rotaract Club. Eyes Wide Open helps by making donations of goods (like wheelchairs) or cash, which we raise as a group before departure.

Pokhara Centre for Destitute Children (Nepal)

Caring for 30 orphans as well as children who have found themselves in the juvenile justice system, the Centre is the realisation of the dream of two brothers. Orphans themselves, Bhin and his brother established the Home in 2000 and with the help of the odd tourist, manage to fund the schooling and permanent care of these very polite and endearing kids. Eyes Wide Open will donate time, skills and goods such as rice and books. Last time we visited, we helped the children paint a 'mural of hope' on the wall as a lasting reminder of their dreams.