Tabitha USA
June 2006 House Building Trip Update-June 15, 2005
Details are being confirmed. Please check back for more information as it becomes available.
March 2006 House Building Trip Update-June 15, 2005
Greetings to you all,
I have some pertinent house building information for all of you who might be interested in volunteering next March.
First and for most, it is not too late to join us. Please contact me if you are still interested.
As it gets closer to travel dates, it would be helpful to know as close as possible who will be in attendance.
I would like to produce a roster of all the volunteers so that Janne Ritskes (Tabitha Cambodia) will have a good number and can plan accordingly. I
would greatly appreciate if you would let me know as soon as possible if you plan to travel with Tabitha USA.
Now, on to some other information that might help in your decision making...
This is going to be a great experience and I am looking forward to it with a lot of excitement. I hope that you can join us!
Dave Richter
FINANCIAL
A breakdown of cost goes like this.
Flight Tickets - $1300-1700 roundtrip.
Hotel - $300.00 which includes breakfast and laundry everyday. The Golden Gate hotel accepts cash upon checkout or Visa with a 4% additional
charge.
Food - $200.00 only accounting for lunch and supper.
Water - $30.00 three liters a day
In country travel - $150.00 for van and driver rental.
These figures are only estimates, some of which depend on the number of volunteers.
CURRENT TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
March 3rd (Fri) Arrive PP
March 4th (Sat) Orientation / Killing Fields & S21
March 5th (Sun) Explore PP
March 6th (Mon) Travel to Site
March 7th (Tues) Build
March 8th (Weds) Build
March 9th (Thurs) Return to PP
March 10th (Fri) Done
TRAVELING
We recommend a prescription of CIPRO.
Make sure you have the appropriate shots.
We've spoken to Steve Powers of Hidden Treasure Tours (516-670-9232) to arrange flights at a somewhat discounted price.
Please arrive in Phnom Penh on Friday, March 3rd. Plan on at least two days of traveling from mainland USA.
OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER
Twenty dollars (could now be $25) for entering and another $25 for exiting the country, along with two passport size photos.
There is a chance that we will be working with thin metal (for siding) that could cause some pretty nasty cuts.
It has been recommended that we bring some work gloves and knee pads.
House Building Trip
Janne Ritskes, Founder of Tabitha, Cambodia, usually does an orientation,
after which the team will be required to go to Toul Sleng and the Killing
Fields. Toul Sleng was a High School before the Khmer Rouge converted
into a detainment/torture/execution station. The Killing Fields is an
area of mass graves in which thousands and thousands of Khmer people were
killed and buried. These two sites give a good explanation of why Tabitha
exists. After those sites, the team will build for 2-3 days, depending on the
number of houses we build. It takes about ½
day to build a house. After the build, Janne, or the Tabitha staff, will have a small ceremony
presenting the new homes to their new owners.
We will be staying at the Golden Gate Hotel during our time in Phnom Penh. I believe that Janne is
able to get us a discounted rate for our stay. The hotel has the basic
amenities; a shower/tub, sink, and toilet. Breakfast and laundry are
included in the hotel's fee.
There are taxis and moto drivers for hire. Please note that American money
is accepted, actually preferred to the Riel, but change will be given
in Riel. Since we will be traveling to areas in Cambodia that are a health risk,
it is recommended you contact your doctor to receive the appropriate shots
and medication. Specific vaccinations to consider are Hepatitis A and
B, Typhoid, Tetanus, and Polio booster. You should also get a prescription
for Malaria (pill form) and Cipro (for traveling sickness). If you are interested please contact Dave
Richter for more information. Home Building Some families in the Community
Development program are able to save the $960.00
required to build a house. For very poor families unable to save
$960.00, Tabitha brings international, volunteer
building teams to Cambodia to supply the additional money
and work under the direction of Khmer builders to construct
a small house. In 2001, Tabitha international building
teams built more than 80 houses for homeless Cambodian
families. Tabitha building teams:
Please contact Dirk Caldwell
with any questions related to house building mission trips.
2006 House Building Mission Trip
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
We will leave the US in time to arrive in Phnom Penh by Friday March,
3.
Tabitha building team waiting for instructions.
Pol, a Khmer builder employed by Tabitha, works with
this boy on his new house.
Building team with proud new home owners