The project ‘Hand Across Borders’ (HAB) started in 2004 when SI Dusit was alerted that people in the Thai/Cambodian border region are in dire need of help. As it turned out, they were and a so far unprecedented relief operation was set up. Instrumental hereby were Lynn Cuirlionis, at that time Vice President and National Representative, and Kathy Barnett, present National Representative.

Together with many dedicated SI sisters and friends, they worked diligently to improve the living conditions of the refugees of Sampovloun. It took many, and often adventurous, daytrips across the border and back – but they succeeded!

In 2006, HAB became a federation project, which has been extended to 2010. It won a Best Practice Award last year in at the Soroptimist International Convention in Glasgow and a special award at this year’s SISWP conference in Chiang Rai. This in addition to the most important and proud achievement: Thanks to 'Hands Across Borders', Soroptimist International gained NGO status in Cambodia in December 2007.

It is also important to note that this quite literally hands-on project made sure to involve and train the people right from the start: educate them about hygiene, teach them how to monitor and change water filters, keep their surroundings clean, and continue to educate the students in this respect to ensure the long-term sustainability of this project.
 

The Achievements so far:

• Provision of sanitation and clean drinking water to the school with the installation of toilets, tanks and well. Water filters supplied to each classroom
• Headmaster and four teachers attended two-week training in Battembang
• Improved the school classrooms through painting and repairing desks, providing sports equipment, library books, clothing and shoes
• Funded employee to clean the toilets daily
• Connected electricity to the school library and provided a computer with Khmer programs and printer and DVD/TV
• Upgraded the maternity facilities and STD Clinic areas at the hospital
• Provided water filters to all wards
• Drilled new well at hospital to assist with the re-establishment of adequate water and sanitation
• Funded employee at Hospital to clean filters and hospital grounds
• Provision of donated goods e.g. baby- and other food packages, medical and pharmaceuticals, clothing, mosquito nets and sleeping mats

• Employ a bi-lingual project manager within the Sampovloun District to liaise and continue to develop the project with local identified leaders
• Ongoing teacher training, and improvement of facilities to enhance their self esteem, and capacity to enable them to deliver an improved standard of education
• Encourage students to attain year 9 education through access to school and learning opportunities e.g. language, art and nutrition
• Mentor students to higher education e.g. technical and university
• Improve water and sanitation at the hospital
• Intensive skills training of midwives
• Upgrading of operating theatre and surgical ward, training of staff
• Facilitate local resident doctor to undertake ongoing training at Klong Hat Hospital Thailand