We have begun

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Thank you everybody, for all your financial support, especially the Swift family (stay tuned for more about their very generous donation). As you can see by the bridge graph we are ALMOST there!

Before we could start construction the villagers and bridge builder held a small Buddhist blessing ceremony at the site. Prasat Char village is renowned for having very traditional beliefs.	The first job was to build a shelter where the materials are stored and where the bridge builder and his two offsiders sleep.	The reinforcing iron arrives.
Preparing the foundations. Everything is done by hand. No concrete mixers out here.	The formwork goes up for the supporting columns. We've been very impressed with the "professional" job the bridge builder is doing.	The columns are poured. Fortunately, there is virtually no water at the moment and with luck we will be finished before the wet season comes when most of this area will be covered in water.
Pay day. It was a very rewarding feeling paying cash to the villagers for their hard work. We've tried to employ the poorest families to work on the bridge.	Some enterprising villagers have opened a small shop near the construction site and business is booming.	This little girl is already benefiting from the new bridge - her parents are the ones who have opened the shop. On the first pay day they made US$20.00, which is a small fortune here.

Click here to go to page two Construction begins page 2

Click on the following links to read more about our bridge project:

Why we need to build a bridge

Almost finished

Some of the very generous people who have donated money for the bridge so far are:

Barry and Kay Groves (thanks Mum and Dad!)

The Swift Family

The Short Family

Graham Day

Morris and Jeanne Jones

Shirley, Peter in Darwin, Peter in Queensland

Jacqueline Gray, Helen, Niek and Dalin

Abelard & Augustine Narcida

Nana Hill

Matthew Firth

Shaun and Donna

Many anonymous donors

Anna, Mandy M, Miss Catherine S

Bernie, Petra, Mereya, Sandy

Leonie and Carolyn

Mandy - the Sunshine Coast's award winning bridal florist. www.mandartau.com

Sandy D, Steph A

Tanya Chesterton-Smith and family

Carly and Tracey Jackson

Camille, Paul, Isabelle and Madeleine O'Reilly

"Daddy Kool" from Darwin

Noosa Permaculture Group

Meridian State College

Neil and Anne Mathison

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Helping Hands is only able to operate through the generosity of our many supporters. Please click here to find out how to donate.

This website is hosted and supported by Caloundra Net - www.caloundra.net.au

Helping Hands is a registered non-government organisation in the Kingdom of Cambodia.

r">and type SUBSCRIBE in the subject line. I will then add you to my email list.

Phone (in Cambodia): 092 292 590 (outside Cambodia) +855 92 292 590

Email: grovesphotography@yahoo.com.au

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My biggest donation so far has come from my sister and brother-in-law, Jennifer and Brian Swift and family. Brian is a builder on Queensland's Sunshine Coast and creates magnificent homes. If you need the services of a builder his email is: swift@doggy.com.au __________________________________________________________________________________________________

PLANNING YOUR OWN TRIP SOMEWHERE???? (Agency License number TAG1604)

I make all my travel arrangements with Dale Butel from Integrity Travel, who has become a great supporter of my work in Cambodia. Dale has generously offered to donate $30.00 for every travel booking made as a result of you reading this recommendation. Just mention that you got the referral from me. Dale's contact details are:

Phone: 1300 76 0806 Fax: 07 3882 5729 Mobile: 0412 333 495 Email: dbutel@tpg.com.au

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2">Phone: 1300 76 0806 Fax: 07 3882 5729 Mobile: 0412 333 495 Email: dbutel@tpg.com.au

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