The Bracebridge Examiner and Gravenhurst Banner - Taking first steps in the ‘Muskoka School’ project

Gravenhurst resident Lisa McCoy left Canada on Dec. 25 for her latest travel adventure. She arrived in Cambodia on Jan. 1 and will spend the month of January implementing the “Muskoka School” project, for which McCoy has been raising funds.

McCoy will also spend several weeks volunteering in Mae Sot, Thailand. This town near the mine-riddled Thai-Burma border, is a base for many world relief organizations and NGOs dealing with the present Burmese refugee crisis.

Before heading back to Canada on April 2, McCoy will return to Cambodia to check on the progress of the Muskoka School project.

This is the first of many articles written by McCoy about her experience.

After a week and a half of planes, airports, hotels, buses and cars on some very bumpy roads, I’ve settled into my very nice room at the Green Town Guesthouse in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

On Jan. 2, I made the long-awaited first visit to the new location of the Landmine Museum and Relief Facility. It was a 32-km pleasurable journey by tuk-tuk from Siem Reap. It is this new facility that, through its outreach programs, has built schools in the rural areas of Cambodia lacking a school or requiring a replacement school.

I arrived in the early cool of the morning, and no sooner walked through the entrance, to be met by Akira himself. Akira, founder of the Landmine Museum, was a former conscripted Khmer Rouge soldier, who since the war has made it his goal to “make my country safe for my people.” This he has been doing by removing landmines on a continual basis. Akira is a licensed and accredited de-miner.

The new facility comprises a Landmine Museum, offices for the Cambodian Landmine Museum Relief Fund, a home for Akira, his family and 18 child landmine victims. There is a kitchen, small schoolroom, bathrooms and a play yard in this safely fenced-in facility. The children have all their needs met, and have supervision by hired Khmer staff. All thanks to Canadian documentary filmmaker Richard Fitoussi who spent seven years of his life working toward the creation of this new facility for Akira.

Akira and I had ample time to have preliminary discussions regarding the “Muskoka School” project. He was delighted with the fact that approximately $3,800 had been raised toward the building of a school. He said that should build quite a big school.

Many, many areas need a school, but two in particular came to mind: Oromchek Village and Jrung Village. I have not had a chance yet to find these remote areas on a map, but will post a precise location once I find out. Akira said that sometime before Jan. 24 we would make a journey to that site. It’s a very exciting first step in the Muskoka School project.