GRM News

Cambodian Orphans Undertake Horticultural Training in Australia

Two teenage boys have spent three months in Queensland learning valuable horticultural skills for use when they return to work at a GRM Development Fund-sponsored plant nursery at the Sunrise Children’s Village orphanage in Cambodia.

The boys, Sopheak Eng, 18, and Thy Keo, 18, are now old enough to leave the orphanage but will continue to live on site as employees of the new nursery and plant propagation centre, which is being developed with the assistance of a GRM Development Fund grant.

David and Jeanette Wilson, owners of Rossmount Nursery in Goomboorian, Queensland, hosted the boys during their stay in Australia and trained them in a range of horticultural skills.

David and Jeanette, whose daughter Alison is a GRM Young Professional working in Cambodia, funded Sopheak and Thy’s trip in conjunction with Rotary.

The finalisation of the nursery structure at the Sunrise orphanage is expected in June 2005 and as a result of their trip, Sopheak and Thy will assist in plant propagation training soon after.

David said the boys gained experience in a wide range of orchard work including fruit picking, polishing and packing, designing layouts, participating in potting runs, planting seeds and trees, and grafting lessons.

“Having the boys at the farm has been an amazing experience for everyone involved and we hope to have them return in the spring to participate in a grafting run,” he said. 

“They’ve really enjoyed it and they’ll be able to use the skills they’ve gained to do farm work back home.”

Orphans at the Sunrise Children’s Village are required to leave once turning 18, however due to their training, Sopheak and Thy, will be able to live on site as employees. 

The opportunity will also allow Sopheak to remain living near his two younger brothers, who are still at the orphanage.

The GRM Development Fund was established in 2004 and to date has donated in excess of $100,000 to causes and activities around the world.