In 2009, we saw the construction of two brand-new dormitories, the purchase of two vans, and several other projects sponsored by our local and overseas corporate sponsors for the Goducate Children’s Home in Cambodia.
One of our concerns was the safety and well-being of the residents, especially for the more than forty children we now have at the children’s home. The wet season in Cambodia stretches for a long six months, from around April to September each year. Thunderstorms are common, as well as floods in some low-lying areas.
The children’s home is situated on high ground and is not susceptible to floods. What it may attract, however, due to the new buildings recently constructed, is lightning strikes during heavy rainfall and storms. That was why we requested our sponsor in the States to sponsor a couple of lightning conductors.
The installation of the lightning conductors at a total cost of US$8,500.00 was completed last week, just before commencement of the wet season. Our generous sponsor, upon seeing these photos, commented that “…Those are some serious lightning rods they are putting up. None of us here have seen lightning rods like those before!” Well, probably not in the States, but lightning storms are pretty common in our part of South-East Asia, and we need ‘serious lightning rods’!
Each of these rods cover an area up to a diameter of around 80 meters. We do hope that with the installation, our children can rest easy in their dormitories when it rains outside! By the way, seven new children arrived at the home a few weeks ago, and we are looking forward to meeting them during a visit we will be making next month. Three of these children are orphans where both parents are deceased.