Brighouse electrician Shaun Prest’s bid to open a Cambodian orphanage
Aug 17 2010 Huddersfield Daily Examiner
Brighouse electrician Shaun Prest’s bid to open a Cambodian orphanage
IT WAS during a visit to see a friend in Cambodia five years ago than Shaun Prest first met the beach children.
But now the Brighouse man is hoping to open an orphanage for the children.
After seeing them living at the side of a road, Shaun, 39, has vowed to raise £10,000 to fund the orphanage by January.
The electrician is hoping his efforts can provide some stability for the children, who have little to their name.
Shaun, a former Rastrick High School pupil, said: “I first went to Cambodia five years ago to visit a friend after I’d split with my partner.
“I saw the rural and river villages and got to know the communities there and found out what their lives are like.
“They’re evicted from the beach where they work collecting cans, it is their only way to survive.
“Some of the children were taken into rehabilitation centres, which is like prison.
“I came home from my last visit to Cambodia four weeks ago and after a week I found out the authorities have evicted even more children from where they were living.
“I used to take colouring books and give them out to the children, but colouring books don’t do enough any more.”
He’s sought the help from a friend living in London and is now aiming to raise the £10,000 he needs to open the orphanage.
