BY JASON BATES
While most Year 12 students are heading for a traditional schoolies break of surf, socialising and partying, two Singleton girls have signed up for quite the opposite.
Chelsey Chesworth and Sophie Kelley have been busy raising money to make a positive impact to their Cows for Cambodia experience that begins later this month.
The pair will head to Cambodia on November 23 for a ten-day trip that involves visiting schools in the region and village homes to deliver rice parcels and most importantly pregnant cows.
Cows for Cambodia operates as a ‘cow bank’, where families are loaned a pregnant cow.
Once the cow gives birth, the family keeps the calf for its productive capacity as it gets older, while the original cow is returned to the charity.
This model not only provides families with a source of income but also helps improve their nutrition and living conditions.
It empowers families and create sustainable livelihoods, as owning a cow is often seen as a status symbol in rural Cambodia.
Since it started in 2016, the initiative has been successful in changing lives with many families experiencing significant improvements in their economic situations.
Chelsey said it was something she had seen on television years ago and it sparked her imagination at the time.
Both Chelsey and Sophie weren’t that interested in the traditional schoolies trip, both saying it wasn’t ‘their thing’.
So, Chelsey’s mum Amanda did some digging, gave Chelsey the information about Cows for Cambodia and after a quick chat with Sophie, the girls signed up and cannot wait to head off on their adventure later this month.
The pair are looking forward to immersing themselves in the village culture.
“We will work with the cows and families and carry out the animal vaccinations, drenching, pregnancy testing and health checks at the Cows for Cambodia farm,” Chelsey said.
“We will deliver the pregnant cows to the families and teach them about the required care. We will be delivering rice packages to the families and visiting schools to do activities with the students,” she said.
The 18-year-olds met in Year 11 after enrolling in the primary industries course through the Trade Training College conducted at St Catherine’s Catholic College under the guidance of agriculture teacher Jo Towers.
Chelsey was already a student at St Cath’s and Sophie would come across from Singleton High for the lessons and the pair soon became solid friends.
“I am so excited to go,” Chelsey said.
“Yep, we can’t wait,” added Sophie.
While it is a wonderful experience, the girls have not lost sight on the need to fund raise and have held two Bunnings barbecues and appreciate the financial support they have received from Kirkwood Produce, Roberts Meats, Bright Start, Holzy’s Tinting, Baileys Real Estate and Morgan Engineering.
As the final countdown is on, the girls would appreciate any financial support the community can offer. Head to the Cows for Cambodia website to add to their total at cows4cambodia-gdg-j916n.raisely.com and scroll to the Chelsey and Sophie team.
