One Solar Setup Complete, Classes in Full Swing

On Tuesday we installed the first of the "Large" solar setups for a family. These consist of a 30W solar panel, small car battery, 5 LED lights at 7W each, and a DC to AC inverter so a cell phone can be charged. 

We were a little pressed for time, but overall it is about a 2 to 3 hour job. It takes a bit of planning to determine where to best put the panel, centralizing the battery, running cables, and keeping the work tidy. In the future I will push it to 3-4 hours so we are not scrambling. Even with that the installation went well. The most confusing part is installing what appears to be regular wall outlets but then remembering that these are running DC power instead of AC. Plugging something in backwards won't work. 

Yesterday and today we launched into computer training at the Provincial Teacher Training School (PTTC). I only have 2 hours per class and it is a totally different group of students each time. The most pressing topic for them to learn is Excel, so I give them a crash course in the basics. Amazingly enough they learn that challenging program quite quickly.

Two more solar setups to go!

Panel, lights, switches, a small battery, and some wire. Not much to power a home!

Sewing Machine Superstore

Looking for the best in sewing machines and supplies in all of Northern Cambodia? Look no further! Just off of Highway 5, east of the Sangker River in Battambang. Here’s a Google Streetview of it. Be warned, this is a typical Cambodian store that has made efficient use of every nook and cranny. It's dense.

Toilets and Wells outside of Puok

On Sunday afternoon we had the pleasure of visiting a village just north of the Reul Pagoda, north of Puok. This is about a 30 minute drive west of Siem Reap through some idyllic countryside. Along with that tranquil beauty comes family growing just barely what they can eat. That’s why we are here.

We presented health kits to about 12 families so they could use the clean water from the wells and practice good hygiene. In addition, there are several toilets being constructed for the most in need. I was struck by the large number of cows they have being tended very close to their homes. But everything was very tidy and the animals looked extremely healthy!

Families receiving health kits and toilet cleaning supplies

One of the workers from Teuk Sa'at building a toilet. He has been doing this for 20 years!

Completed toilet with family and Deanna

Elderly lady who will share the toilet with her neighbor who helps care for her. The shack on the left in the background is the previous toilet. It was shockingly bad.