Digging wells to break out from the cycle of poverty

0

Tie (back row, fourth right) with organising chairman Dr Jeff Sia (second right) and sponsors for the Cambodia Water Wells.

SIBU: It was a fun evening at ‘Masquerade 2: The Fund Raising Party’ held at The Paramount Hotel on Friday night.

It was jointly organised by the Lions Club of Sibu Central and iFiT Gym in collaboration with Bachelor of Malaysia-The Pageant.

According to Andy Tie, who is president of Lions Club of Sibu Central, 3.8 million (50-60 per cent) of rural Cambodians do not have access to clean drinking water.

“Around 20 per cent of deaths of children under five years old are due to waterborne diseases, making it the largest cause of death of children under five in Cambodia.

“Lack of clean drinking water is a common feature of poverty in Cambodia so funding a well can help break this cycle of poverty,” he pointed out.

Tie said each family has to walk a distance of 2.3km on average to collect clean water.

Cambodia’s dry season runs from October to April.

From early February, the temperature keeps rising until the killer month April when the temperature often exceeds 40 degree Celcius.

“During our mission trip to Cambodia in 2013-2014, we were approached by poor villagers from Kampong Chhnang Province in Cambodia, requesting aid to build 20 water wells in rural villagers to benefit more than 1,000 people.

“So we the iFit Gym and members started our charity zumba events from 2015-2017 and raised enough for 11 wells,” he said.

Tie who is the proprietor of iFit gym said they aimed to raise another 10 wells through ‘Masquerade 2: The Fund Raising Party’.

“However we exceeded, raising enough for 16 water wells so a big thank you to all our caring and generous sponsors: Datin Tie Hu Kiu, Datuk Hii Yii Chiong, Datin Wong Lam Huong, Dato Robert Ting, Kapitan Connie Loh, Irene Lau, Belinda Lau, Lau Ka Won, Dr Chua Ian Bin and Chua Leon Bin, Tadika Seri Kasih Sibu, Suki, Axia and Jewel, FlavOURS Thai Kitchen Sibu, Bachelor Of Malaysia, Peter Lucas Wong, Nice Reality’s Sub Contractor Sibu and Chew SC and Family,” he disclosed.

“Wells are a way to prevent waterborne diseases as clean water improves sanitation and hygiene.”

Tie said the iFit Gym is a group of people who work out (exercise) together while reaching out to the poor and needy through charitable activities.

Apart from raising funds for villagers in the interior of Kampong Chhnang Province in Cambodia, they also hold charitable activities for orphanage Peryatim Sibu in Kemuyang, Rumah Seri Kenangan, Sibu Spinal Cord Injuries Association, Breast Cancer Survivors Group of Sibu Hospital, the Agape Centre and SK Pendidikan Khas Sibu.

iFit gym has invited renowned top Malaysian and Thailand male supermodels as well as Miss International Malaysia as guests of honour at ‘Masquerade 2: The Fund Raising Party’ namely director of the Bachelor of Malaysia-The Pageant, Apohrozy Ezrie Eallie popularly known as Haikal; Mister Universal Ambassador Malaysia 2016 Jason Ganesan; Malaysia Representative to Mister World 2016 Yusuf Tony; Miss International Malaysia, Olivia Nicholas and Mister National Thailand, Seagame Arthit Makearekash.