Pupils learn to sew to help Cambodian kids
ATEACHER who was inspired to help needy families in Cambodia has motivated her students and colleagues to help her.
Rebecca Lucas, who teaches technology at The Macclesfield Academy, drafted in the help of 15 students to sew new clothes for children living in poverty in Cambodia.
She was inspired to set up the project ‘Clothes for Cambodia’ after going on holiday and seeing the poverty first hand.
She said: “On my visit to Cambodia last year it stuck me how despite all these challenges it does not quell the people’s enthusiasm for life.
“It also inspired me to think about how our students could offer support while raising awareness of children less fortunate than themselves.
“It’s been a whole school initiative, from staff having sewing lessons to students learning how to read and lay patterns and how to use a sewing machine.”
Rebecca raised money for material by holding sewing classes for staff.
The students – who worked on the outfits during their ‘Enrichment Lessons’ – then made nine dresses, six pairs of trousers and four pairs of shorts, which were delivered to children in the Siem Reap province by Rebecca through the charity ‘Care4Cambodia’.
Rebecca said: “It was fantastic to be able to photograph the children to show the students back home the endeavours of their hard work. Most of these children in Cambodia will never get anything new to wear.”
Rebecca, who has a pas- sion for life-drawing, has also been able to provide three bikes and rice and provisions for five families in Cambodia by holding an exhibition of her work at the Snowgoose in Macclesfield.
Rebecca, who went to Cambodia alongside the charity Heartprint, which builds houses for destitute families, said: “There are no benefits in Cambodia, from child benefit to pensions, so if you don’t work there is no money. A bike means that the adults can travel to work, and the children can get to school.
“Every pound donated, and every pound raised by the exhibition went into buying the bikes. There was also some money left over which bought bags of rice and provisions for the elderly in the village.”
Rebecca, who also gave drawing lessons at an outdoor school and a drug rehabilitation centre during her visit, is planning future exhibitions to provide more bikes for families in Cambodia.