Build is ‘eye opener’ for employees
Two Sunderland residents visited South East Asia to build classrooms for young people.
The pair were part of a 38-strong team who travelled to north west Cambodia to build five classrooms at Chansar Junior High School, 35 kilometres north of Siem Reap.
Chansar School is in one of the poorest areas of South East Asia and was in urgent need for extra capacity to increase opportunities for children living in rural areas.
The pressure is set to increase even more as the number of pupils at the school is expected to grow from 430 to 600 in the next five years.
Mark Wrightson and Colleen Mardghum, who work at Santander’s Waterloo Place branch in Sunderland, spent a week working alongside a local construction team.
They both helped to move bricks, clear rubble, dig drainage trenches and lay foundations for the building.
Mark said: “The trip was incredibly rewarding and a real eye opener.
“It was fantastic to be able to go to Cambodia and both work and live with the local community and help with a project that will have such long lasting benefits.”
The group stayed with families at homestays in the village.
The challenge raised over £160,000 to help Age UK and Barnardo’s, Santander’s charity partners in the UK.
The funds will provide vital support to transform the lives of some of the UK’s most vulnerable or isolated older and younger people.
Mark added: “As well as help those in Cambodia, we’re also delighted that we’ve also raised funds for our charity partners and we thank all those customers, colleagues, friends and relatives who have supported us.”