Delegation Making Trek to Cambodia for Multiple Events
People for Care and Learning (PCL), an independent benevolent organization with roots in the Church of God, is closing in on the end of Phase II of their “Build A City” project in Andong, outside the capital city of Phnom Penh.
PCL Executive Director Fred Garmon is currently in Cambodia with other staff preparing for the arrival of at least 100 special guests from around the world who will participate in three landmark events for both PCL and the Church of God.
On Monday, May 4, a ceremony to celebrate a portion of the BAC project will take place as Cambodian government officials, as well as others, will join to dedicate the first of what will eventually be 1,000 new homes for the displaced residents of Andong Village.
Several years ago Garmon spearheaded BAC as a way to begin “from the ground up” when it came to helping the thousands of Andong residents who were living in ankle deep sewage in many parts of their village. PCL, which is a respected NGO in the country, worked with Cambodian officials to secure property where the new Andong could be built with paved streets and underground sewers as the starting point for a new “city” that would contain at least 1,000 new homes, a community center, school and other facilities.
For the past two years, PCL has conducted the “Build A City” fund-raising campaign with hundreds of donations toward the more than $2 million goal.
As part of the campaign, Cleveland, Tennessee Mayor Tom Rowland and other city officials have hosted leaders from Cambodia and have “adopted” Andong as a ‘Sister City.” Monday, May 4 is scheduled to be proclaimed “Sister City Day” in honor of the event.
Beginning Tuesday, May 5, through Friday, May 8, PCL is sponsoring the second annual HOSEA Conference in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Up to 500 delegates are expected to attend with a number of community, religious and service agency leaders as guest speakers. The theme of the conference is “Moving Into the Neighborhood.” Among the featured speakers are Garmon, Church of God General Overseer Mark Williams, First Assistant General Overseer David Griffis, Third Assistant General Overseer Wallace Sibley, Tim Hill, director of Church of God World Missions, David Ramirez, field director for the Church of God in Latin America, Richard Baker, COO of Serving Orphans Worldwide (SOW), John Gregory, founder and president of SOW, Gordon Banks, former Dallas Cowboy and pastor in Auburn, WA, and Kevin Wallace, Chattanooga, TN pastor and member of the Church of God International Executive Council.
A church building in the Takam Village will be dedicated as part of the week’s events in Cambodia.
A third event scheduled for the week is the dedication of the Takam Village Church and community center, built as the result of PCL’s good work in the country. The dedication will take place on Thursday, May 7.
In explaining the concept of BAC, Garmon stated that the 100 homes to be dedicated will bring the multi-year total to 800, near the over goal of 1,000 new homes. Phase III will be to move 500 Cambodian families from the old city to these new homes, to demolish their impoverished structures and construct 200 additional homes at the old town location. Once completed, it will signal the end of Build A City, but certainly not PCL’s involvement in Cambodia.
“Build A City” has received interest from UNICEF and UN International. Garmon said that government groups have visited the model city from China, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Miramar.
The Cambodian government has also become involved. A group of PCL and Church of God officials were granted a meeting with His Excellency and Prime Minister Hun Sen. Garmon said the meeting was to be 10 minutes, but it lasted almost an hour.
The prime minister was very complimentary of the PCL project and the organization’s activities in Cambodia.
Garmon emphasized that with the end of the construction, the 1,000 new homeowners will require assistance to maintain and progress. He said future projects may include the construction of an amphitheater, a church, a sports complex and a learning center. He said Phase III should be completed in about 24 months.
“After that there will be continued development,” Garmon stated. “The project is to emphasize PCL’s theme of ‘Inspiring Hope and Empowering Potential.’ Hope is the soil from which potential will grow.”
