Well known local philanthropist and author Peter Harris gave a talk to the Rotary Club of Ely about his work in Cambodia.

Peter, a New-Zealand graduate, an educationalist and frequent traveller, talked about the shock that he felt when he saw so many families in Cambodia living in dire circumstances searching rubbish dumps for items to sell and for food and clothes to survive.

He was determined to make a difference and has spent up to three months a year in Asia/Cambodia since then, working to help 143 children, who have been abused and orphaned, to obtained an education and break free from dreadful conditions.

The children are called The Dumpsters and their have been improved over the years with a basic education at CCH (the Centre for Children’s Happiness) and a caring home being provided.

Ely Standard: Ely man Peter Harris has worked to support children in Cambodia known as 'the dumpsters'.Ely man Peter Harris has worked to support children in Cambodia known as 'the dumpsters'. (Image: PETER HARRIS)

 

“I travel all over the world and am often in Asia, but nowhere has touched my heart quite like CCH which houses, feeds, clothes and educates the ‘dumpsters’,” said Mr Harris previously to the Ely Standard. 

Also, 60 students have been sent on two-year vocational training courses in Sihanoukville and seven students have graduated from American universities, one gaining a PhD in maths.  

Peter has spent much of his time fundraising and to date has raised more than £100,000 for the Dumpsters in Cambodia, the Phayao Women’s Development Foundation in Thailand and for one of the highest schools in the Himalayas in Bhutan. 

Read more about Peter's last walk

For the last seven years, he has walked the last week of the Camino pilgrimage from Sarria to Santiago with his partner Liz Sayers and a number of friends (called 'peregrinos') to raise funds for the Dumpsters and he hopes his efforts this year from October 6-14 will sponsor 26 impoverished children with a year’s education.

He also hopes he will be able to hold a classical music concert on the dumps on November 2nd as his mission is to give the Dumpsters an education and a love of music 

For the last five years he has played Santa for the Ely Community lunches organised by the Lighthouse and Ely Cathedral raising sponsorship for gifts for all of the children.

Last year, he decided to do more at home and established the Ely Christmas Toy Bank with his Elves at St Mary’s Church which was generously supported by the people of Ely and ensured a happy Christmas for many of the children in need in the Fens. 

He said at the time: "Many older people were brought up when it was important to be of service to society and the community but nowadays the prevailing attitude is ‘what’s in it for me’."

He decries the large charities that pay bonuses to highly paid members of staff and says that a lot of money in the developing world is not going to those who really need it.   

He has also written a book called A Wayward Spirit, which has been published on Amazon, to raise funds to build a Community Centre for the 60 families on the rubbish dumps, which is now completed.

He is currently writing a second book call A Wayward Traveller and any money raised will go to charity. 

He says that we can all make a difference and "walk our talk".

 If you would like to help Peter with his work in Cambodia and in Ely, please contact him on pjhely@gmail.com.  

If you are interested in joining the Rotary Club, please contact the Rev Bernard Arnold email: revbernard@hotmail.com