Cambodia bound

Friends, Family, Kayakers, Rafters, Fellow Firefighters, EMTs, Medics, and anyone else interested.

I’m looking for some help. (Yes me Andy) I have been asked join Outreach Emergency Services Program (OESP) http://www.oesp.net/index.html and spend two weeks in Cambodia teaching an EMS course and some fire classes. I’ll be leaving 1/12/06 and returning 1/28/06. During my time in Cambodia I will be spending Mondays though Fridays in class teaching.

Since 1943 when the Japanese invaded, to the 60’s when US war planes dropped bombs, (this still is denied by the US government, but one of our members that is going was a bombardier that pushed the drop button) to the 70’s when the Khmer Rouge under Pol Pot killed millions and millions, (in a country smaller than the state of Washington) to the 80’s with the Vietnamese occupation of Cambodia, Cambodia has seen despair and hard times. Currently they have a democratic government (although there is still some corruption) and are working on developing infrastructure, including Fire and EMS. (ie things have been bad for a long time and now their trying to make things better)

It looks like the Cambodian government will be covering our hotel cost while we are teaching classes, but I have to pay for my own plane ticket and some other expenses.

That’s where I am in need of help! I’m trying raising some money to cover my round trip airfare, (and no I won’t be taking a kayak) most of my time in Cambodia will be spent teaching.

Helping teach EMS and Fire classes in a developing country has been one of my dreams for a long time. I really looking forward to the opportunity and think I’ll make an impact. 2006 will be the second year OESP has done this trip. Last year they felt as if they made a lot of real progress and have some good plans for this year.

So if you have a few spare dollars to help support my endeavor I would welcome them. Even $25 would help. Nearly all of our time and energy during the trip will be devoted to helping the people of this developing country improve their futures.

Donations can be sent to me at:

Andy Graham / Cambodia EMS
PO box 693
Belfair, WA 98528

360-731-1078

Feel free to pass this on to anyone you thing may be interested in helping. I’m planning on writing updates, while I’m there, when I can, on my internet Blog site http://www.kayakmedic.blogspot.com/ and list events and news of the trip. Our group in also looking for any usable medical of fire equipment expired or out of date medical supplies and drugs are welcome too.


Thanks for the help
Andy