Homes for Hope

Eleven Rotarians from five Adelaide-area clubs travelled to Siem Reap to build a home with New Hope Cambodia – launching Homes for Hope as a sustainable, hands-on pathway to self-sufficiency for vulnerable families.

In early February, a team of 11 Rotarians and friends representing five Rotary clubs across Adelaide, SA, travelled to Siem Reap, Cambodia, united by a simple but powerful purpose: to build a home and, in doing so, help build a future.

The project, aptly named Homes for Hope Cambodia, is an initiative of the Rotary Club of Regency Park, with club member Mark Carter chairing the Homes for Hope Committee. What began as an ambitious idea for a relatively small club quickly grew into a collaborative, multi-club endeavour. Alongside Regency Park, participants represented the Rotary Clubs of Gawler Light, Seaford, Adelaide Parks and Campbelltown, joined by several non-Rotarian friends who were equally committed to the cause.

The vision is for Homes for Hope to become an ongoing program, delivered in partnership with New Hope Cambodia, a local non-profit organisation dedicated to improving education, healthcare and vocational training for Cambodia’s most disadvantaged families.

Founded approximately 17 years ago by local Cambodian Kemsour Ross, New Hope Cambodia operates with a mixed Cambodian and Australian board, as well as a separate Australian board providing oversight and clarity. One hundred per cent of donations are directed to the specific projects for which they are given, with administration and operational costs funded through a separate model. Cambodian board members, all local businesspeople, actively use their business interests to financially support the New Hope school – a critical contribution during challenging times when border conflict has restricted tourism and volunteer travel.

While the need across Cambodia is immense, New Hope Cambodia works closely with local communities to identify those most in need. Families selected for the housing program undergo a stringent vetting process to ensure that assistance is directed where it will create lasting, generational change.

The home constructed by the Adelaide group was the 52nd built under New Hope’s established housing program, with around 90 per cent of homes constructed by Australian volunteers over the years.

For the Rotary Club of Regency Park, the first challenge was financial. Raising sufficient funds to build a house required months of fundraising activities and extensive outreach. Mark invested considerable time in securing financial contributions and emotional support from neighbouring clubs.

Upon arrival in Siem Reap, the group undertook orientation sessions and toured the New Hope Cambodia school and health centre. These experiences provided sobering insight into the challenges facing Cambodian families and deepened appreciation for the NGO’s comprehensive, free-of-charge services.

Construction of the home was overseen by skilled local builders, with the Rotary team working alongside them, as well as alongside the new homeowner and his family. Tasks included raising the wooden framework, installing struts and cladding, sanding and painting all doors and windows, painting exterior cement walls and completing interior painting for the toilet and bedroom. For safety reasons, roofing work remained the responsibility of the professionals.

What emerged over the build period was not merely a house but a cohesive, high-spirited team. Laughter was a constant soundtrack to the worksite. Each day, New Hope staff arrived to prepare generous lunches, reinforcing the spirit of partnership that defined the project.

Once construction was complete, the group participated in a formal handover ceremony. Extended family members gathered for traditional good luck and housewarming rituals, followed by a blessing and cleansing ceremony conducted by local Buddhist monks. The new homeowner expressed heartfelt gratitude and spoke of his plans to develop vegetable and fruit gardens on the land – tangible evidence that the project’s impact would continue to grow long after the volunteers returned home.

Following the build, New Hope Cambodia also facilitated local tours, allowing the group to experience Siem Reap’s cultural landmarks and deepen their understanding of the country they had come to serve.

For many participants, the most enduring takeaway was the opportunity to work shoulder to shoulder with local people, gaining insight into their culture and resilience. But the project also demonstrates an evolving model of Rotary engagement. Rather than attempting to align multiple clubs around a pre-defined joint project, this initiative began with a compelling vision that attracted Rotarians from across the region. The result was a diverse, enthusiastic team united by purpose – advancing Rotary’s ideals, delivering measurable outcomes and exemplifying the spirit of collaboration.