worked in Siem Reap for four weeks which is one of the poorest slum areas in Cambodia.

The community is made up of army families, karaoke and sex workers and displaced men, women and children.

While there Cheryl teaches the children English and Richard helps the men with construction.

“We were located about a 20-minute bike ride from Siem Reap where there is a lot of unemployment, poverty and no skills,” Mrs Berry said.

“They live on $1.50 to $2 a day.

“Normally Richard would do building work but this time helped out in a bike shop.

“They buy a container full of dismantled and wrecked bikes from Phnom Penh, put them together and sell them to volunteers to use as transport.

“The volunteers then give them back to New Hope and they are given to needy families.

“We would normally take these bikes to the dump but they are their only means of transport.

“While Richard is working with these men he teaches them English words.  They write them down, practise them at night and by the end of the month they have a vocabulary of around 50 words.

“If they can speak reasonable English they have a better chance of getting a job in the main town centre.”

Mrs Berry retired from teaching earlier than expected and then studied English as a second language course a few years later.

“I decided to do volunteer work and found New Hope,” she said.

“They are wonderful people to work with and really appreciate anything we do for them.

“They are always saying ‘thank you for helping my people’.

“We enjoy what we do and have lots of friends who we keep in contact with.”

“Hopefully we can get back over there in March next year.”

 Mrs Berry said Dungog people are so generous in supporting this organisation and their work there. 

“$1709 was donated before we left and this money was certainly appreciated by all at New Hope. 

“Some was used to set up a new well which will provide clean drinking and cooking water for the village people, repairs were made to a second well, while some was used to purchase much needed equipment in the bike shop. 

“The rest will be used where needed as there is always a demand on the resources at New Hope. 

“Thank you for your generosity Dungog people.”

Mrs Berry has bought back suitcases of bits and pieces including shawls and scarves which she will be selling outside Cath Turrin’s Dungog Antiques over the next few weeks.

The money will go back to New Hope Cambodia.

Mrs Berry will also speak on her experiences at the Dungog Anglican Church luncheon next Thursday at 11.30am.