AN Oxford nursery worker took a break from caring for children in Rose Hill to help vulnerable youngsters in Cambodia.

Lex Hamilton, 30, who works at the estate’s Co-operative Childcare nursery, travelled to south-east Asia to help youngsters with the HIV virus.

Mrs Hamilton, from Wallingford, said: “I have worked with children in Rwanda before and I wanted to go out and work with children abroad again – as well as do something memorable for my 30th birthday.”

Joined by husband Alan, a 29-year-old chef at RAF Benson, the couple travelled to Our Village orphanage just outside Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.

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Mrs Hamilton put herself forward for the project as part of The Midcounties Co-operative Society’s community volunteering programme.

The couple decided to stay with the Our Village orphanage for a fortnight, looking after children aged up to eight in the orphanage pre-school.

Our Village cares for children with HIV, most of whom are orphans or whose parents cannot afford to medicate, feed or educate them. There are about 200 children aged from two to 18 there.

Mrs Hamilton added: “All they have is basic amenities, there are no showers just buckets of water, although having said that they are very well looked after.

Oxford Mail:

  • Lex with Channat, five, in Cambodia              

“The orphanage children just don’t get enough attention for them to develop, as people don’t have the time or knowledge.

“So to be able to take my skills there where they can be put to better use was so good.”

Mrs Hamilton has worked at the Rose Hill nursery for nearly two years and has a postgraduate degree in special educational needs development from Leeds University.

The Co-operative Childcare nursery held collections for toys, clothing and learning materials for the couple to take with them on their visit in October.

Mrs Hamilton added: “The children in Cambodia had toys although you could tell they were donated. They had an ABC poster which they loved and just wanted to recite the alphabet over and over.

“We did not want to come back. It was an amazing experience that was life-changing.”

 

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