UJ Coach to cycle from Cambodia to Vietnam for charity
31 October 2012
UJ coach Mischa Cleary is to cycle from Cambodia to Vietnam for Child Reach charity.
Childreach International is an ethical, sustainable, grassroots organisation which works in the developing countries of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Tanzania, Cambodia and Pakistan, aiming to unlock the potential of children by increasing their access to education, healthcare, and child rights and protection.
I have been fundraising for Childreach International since I moved to Aberdeen in 2010 and have climbed Kilimanjaro and trekked to Machu Picchu to raise money for this incredible charity.
In 2011, I visited one of Childreach International’s projects in Tanzania and was able to see first-hand the incredible work they do. I saw a school which had children from the age of 5 to 17. Childreach International had rebuilt the school, and had provided better working materials such as blackboards and desks. The toilet block was also an amazing addition to the school and the children had been learning of the importance of hygiene.
I think Childreach International is a remarkable charity and I love working with them. Having seen one of their projects already and by keeping up with their on-going work, I am confident that this is a charity I will be involved with for years to come. Since Childreach International was started in 2007, the charity has reached over 300,000 beneficiaries which is an unbelievable number of people! Over the past three years it has been amazing to see the charity go from strength to strength.
Taking part in Childreach International’s challenge events has been an important part of my university life; the events both help me to raise money for this outstanding charity as well as test my own fitness and mental attitudes. Judo has helped me massively during each of the challenges; it has made me physically fit and has helped me to persevere through the most difficult times. Judo teaches discipline and builds confidence so that even when times were tough I had the mental strength to carry on.
This year, I am continuing my work with Childreach International by leading a group of students to cycle over 450km from Vietnam to Cambodia. On the trip we will spend a day at one of Childreach International’s Cambodian projects. Childreach International does extremely important work in Cambodia working together with project partner, LifeOptions Inc., improving maternal and child health in many ways in the Takeo province. In particular, it has been estimated that there is a shortage of 350,000 midwives worldwide and this is strongly evident in Cambodia where only 68% of women have access to a skilled attendant during labour. Another problem affecting women and infant's maternal health is families not seeking out appropriate treatment for women due to lack of family planning and birthing education so this is also being tackled. This is just one example of Childreach International's incredible work but one I feel shows how important they are in so many countries."
Mischa, Ultimate Judo coach