A local teen’s ambition to build a new school and dig a well in Cambodia is almost a reality thanks to the community’s support and several fund raisers. An event scheduled for Sunday will likely meet the final fund raising goals of rising Whitewater High School senior Brittany Enterkin.

After learning that $13,000 can sponsor the building of a school in rural Cambodia, Enterkin set out to do just that. The fund raising efforts are done in association with American Assistance for Cambodia (AAFC), an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to improving opportunities for the youth and rural poor in Cambodia. AAFC was founded in 1993 by American journalist Bernie Krisher and operates interlinked programs across Cambodia in the areas of education, health, rural development, and technology.

AAFC's largest project, the Rural Schools Project, has helped build over 300 enriched primary and lower secondary schools in rural Cambodia since 1999. In this program, donors sponsor the construction of a school in a village that currently lacks one. Donors pay $13,000 for a school, with matching funds provided by the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, through partnership with Cambodia's Social Fund and Ministry of Education. After the school is constructed, donors are strongly encouraged to enrich the lives of students by funding improvements for their school. School improvements include English and computer teachers, computers powered through solar panels, Internet access through a satellite dish or AAFC's unique motoman system, a well or water filter, a school nurse, a vegetable garden, and a bookcase of books.

Recent fund raising efforts include a car wash Enterkin and friends held in May which raised $400, and a catered dinner at Southside church. The dinner, along with individual donations, has brought the total up to almost $12,000.

Enterkin says that the community has been incredible in helping and giving to this cause, and says that she can’t thank everyone enough.

The final fund raising event scheduled for the summer will be held Sunday at Christ’s Church at Whitewater. The event, a concert, will feature four bands from Athens, Ga., a city known for producing bands like R.E.M. and the B-52’s, as well as two local bands.

Athens bands scheduled to appear include The Pendletons, The Empties, Freeze Tag and Les Napoleones and the two local groups appearing will be The Oregon Militia and Thomas Plunkett.

The event is scheduled for June 24 from 6-10:30 p.m. at the church located at 1577 Ga. Highway 85 S in Fayetteville. Tickets are $7 and are available at the door. The outdoor concert will also feature hot wings for sale that will be donated by Christ’s Church at Whitewater as an additional fund raising effort, so come hungry.

Enterkin hopes that the benefit concert will bring in the final dollars needed, so that by the time school starts in August, she can just go back to being a regular kid.

The new school is projected to be finished in February 2008.

For more information and to listen to music from the bands scheduled to perform, visit the website, www.myspace.com/cambodiabenefitconcert.

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