TP students help improve life for Cambodians

Twenty Applied Food Science & Nutrition and Chemical Engineering students from TP spent a total of eight days in September 2007 working with Cambodians in a bid to improve their health, nutritional condition, as well as income.

The students taught the locals including farmers and rubbish collectors how to turn discarded cooking oil into soap for daily use and sell it to generate income for themselves. An important environmental message was also delivered, as they were taught about oil pollution arising from improper discarding of cooking oil onto land and into drainage systems.

The students also ran workshops and cooking demonstrations, and imparted nutrition knowledge and good dietary practices to community health educators, and women leaders nominated by the Cambodian Ministry of Women’s Affairs.

Gratified with the experience, Sherrilyn Ng, a second year student said: “When you see their eager faces… and their bubbling enthusiasm, you’ll be simply motivated to carry on, no matter how tired you are.”