Balang Dam
Early last year I wrote about the Balang Dam in Cambodia: how an accidental breach in a twelfth-century dam had condemned 20,000 people to poverty.
Summer and I learned about the Balang Dam from Tobias Rose-Stockwell. Just 23 years old, Tobias is a one-man NGO who has spent the last three years working to relieve poverty in Cambodia. At dinner one night in Siem Reap we overheard Tobias talking about his work at the next table and butted in. America’s reputation abroad may be at an all-time low, but not in that corner of Cambodia, thanks to Tobias.
Ten days ago we saw Tobias again, at a charity dinner in the Napa Valley. That evening he raised the balance of the money necessary to repair the Balang Dam, and more. Just thought you’d like to know.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:57 pm
Congratulations are in order for them then!
It’s amazing what sheer willpower can do. If it weren’t for that one man, then the first step might not have been taken. Tobias actually reminds me of the guy behind Grameen Bank. Muhammad Yunus. Even though to road to success was never easy from the start, he still moved forward for the people.