Retired But Not Tired

Steve Acton, 74, led a team of 15 volunteers from the U.S. to build 2 new wooden houses alongside Habitat Cambodia families in Kampong Damrie village, Preaek Tamak Village, Ksach Kandal district, Kandal Province in March 2019. This is his 26th Habitat build around the world and 5th to Cambodia. He volunteered in Phnom Penh in 2011, Siem Reap in 2013, Phnom Penh in 2015, Battambang in 2017 and Kandal again in 2019.

“One of the reasons that I keep on coming back is because the people here are friendly, very appreciative of what we are doing. I just love the countryside and the culture,” said Steve.

As a team leader, he can do 2 international builds a year. Apart from his build in Cambodia, he will be coming with another team to El Salvador in December.

“My first experience was after my retirement in 2006, I did a volunteer trip to Lampang, Thailand in 2007. Meeting the family that we built the house for is such an awesome experience that I came back to the United States and become a team leader. Helping families have a home, it makes your heart feel really good.” Steve added.

“One of the reasons that I keep on coming back is because the people here are friendly, very appreciative of what we are doing. I just love the countryside and the culture,” said Steve. He continued, “I would say, from all the countries that I have built for… this is my first time doing this type of structure (wooden house), and so I’m learning just like everybody else. My previous time in Cambodia, we did use compressed earth brick to build the wall, in Battambang we make our own brick, it was a new experience and this wooden house is also another new experience for me.”

“The camaraderie of the team working together. They don’t know each other until they come together and getting to know the family is what I enjoy the most from the build and I’m looking forward to my last four builds.” Steve expressed with a peaceful smile on his face.