My stint in Phenom Penh, Cambodia
In December, I quit my job and left for Phnom Penh for 18 days to work with the children and vocational girls in Don Bosco. Under YEP (Youth Expedition Project), an SIF programme, a team of 24 of us embarked on this life-changing experience which brought much joy and tears as we gradually assimilated into their culture and way of life, before having to part again.
Despite the fall of their glorious Angkor Empire, the Cambodians are ever so welcoming, generous and big hearted. After doing extensive research before the trip, arriving in Cambodia and meeting its people changed my perspectives. The Pol-Pot regime ended about two decades ago, but the emotional and psychological scarring seemed like a missing piece in a jigsaw. I can only imagine that few survived the ordeal and brutality to live to tell the tale.
The hospitality of Cambodians is unrivalled, and it is all the more uplifting given that they had not only suffered under the brutal Pol-Pot, but were also victims of a secret war perpetrated by the US during the Vietnam War. About 6 million land mines laid by the Khmer Rouge, Heng Samrin and Hun Sen regimes, the Vietnamese, the KPNLF, the Sihanoukists as well as Americans litter the countryside. Yet, these people continue to have hope and resilience; life goes on for them, without any trace of resentment or bitterness.
Taking charge of education, I prepared classes to teach about 100 children English as well as provide English Enrichment for the girls in vocational training. The students consisted of many from poor families or are orphaned. As with Murphy's Law; anything that could possibly go wrong, went wrong and everything I had prepared for class was useless given the lack of information on the students' abilities from the start. The children didn’t know their ABCs beyond 'E' and we went for our first class thinking on our feet. But having worked with disabled children for 2 years at the RDA (riding for the disabled), I learnt the important lesson of focusing on what they can do and develop on it, rather than limiting possibilities by obsessing about their in capabilities.
Fortunately, the results of our classes were more favourable than we'd expected. Our first class was initially very disappointing while we tried in vain to communicate with big gestures and smatterings of Khmer. In 6 lessons, we successfully taught the children more than we ever expected we could do. In these 45 minutes classes with children who didn't know their alphabet beyond letter 'e', they were singing the rainbow song, and now they know their primary colours, body parts (head, shoulders, knees and toes song) and from singing the hokey pokey, they've learnt their left and right. To encourage and reward them for their attentiveness and efforts, sweets, chocolates and stickers were given out. During our last few lessons, we always made giant toothbrushes and teeth, to teach them 'this is the way I brush my teeth/wash my face/comb my hair'. I have never seen such zeal and enthusiasm to learn, to answer questions and share- a far cry from the local children in Singapore.
Apart from spending time with the children and youths with English classes and puppetry workshops, we painted a mural for the children in their compound, repainted their old tables and chairs and helped raise funds at a charity bazaar by selling baked cookies and brownies. Watching the children learn and grow could melt anyone's heart, so if you have any time or money to spare, answer the sister's prayers and donate your time, money or effort in any little way you can. A small gesture can make a big difference in their lives. Sometimes, you just have to take a step back and look out of the 'me and my pursuits' box. These children have inadvertently taught me how to live, laugh and love in abandon. When your main concern is staying alive, you'll be appreciative of all the little things that make the difference, before life turns around to get you. While giving out toys to the children in the village, everyone was so grateful for their gift, no matter how big or small and there was extensive willingness to share and to give away their own toy to a friend who fancied it more.
We visited two NGOs who are deeply involved in helping the poor and unfortunately children to grow into skillful adults. At Reyum, (www.reyum.org) Institute of Arts and Culture, they offer research opportunities and ongoing training for the new university graduates that involve a lot of fieldwork. 'Skill levels and research experience of graduates from Universities in Cambodia is still low' and Reyum's objective is to provide more opportunities for the youths. At Mith Samlanh (www.streetfriends.org), this NGO provides for the basic needs of street children who are orphaned or too poor to afford to go to school. The works of many of these prodigious children and youths are sold in their stores and they get to keep a percentage of these takings. Others are trained in the service industry to work in the Friend's cafe.
As many are aware, HIV/Aids and child prostitution is a serious prevalent problem amongst promiscuous men in Cambodia and many children are orphaned after their parents die from HIV or are simply abandoned at birth. Many of these children have no kin or remote hope for the future. For every small contribution you can make, you give hope to the future of Cambodia.
I think most of us forget the joy of sharing can bring, when happiness in life is not determined by material goods, money or looks. And don't do this with an agenda for your own 'feel good' redemption, but to truly extend your hand and guide these children through the hard times. We all know that growing up is not easy, and a small gesture can help them go a long way.
These children taught me the importance of really living, so I'd say Carpe Diem, live, love and learn like you've always wanted to, but never had the courage to. Sometimes looking at someone else could help you find the meaning in life that you felt sorely lacked.
Kudos to the Singapore International Foundation that provided substantial funding for our expedition and the Singapore Tourism board who kindly responded to my request for 240 postcards, for us to leave a little souvenir behind for the children and youths and an opportunity to practice writing a letter in English for the very first time.
Don Bosco's an international Catholic order, and the sisters first came to Cambodia in 1997 to set up the school in Phenom Penh. Besides these schools, Sunday outreach centres have been established in the rural poor villages where the children cannot afford to go to school.
For donations or enquiries to help, you can contact,
Sister Ched, Don Bosco: segretaria@everyday.com.kh
For Mith Samlanh/Friends, enquiries can be directed to Ms Ly Sophat friends@everyday.com.kh the program director.
