The letters from Cambodian children

I received some letters from Cambodian children recently.

Young Korean Academy(흥사단)'s 100th anniversary program for overseas youths

Lun Borey, who has been in charge of Kampot VDS, Cambodia, joined this program during July 22-August 1, 2013. He enjoyed once-in-a-life-time experience.


In the auditorium of the youth hostel, Seoul

In front of the entrance of Hong-Ik University

With the members of Nolgong before lunch

With his new friends during the program

I hope he will be a great community leader in his country and be also a bridge between Korea and Cambodia in the future. 

2013_Cambodia

I have been to Cambodia this summer by myself to volunteer and look around for the project and research from July 14 to July 19, 2013.

One girl is wearing a t-shirt with 강남스타일 of PSY.

One boy is dancing "Gentleman", the song of PSY.

Lun Borey, who is the director of VDS(Village Development School) in Kampot, is standing in front of Korean Embassy in Phnom Penh, Cambodia to get the Korean visa. He ia supposed to attend the program held by YKA(Young Korean Academy, 흥사단) from July 22 to August 1, 2013 in Korea.

Every early morning many people are going to work to the factories nearby by getting on the trucks and vans like this below.

So many children want to learn English for their better life. I started to volunteer here to give them HOPE and Vision. I'd like to help make their dream come true someday.

They need many things such as study materials, reading books, and computers, etc.

Above all, they want to communicate and share something meaningful with you. 

Why don't you join us in the near future? 

Party for Cambodian children

My brother, Ros Sarun, held the party for the local children who have been learning English in Takeo, Cambodia. They are the future and hope of Cambodia. They need Education. That's why we are going there annually to work together. 

Why is it important to support the education sector in Cambodia?

According to Cambodia's constitution, all Cambodians are entitled to 9-years of basic education.  However, few Cambodians complete the basic education. The obstacles include low levels of student attendance in rural areas, underpaid teachers and shortage of qualified teachers. The resources in the schools are inadequate and the large number of students results in cramped school premises. Travel time to school is also long for many children.
 The quality of education in Cambodia is low. The lack of relevant training and the low quality of education is a major barrier to sustainable economic growth. Access to basic and higher education is crucial to young people's development opportunities and to poverty reduction in general in Cambodia. 

Lovely children in Cambodia

They are playing games  and having meals together. They are hope of future Cambodia. Education is the tool which nurture them. We, at Prime Education Consulting, are planning to visit Cambodia in June 27, 2012 again. I am already excited to think about meeting them again.

Cambodia Newsletter Update

Since our trip to Cambodia over the summer, a lot has happened. During that span of time, each member of the team was able to progress on his/her research, making substantial steps along the way.

Likewise, in Cambodia, a lot has happened to those we have worked with. Students were given opportunities to pursue a higher-level education whereas some others made significant life commitments.

Overview

This newsletter serves to provide an update as to the status of the Cambodia project currently led by Prime Education Consulting. In this edition, we will talk about the possibility of sponsorship of Cambodian students (along with students Prime Education Consulting is currently sponsoring), Sarun’s wedding, and a proposal our members made to submit to the Points of Light Institute.

An Opportunity to Sponsor a Student for a University Education

Over the summer, our team met and worked with a few students who if they had lived in a first world country would be of age to attend a university to continue their education; however, since they neither had the resources nor the opportunities to do so, they had to forgo their education to take up jobs and other work. Noticing this, Prime Education has stepped in to sponsor these students through 4 years of education at a local university, hoping  this will open up a path of opportunity for them and for younger aspiring students as well. Tuition is based off of academic achievement in high school (the higher the marks received, the lower the cost). There is an opportunity here to help students open a new path by sponsoring their education. Our team is currently in the process of coming up with ideas for funding in the foreseeable future. Help is greatly appreciated.

Student Bios

These students are currently sponsored by Prime Education Consulting to attend a local university.

1. Kimoun Lun

Sex: M

Date of birth: March 19, 1993

Age: 18

Place of birth: Tadorkpong Village, Boengtranhthbong, Samrong District, Takeo Province

Subject: Management

2. Savet Hen

Sex: F

Date of birth: February 16, 1991

Age: 20

Place of birth: Hangheng Village, Boengtranhthbong, Samrong District, Takeo Province

Subject: Tourism and Hospitality

3. Savoeun Rous

Sex: F

Date of birth: July 14, 1992

Age: 19

Place of birth: Hangheng Village, Boengtranhthbong, Samrong District, Takeo Province
Subject: Tourism and Hospitality

Sarun’s Wedding

A few months ago, Sarun, who was the head of the local school our team had worked with, married his fiancé in Japan. Below are a few of his wedding pictures. We wish him and his fiancé a happy and long-lasting marriage.

Proposal for a Call to Action

During the past few weeks, our team had been brainstorming methods in which we can take our research projects and apply them on a practical real-world level. While researching ways to do this, we stumbled on the Points of Light Institute’s 2012 National Conference on Volunteering and Service (which takes place June 18-20 in Chicago). This conference would give us an opportunity to present our research, our goals, and additionally, to inspire others to join in this project. Before we could do so, the prerequisite was that a proposal be submitted by mid-December. The next few weeks, our team, in conjunction with professor Seagull, was able to write up a proposal to submit for a possible slot and chance present at the conference. In it, we detailed the events and results of our trip to Cambodia during the past summer. Additionally, we included information regarding each student’s research regarding Cambodia (music therapy, the role of NGOs, and the ways the two topics coincide), and the opportunities available in overseas volunteering. All in all, our proposal called for action amongst those of us who are blessed with more resources than those from Cambodia. Our hope was to encourage people to initially show interest then join in our project by showing the results and improvements our research has brought forth so far. The results for the proposal will not be out for another few months, but until then, we remain faithful. Whatever the result, we remain focused on our research, our mission, and we will work hard to achieve our goals. At the end of this session, participants will see what a few highly motivated students can accomplish when properly directed. They were presented with the problem of Cambodia—one of the world’s poorest and least developed countries. Their paper proposes a solution to help Cambodia become a vibrant member of the 21st Century global community. The work organically integrates the skills of thinking, researching, organizing and composing, channeling students’ own interests and abilities to create something real, meaningful and useful. Too often student projects have no use beyond the classroom. The skills we hope to develop through hypothetical exercises can be applied to real situations to change the world for the better. One of the students asked, “Why will adults listen to me?” Now she sees what she and her peers have produced, and that it is important; her ideas deserve consideration. When implemented, the Cambodia Project will provide a worthy outlet for student volunteerism.

2011 Summer Cambodia Young Leaders Council Project Report

 

A brief overview of the team’s objectives and the focus of the trip

During the week of July 31^st, Prime Education sent a team of 3 students and 2 adults to Cambodia as part of a development and volunteer project. It was an incredibly eventful week highlighted by the effort and teamwork of the team and the Cambodian students and teachers.

The goal of this trip was to provide the students with an opportunity to not only volunteer and do research, but to put themselves in the position to really understand what those two concepts mean. By assimilating with the both the Cambodian people and culture for a week, the idea was for the team to be open to the world outside our field of view and understanding.

As a team, we believe our objectives have been met. We have gained valuable knowledge and an unforgettable experience. Now, it is both our duty and responsibility to be able to follow up what we have done there and to apply it back here.

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Schedule of Events by Day

Monday

After arriving late the night before, our team woke up early to drive down to Takeo where a majority of our work would be done. We were introduced to a man named Sarun – the director of the school we would be working with, as well as our host. On our way down to Takeo he immediately showed us his hospitality by being enthusiastic to all of our questions. By the time we arrived, though we were a bit tired from our flight and the drive down, our team was eager to work. We were given a quick tour of the Foreign Language and Computer Skills School, which consisted of 3 classrooms, a computer lab, and 2 more rooms, one for boys, and the other for girls. Just outside the main

building was another set of classrooms that were in need of reconstruction and renovation. We proceeded to begin tearing down this set of classrooms in order to set up the foundation to build the new one this upcoming week. Afterwards, we visited an NGO called Good Hands. This organization focuses on the development of water availability and education. We were given an interactive and enthusiastic Q & A session by the director in which we were able to learn a great amount. To end the day, we headed into downtown Takeo where Sarun gave us a tour.

The Value of Hard Work

Here we see our team working together with the Cambodian students in helping to renovate and build a new classroom.

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Tuesday

On Tuesday, we officially began working and interacting with the Cambodian students. The morning started off with each member of our team being responsible for a classroom of Cambodian students. We would primarily be teaching English. Though the Cambodian students had limited English ability, they were incredibly enthusiastic which made overcoming the mutual language barrier that much easier. The lessons consisted primarily of conversing in English. To make the experience more enjoyable some members of our team chose to allow the Cambodian students to sing English songs or just converse about anything they found interesting.

After teaching in the morning, Sarun accompanied us to another NGO. Its name was Handicapped International and its mission was to provide those with handicaps a means to rehabilitate themselves into physical shape whether that is done by receiving a prosthetic limb, or physical therapy. After meeting with the director, we received a quick tour of their facilities before heading out to a local orphanage. There we learned more about the orphan situation – the reason for abandonment and the ways the government handles such issues. We were able to spend some time with the orphans before heading back to Takeo. Upon arrival, both parties celebrated the donation of a computer and a modem by sponsors, one of which is Prime Education. Another teaching session soon followed with more work done on the new classroom after that.

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Wednesday

On Wednesday, our team was able to engage in a different aspect of the community. Instead of heading to the school as we normally would have, we headed to a farming field where we saw locals plowing the field and planting in order to get ready for the rainy season. Sarun had taken our team here to get a taste of what it was like. We helped them farm to the best of our ability. Each member was responsible for bringing the plants from the river to the field as well as taking turns plowing the field. Afterwards, we proceeded back to the school where we continued to aid in the construction of the new classroom. Since tonight would also be our last night in Takeo, our Cambodian hosts decided to stage a talent show consisting of Khmer dancing and singing. With a great feast followed by great entertainment after a hard day’s work, our team headed back to get ready to head up to Phnom Penh early next morning.

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Thursday

Thursday morning the team headed to Phnom Penh. Most of the work that required physical labor had been completed by this point. We instead focused on visiting a series of NGO’s that would aid each student’s research project. The first was called SOLS – Grassroots Development Institute. This NGO focuses on the development of the locals from an early age into students into people who are well equipped to be employed. The next was called the Children and Poor Communities Development Organization (CPCDO). Just as its name implies, this NGO focused on providing young children an opportunity to gain some level of education in order for them to be able to grow up to become employed. Since many of our own students’ research focused on the plight of children, this seemed an appropriate NGO to visit and gain more information. Our final visit was to an organization called Friends International. Again, it focused mainly on children and the methods to keep them safe and off the streets to keep them away from danger. After a great presentation from their side, our team proceeded to visit historic landmarks in Phnom Penh. It was both culturally and historically enriching as we visited the National Museum and the Royal Palace. The eventful day was capped off by the night drive to see the city after its lights have been turned off.

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Friday

On this day, our team, along with the Cambodian students we had worked with earlier in the week, sponsored by Prime Education, headed to Angkor Wat – the site of Cambodia’s temples and cultural sites. Upon arrival, we toured about 5 main temple sites all culminating to walking up a mountain trail at a temple to watch the sunset that capped off an incredible day.

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Saturday

Saturday was our last full day in Cambodia. We began the day by visiting the “floating houses.” The Tonlé Sap literally translates to Great Lake, and it is the largest lake in South East Asia. On this lake were a series of houses that appear as if they are floating hence the name. Afterwards, we visited one last NGO called Dail Community – a Christian based organization that provides food and a mode of learning for children on the street. After an extensive tour, we drove back down to Phnom Penh where we had one final meal with the students before departing.

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Reflection

Any member of our team will tell you that our initial adjustment upon arrival was not easy. There was the obvious challenges of cultural and language barriers, but also more subtle ones such as food and living conditions. It was just an entirely new experience that not many of us were used to. Luckily, we found out that Cambodians as a whole are very hospitable and kind people. Their friendliness and enthusiasm made the transition so much easier.

The students that we worked were incredibly receptive to what we had to say but at the same time enthusiastically engaged us in their own culture. This cultural exchange and sharing of ideas made this week meaningful in more ways than one.

Overall, over the course of the week, our team was exposed to so much that we are now aware of so much more. In a sense, we’ve gained the awareness to know what it is we can do to possibly invest our resources for the betterment of Cambodia in a meaningful way. It was a lesson about the values of hard work, volunteering, research, and cultural exchange.

 

NGO Lists

Good Hands: http://www.goodhands.or.kr/source/english/

Handicapped International: http://en.handicapinternational.be/index.php

SOLS – Grassroots Development Institute: http://www.sols247.org/cms/

CPCDO: http://web.mac.com/scodrington/GCAT/CPCDO.html

Friends International: http://www.friends-international.org/wherewework/cambodia.asp

Dail Community: http://eng.dail.org/