The first contact
Posted on 12. May, 2010 by James in Mentors' Blog
It’s a 50 minute tuk-tuk ride from our hotel to the school at Borey Santipheap II, a commune housing residents that were evicted from a slum in the heart of Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh. With no municipal power or water supplies, these people are far removed from the opportunity to earn a living such as they did in the heavily populated city centre. It is here that myself and half of our team has been teaching English to grades kindergarten to grade 4. The other half of our team has been teaching in Borey Keila, one of the largest slums in Phnom Penh. After only a week and a half at the schools, we must move on to our second contact, Raise and Support the Poor, located about an hour outside of Phnom Penh.
I find it incredibly difficult to leave the children. Just as we finally form strong relationships (and I finally learn to pronounce everyone’s name), we disappear. It is highly likely that I will not be back to see those children before they are done school, so what do you say as you leave? How many times have well-meaning volunteers like me come to these places only to leave after a month or two? I always find myself asking if this pattern of coming-and-going is healthy for these children. Surely they have enjoyed our presence – there is evidence in their laughter and smiles – but how much does it hurt when we don’t show up to school on Monday? These are always the questions that trouble me most when volunteering abroad. I just hope that the exposure we’ve provided to a world beyond the slums offers inspiration to at least one student to study hard and do well in school.
We leave for our next contact this weekend. There will be now electricity, water, etc. but I can’t wait to meet the children there and start working in their community garden and continue teaching.
Until next time,
James
joel barr
May 15th, 2010
Incredible work James…having never taught in such conditions I have no idea what the answer the question is, but I do know the answer to the question of what would their lives be like if no volunteers came over.
Great Blogging.
Claire Teri
May 19th, 2010
That’s such an amazing opportunity, and I agree with Barr, I can just imagine how excited they are to have you guys there! and you’re right, if one student is inspired to study hard in school, it’s worth it… On top of that, you have the satisfaction of knowing you made the kids happy, even if it was only a little while.
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May 20th, 2010
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Bruce
May 22nd, 2010
Incredible work James…having never taught in such conditions I have no idea what the answer the question is, but I do know the answer to the question of what would their lives be like if no volunteers came over.
Great Blogging.
Steve
May 29th, 2010
Incredible work James…having never taught in such conditions I have no idea what the answer the question is, but I do know the answer to the question of what would their lives be like if no volunteers came over.
Great Blogging.
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