I am very glad that I took the very first step to join this YEP trip, and I was very lucky to be chosen and be one of them in the strength of 20 out of those who had been to the interview.
My first foot touches the soil in Cambodia
My first foot touched the soil in Cambodia (Phnom Penh) around 830a.m on the 28 of September, 2010. We headed to our guest house to settle down and we set off to Andong Village. From the guest house to Andong Village, it was around 25 minutes ride.
When we arrived at Andong Village, we visited the school. The school was all temporarily structured as it was built on rented land. After that, we visited the Andong Slums where most of the Andong Villagers lived. After visiting the slums, I learnt that we Singaporeans are much more fortunate than the people living in the slums. The living conditions there was so bad, and diseases could be spread easily. During wet weathers, the slums flooded, and houses cramped against each other. Hygiene is badly managed, and I felt that I am blessed that I am living in Singapore.
Children bathing in the drain
Andong Slums
Mission to accomplish
· Infrastructure ( improving the new Andong Primary School Shed)
· Teaching ( Teaching basic conversational English to Andong Primary School student)
· Hair Washing At Center Of Peace (COP) Orphanage
Our infrastructure work consisted of De-Rusting of all the pillars, sand the pillars paint the pillars, smoothing the windows and painting the windows.
Firstly, we scrubbed the pillars to remove the particles and other oxidants that were affecting the paint. After scrubbing, we smoothed the pillars. After smoothing the pillars, we started to paint. Our painting process consisted of 4 parts, under code, and followed by 3 layers of paint. In my opinion, the infrastructure work did not really gone well. We were supposed to paint up the whole entire shed. Because my group mates were all from life sciences, they may not know anything about painting, so maybe for the next YEP trip, I suggested that we try to get students from different schools so that we can help each other in different ways. Engineering males is a must because infrastructure work more or less needs some engineering skills and this can make the job done with more efficiency.
De-rusting of the pillars
Painting of 1st 2nd and 3rd coding Painting of the under code
Painting the windows
Windows installed in the new classroom
Next we conducted English lessons in Andong Primary School. Together with two of my teammates, we taught the Primary 1 class. According to what we plan for Primary 1 students, I observed that their standard of English was so much better than what we planned for them. Students in my class were very enthusiastic. Their keen in learning shown in their attitude was really superb. Seeing them learning so enthusiastically and happily, we had a good time teaching too. It was my first time being a teacher and it was the first time students called me ‘teacher’. From this experience, it made me feel that I need to improve more on myself so that if I have the chance, I really hope to go back and serve them and teach them everything that I had learnt.
Students of Andong Primary School
After we accomplished our mission ( Andong Village), Our next stop was the Center Of Peace (COP) orphanage .
In the orphanage, we helped the children wash their hair to remove hair lice, thus we set up our own NYP saloon.
Washing Point
From Left ( Nadiah’s Salon, Azli’s Salon, Fatimah’s Salon’s, Jia Jun’s Salon)
NYPians terminating the lice
In the orphanage, our task was to get rid of the lice on the children’s’ hair. In between, we also set up games for the kids. We taught them the “WAKA WAKA “dance and we played many games with them to keep them occupied before it was their turn to visit the saloon. So we split ourselves into 3 groups (Washing, Combing, and Games). For most of us, it was the first time that we encountered hair lice. So we took all the necessary precautions. In the end we dressed up like astronauts. We felt very bad having to dress up in such manner, but we understood that it was important for hygiene purposes. Thus we had lots of fun and laughter, we saw kids enjoying the hair wash as if they were really at the saloon. It was very heartwarming to see smiles spreading across their face as we knew that our service to them was marvelous.
Setting off to Siem Reap
On the 8th October, we set off the Siem Reap. It was a very long and bumpy 7hours bus ride with only 2 stops. At last, we reached Siem Reap (another province of Cambodia).
In Siem Reap, before we reach BBLC, we were greeted with a surprise flood. An exciting and hilarious moment where not many of us been through it before. But that never stopped our hearts from having the determination to serve. In BBLC, we cleaned up the classrooms, my team mates helped to service the computers and we conducted English lessons. We observed that the students’ standard of English in BBLC, compared to Andong primary school was slightly poorer, but there is always room for improvement.
Surprise Flood
Rock And Roll
Our team doesn’t only work. We work hard and play hard at the same time. We had R&R, also known as Rock & Roll. We went to several places of tourist attractions like Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, the Majestic Royal Palace, boat ride on Mekong River, floating river and the ancient city of temple, the Angkor Wat. We also went to several night markets as well, and I learnt how to bargain even with the language barrier that we faced.
Lesson Learnt
I definitely learnt a lot during this trip. In this trip, I learnt how to be a real leader and it also helped me think more maturely and sensibly. Most importantly this trip taught me to be contented with all that I have now, and to appreciate all that is present in my life. To end off, I would like to really thank everyone single one who made this trip memorable and to help change the lives of the children for the better. This trip had definitely made me a better person, to learn how to cherish life and to always know that there are people out there who really need our help. I am so thankful to be a part of this trip, and I will be looking forward to future experiences as such.
Boat Ride on Mekong Ride
Angkor Wat
Havest Inn
Written by Leung Jia Jun
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