After loads of planning that came with tears, joy and laughter, Project Directors Janicia Koh and Phua Lixian finally embarked on an exciting journey on 12th Dec 2008 to a land of paddies- Cambodia, along with their team of 20 people. Spending 18 days in Cambodia, 1123200 seconds in Prey Kla has definitely been an extremely unique experience for them, coming together from very diverse backgrounds for a special purpose. Though objectives set might have varied widely from individual to individual, the YEP trip to Cambodia has been a humbling experience for everyone.
The trip was certainly an eye-opener and a challenge. To better understand Cambodia’s situation today and better assimilate into their culture, the team spent the first few days in Cambodia in Phnom Penh, touring the historical and educational sites, namely the Tuol Sleang Museum and Killing Fields. They also had the chance to taste some of the local delicacies, indulging in pork rice, fried noodles, coffee laden with condensed milk, creepy crawlies to name a few. After a hectic 2 days in the hustling bustling city, they set off to Prey Kla in Prey Veng Province where the largest wave of excitement awaited them.
Prey Kla, a village with a population of 1200, is about a half an hour drive from the town centre of Prey Veng Province, with the path to the village full of bumps and dust, surrounded by vast, green paddy fields. Prior to the trip, the team has raised funds for the village school to carry out refurbishment in the school compound, particularly refilling cracks in the walls and re-cementing potholes filled floors of the classrooms to improve the condition of the school building and provide the students with a conducive environment for learning.
Much of the first day was spent setting up the place which they were going to stay in for the next 13 days - installing the lights, filling up the wells, laying the mats and so on. The next few days were spent at the village school whereby we painted murals on the walls of the classrooms. The theme “Around the World” hoped to bring the world to the villagers, most of whom have not travelled out of their Province before. Hence, there were Singapore, China, Underwater World, and Safari. The students were extremely thrilled, with some offering their help to paint the walls. During then, we had a great time interacting with the villagers despite the language barrier, especially the village children. Finally, after 3 days of arduous painting, with most of them draped in colours spotted shirts, infused with the smell of thinner, the art pieces were finally complete! Thereafter, a series of exhilarating activities followed. There were Sports Day, Carnival, Singapore Food Festival, English Lessons, Music and Dance session, Cultural Exchange session, whereby the Christmas Party was the highlight. Appropriately timed, coupled with the festive mood, the party ended on a high note with a movie screening under the stars, where they made do with the limited resources we had. Time flew and soon, it was the last day at the village. After a farewell dinner with the villagers which came with a Khmer dancing session, the team left the village the next day with heavy hearts.
It was amazing how we could connect so well and interact with the villagers despite the cultural and language barriers. It was an absolutely invigorating experience and many have learnt to treasure the simple little things in life. On a final note, though their presence in the village was just temporary, the little efforts can go a long way to making a difference in the lives of the villagers. You can too, make a difference to the lives of the villagers. Step out and step up and join YEP 2009!