Building a Future in Cambodia

By Scott Little, JE High School Teacher and Trip Chaperone

Each year, a group of Grade 11 and 12 CIS students participate in a community service project in Cambodia during Excursion Week.  On April 22nd to 30th, a group of 25 students visited Siem Reap and Phnom  Penh, Cambodia and made a difference in the lives of many marginalized individuals.

The accomplishment of our goal was a year long process that started several months before the actual trip.  Several fundraising events were held throughout the year, and combined with other entrepreneurial ventures; a total of $18,500 was raised.  These funds were used to assist a number of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) or charities.

One of the groups we assisted was The People Improvement Organization, which was created by CNN hero Noun Phymean and works with over 800 children each day in 3 different schools in and around Phnom Penh.   We had the pleasure of visiting the dump site school, called Stung Mean Chey and the slum school, known as Borey Keila.  The CIS students worked directly in the classroom with the PIO kids teaching lessons they had prepared in advance and participating in a variety of games and activities.  Thanks to the contributions of the CIS community, we were also able to donate a large amount of clothing, shoes and personal hygiene products as well as providing a financial donation.

The highlight of the week was our Housebuilding Project with the Tabitha Foundation, where we built 8 houses in the village of Prek Sleng, Kandal province, south of Phnom Penh.  The entire grouptook on the project with a great amount of effort and determination,not once complaining about the excessive heat or our fatigue, hunger or thirst.

After the building project was complete, a ‘handover’ presentation was held where each family was presented with a blanket as a housewarming gift.  While the families were quiet and reserved throughout the day, they simply could not contain their smiles at the presentation ceremony.  It was an emotional moment that everyone felt good about, and was the ultimate reward for all of our hard work.