Guest * – Page 65 – Goducate … Go And Educate!

2011-11-112018-09-23

My wonderful experiences with Lifepegs

The reason why I joined the Lifepegs was for all kinds of activities. It always organizes abundant outdoor and indoor activities which are so interesting and challenging. Through the activities I learn about many international cultures, working as a team, making friends, and challenge the limit of myself!

After joining Lifepegs for a few months, I found I was crazy about Lifepegs! I liked being in the environment. I wanted my last summer holiday of my college life to become special and meaningful, so I made up my mind to attend the 2011 summer camp, which is the biggest festival in Lifepegs. The summer camp was so splendid. It was the happiest English learning environment that I have ever had. Interacting with teachers and new friends, playing the exciting games, designing the skit, buying stuff from the safari soko (camp store), attending the English corners and the skills night, all of them were so cool! I did enjoy the summer camp a lot. I am glad that I made a good choice to attend instead of going back home.

In the summer camp, not only did I improve my English and make a group of new friends, but also I learned other meaningful things that are beneficial to my life.
During the summer camp, I was a volunteer, technically, the marketing volunteer who was in charge of spreading the news about the summer camp and recruiting the people who wanted to attend. At the beginning, I thought it was an easy thing to do. But later, it didn’t run as smoothly as I expected. Not everyone was interested in the summer camp. There was a time I was very stressed and frustrated. But thanks to Cat, who brought me out of the predicament. She helped me to analyze the problems that I met, and gave me many suggestions on how to make plans, improve my communications skill, try to introduce the summer camp from different angles and so on.

Certificate for marketing volunteer, and with Cat, a Lifepegs staff member

The most important thing is that she is always optimistic and stimulates me to keep going. I got a lot of strength from her. Moreover, she had to deal with many volunteers at the same time. She is so amazing! Thank you Cat, you help me grow a lot.

Besides Cat, I also learned many things from the safari patrol. They played an important role in the whole summer camp. They fulfilled their responsibilities to arrange all the stuff systematically. I never heard them ever complain about it. Owing to their hard work, the summer camp could be so successful. They set me a very good example on how to be a responsible man.

Lifepegs is like a dictionary which adds meaning to my life and makes my college life complete and colorful. I firmly believe Lifepegs will have a bright future that shines everybody!

Guest writer Samson, Volunteer from China

2011-10-252018-09-23

Impressions left by visit to Goducate Children’s Home

The Goducate Children’s Home in Prey Nob, Cambodia is home to more than 30 children. Most of them come from challenging family backgrounds—orphaned, unable to live at home with their parents, from single-parent homes or simply abandoned. They are looked after by a Filipino couple Noe and Grace, who, together with two assistants, provide a loving environment, where the children have a chance attend school, and within months, flourish with joy and confidence.

With Goducate’s vision to help children in poor communities in Asia through education, the transformational changes in the lives of the children is clear. Listening to Caleb, I found his story a living testimony. He is 13 years old. Before joining the home, he used to be a garbage collector and was unable to attend school. His father sent him out to rummage for aluminum cans and plastic bottles in the streets all day to earn a meager sum of less than 25 cents to help put food on the table for his family. His face bears the scars of scratch marks, from other children fighting over the same piece of garbage with him. Now, he shares with me, that he is glad he has a new life. He has new friends. He is able to have the chance to go to school daily, to learn to read and write. He also learns livelihood skills such as tending to fruit and vegetable crops, rearing chicken, and looking after tilapia in the fish farm at the home.

photo(52) — Caleb (in red, with his brother Titus) with airplane he made out of discarded plastic bottle and tin cans

With the mission of Goducate to provide opportunities for children to help themselves through accessing education and learning skills foundational for future self-supporting and self-sustaining enterprises, new and bold dreams are being shaped. In the local community, where subsistence farming is the main occupation, Caleb dreams of being a scientist in the future. Other children shared their aspirations of being doctors, teachers, and even prime minister of their country. These are the dreams of the next generation, emerging from the shadows of the brutality of the dark past of wars and massacre. I am thankful I, a Singaporean, had a chance to see Goducate’s work in building bridges for the children and youth in our neighboring countries to reach further towards new possibilities.

photo(51) — Preparing ground for growing peanuts

Children tipping manure carried from chicken coop to base of tree

As I made my journey home, after spending five valuable days with the children, memories of Caleb and many other children smiling have left a deep impression of the hope and potential that Goducate, through love, care and commitment through education, has brought to many in Cambodia.

Guest writer Su Lian, Volunteer from Singapore

2011-09-272018-09-23

Opening Concert at new Lifepegs premises

More than a hundred Lifepegs members, Chinese and foreign, filled every chair, sofa, and stool and overflowed into the standing areas behind, waiting eagerly for last Saturday’s opening concert at the new Lifepegs facility. Excited chatter in Mandarin, English, and even occasional Cantonese swirled in the air, mixing with the aroma of espresso from the busy coffee bar in the corner. Lifepegs staff members maneuvered through the crowd, welcoming students, adjusting microphones, bringing more seats, and leading tours of the facility’s four storeys. Angela, who had ridden a bus for over 2 hours to come with me, kept her hand in mine as she caught up with some of her classmates from our 2010 summer camp team. Lisa, who I’d met during a Lifepegs pizza making activity in the spring, waved at me from across the room, where she was sitting with Nicole and Will.

The “Real Life” concert featured a blend of foreign members singing various inspirational songs with guitar and keyboard accompaniment, as well as testimonies from members about the different ways Lifepegs has influenced their lives. The packed room listened intently as each speaker shared his or her favorite Lifepegs experiences: skiing trips, business lectures, rock climbing, cooking lessons, fitness and nutrition training, singing activities, and many, many others.

“I have learned many interesting things about the different cultures from the Philippines and the United States.”

“We had a chance to sell our items from the Shenyang business trip and see who could make the greatest profit.”

“I will never forget my friends from the English summer camp!”

“I was afraid to use English before, but now I can have lots of practice in fun activities with foreign friends and other students.”

Amid the reminiscing about different trips and activities, certain themes arose again and again: learning, friendship, family. Members told of foreign friends and staff members who took the time to mentor, encourage, and love them, whether through making biscuits together or training them as marketing volunteers. And as I looked around at the familiar faces singing the final song, “Pengyou” together, I had to agree with the speaker who ended with, “Lifepegs is more than a club, it is a family. I love Lifepegs; I love you all.”

Guest writer Becca, Volunteer at Student Activity Center