Cambodia – Page 18 – Goducate … Go And Educate!

2012-05-292018-09-24

Project Sokh Saan at Goducate Children’s Home in Cambodia

Together with 17 other Singapore Management University undergraduates I have just spent 2 weeks at the Goducate Children’s Home in Cambodia for our Overseas Community Service Project (OCSP), called Project Sokh Saan, meaning Blessed, So We Bless. Our aim was to equip the children at the home with basic information technology (IT) skills such as creating documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.

Our program consisted of reading, computer, music and sports classes. The plan was to spend the mornings conducting reading classes, and in between, to bring the children in turns to the computer room to try out the typing game, TypeFaster, as well as to teach them how to use LibreOffice, a free software very similar to Microsoft Office. However, although the children were able to communicate well with us, most had difficulty understanding what they were reading. Hence we placed more emphasis on reading and comprehension for the majority of the children and limited the computer training to the older children. The idea is that the older children would be able to pass on what they have learnt to the younger children, especially since they would be able to explain in Khmer as well.

The afternoons were spent in various activities. The first four afternoons were a continuation of reading and computer classes, then there were two afternoons dedicated to music theory and practical lessons with the recorder. There were also two sports classes during which we taught the children how to play soccer and games with the frisbee, and one afternoon was taken up by an art class on shading and lighting. The manuals we made for all our activities have been left at the Home for the children to refer to, along with the 11 laptops that we brought over.

On our last day, the children entertained us with their recorder playing, while we put up a short dance item and sang two songs for them.

It was a joy teaching the children, and we hope to return there one day. We thank the staff of the Home for their hospitality and cooperation, and for helping us to maintain discipline.

Guest writer Charmaine, Student from SMU

2012-05-042012-05-08

Harvesting vegetables at the Goducate Children’s Home Cambodia

As part of the children’s livelihood training at the Goducate Children’s Home in Preynob Cambodia, a portion of the land was set aside for a small organic farm. A week ago, several visitors had the privilege of helping to harvest vegetables which included squash, gourds, eggplants and chilli for the dining table.

For these city-dwellers who are repeat visitors to the Children’s Home, it was fun to go back to nature, harvest these organic vegetables and then enjoy them for lunch an hour later!

aIMG_1039 — Lisa, our American visitor, harvesting vegetables

aIMG_1043 — Wilson harvesting the eggplants

The mango trees were in season as well, and the company also enjoyed raw mango salad for lunch. Ric, our expert agriculturist from the Goducate Training Center in the Philippines, is planning a visit to the Children’s Home in the following months to share his expertise with the Home adminstrators. It is our hope that the farm will grow and help the Home become self-sustaining with home-grown crops, as well as serve as another viable avenue to teach Cambodians how to help themselves.

2012-04-242012-04-19

Boys from Goducate Children’s Home in Cambodia start training as community development workers

Two boys from the Goducate Children’s Home in Cambodia are among the first batch of students at the Goducate Training Camp in Iloilo, The Philippines.

There were mixed emotions at their send-off, which was both scary and exciting. No-one wanted to cry. We all wanted to them off with our full encouragement and smiling goodbyes. They gave us hugs and somewhat nervous grins.

In their few years with us, the two boys have developed well physically, emotionally, and academically, and both are a big help in the Home, although in different ways. Timothy loves animals and likes to look after them. Nathan seems to fit anywhere he is needed. He copes with construction work and gardening and other livelihood projects.
I recall how their homesickness and tearfulness during their first few days at the Home. Nathan in particular was particularly distressed, and asked to be sent home despite the domestic violence he had to endure. Yet it is comforting to us to know that they decided to be strong no matter what, and have settled in well. Both were identified as leaders about 2 years ago.

Timothy digging hole for Mango planting — Timothy digging hole for mango tree

Nathan in Red shirt helping Joel in welding works — Nathan (in red) helping with welding

We hope that they will learn much at the Goducate Training Center that will serve them well when it is their turn to go out and help the needy. We hope too that they will turn out to be good examples for the other children at the Home.