The first thing that I did with the extra money was some shopping! I bought loads of educational and colouring books, flashcards, stationary, calculators, hair bands, vests, underwear and lots more as you can see in the photo. There are rules in the community with regards to donations, so I found when I arrived that I wouldn't be able to give these gifts out to whoever I deemed appropriate (which was a relief, I hadn't realised the community school provided to 1500 children!) instead they have a scheme in place where the children who are most in need of clothes are provided with these donations and stationary and educational goods would be used in the classrooms or as prizes along with the toys to children that had been doing well in their lessons. The idea behind the scheme is that the children don't start to associate becoming friends with the volunteers with receiving gifts, this way we always knew that all friendships made were genuine!
As we took our own classes of children from groups of 15 to one on one lessons, having these books, stickers and especially the inflatable globe made this more exciting for the children.
As we took our own classes of children from groups of 15 to one on one lessons, having these books, stickers and especially the inflatable globe made this more exciting for the children.
In Siem Reep, the volunteer group received a Khmer language and history lesson from the wonderful Jimmy, in Jimmy's village school. He lives with his mum and family in a small house in the city, he was blessed to have western friends sponsor him to have a university education learning English and wanted to pass this on to children of the city that don't have this education. He has converted the front area of his mum's house into 'Jimmy's village school' where he holds 3 classes each evening, teaching children for free, relying solely on donations from passers by.
As volunteers our weekends were free for us to see the city as we pleased, as we all loved Jimmy so much we decided to help out at his 'BBQ' he was holding for the children on the Saturday night. We met up with Jimmy in the day and he took us to the market on his tuk-tuk where we all put in money to buy food and pop for the kids to enjoy that evening as well as rice, tinned meat and sauce to put together food packages which we would present to the children most in need of these to take home to their families. The BBQ was a great success, with many performances from the children and of course the disco!
Jimmy is planning to extend his village school by buying land nearby and having a purpose built school so that he accommodate more pupils and give his mum her house back! I donated $400 to Jimmy's school as part of his savings to achieve this dream, Jimmy and the children were so grateful and wanted me to thank every single person that helped raise this money!!
If you would like to keep up to date with Jimmy's school, follow this link to like the facebook page.
As volunteers our weekends were free for us to see the city as we pleased, as we all loved Jimmy so much we decided to help out at his 'BBQ' he was holding for the children on the Saturday night. We met up with Jimmy in the day and he took us to the market on his tuk-tuk where we all put in money to buy food and pop for the kids to enjoy that evening as well as rice, tinned meat and sauce to put together food packages which we would present to the children most in need of these to take home to their families. The BBQ was a great success, with many performances from the children and of course the disco!
Jimmy is planning to extend his village school by buying land nearby and having a purpose built school so that he accommodate more pupils and give his mum her house back! I donated $400 to Jimmy's school as part of his savings to achieve this dream, Jimmy and the children were so grateful and wanted me to thank every single person that helped raise this money!!
If you would like to keep up to date with Jimmy's school, follow this link to like the facebook page.
The rest of the money was used to sponsor Tola, a 13 year old girl that lives in the community where we were building and teaching. The $300 sponsorship covers her state school fees so she can attend both the school in the village and take exams there as well as going to lessons at the community school. It also bought her a bike, helmet and school bag for getting to and from school. It provides her with medical check ups, daily snacks, two uniforms and shoes.
I was able to meet Tola and dance with her at the volunteers leaving party, she is a lovely, polite girl and I'm so glad we were able to give her this opportunity.
I was able to meet Tola and dance with her at the volunteers leaving party, she is a lovely, polite girl and I'm so glad we were able to give her this opportunity.