Cambodia
It was an eye opener to be in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Though it was only a short weekend work trip, what I saw was enough to have left an impression on me. The place is really different from Singapore; no tall buildings, traffic is madness, dusty, and old looking. It's what you see at old Malaysian towns. Lots of people walking around, lots of motorbikes, a lot of roadside food stalls, plenty of garment factories, etc.
I was there on a work trip to meet some cambodians my company had engaged before and the singaporeans living in Phnom Penh. It was more of a networking session. The Singapore Ambassador attended as well. Thought that reception was the main reason for the trip, it was the other programme that really made a difference for me. The 2nd day of the trip, my boss and I tagged along with the cambodians and their friends to this rural village called Ang Kor Borei - Takeo Province. It's about 3 hours drive away from the city, and it's located at the border of Vietnam and Cambodia. The purpose of the trip was to visit a primary school and distribute stationaries to over 450 primary students (grade 1 to 7). This school is located by the riverside, and unfortunately is standing at a location which floods for 6 months. And so, for these 6 months, the school children are unable to attend school. This left them 6 months for studies only, which to every educational standard is not enough. And so, the flood season has ended and now it's time to start school again. And so as a form of encouragement, the cambodians who have formed a NGO, decided to raise some funds to pay stationaries for these kids, so that they can start the new school year on the right note.
It was such a sight when I arrived at the school. The condition was definately bad. Bad lightings in the classrooms, dirty desks/chairs, most kids were in filty clothing and most had no slippers to wear. It was this moment, that I felt so blessed to have what I have now or being provided for. These kids have nothing to their possesion and yet most look so happy and contented. You should see the smile on their faces after collection their stationaries. Such delight was priceless.
I am glad and honoured to have participated in this project, because no way will you ever see such a thing in Singapore or even in Malaysia. Not even when you're a tourist in some 3rd world country. You have to be at the place to experience it. There's still so much more we can do for these kids. Such as providing clean uniforms, a pair of slippers or school shoes, lights for the classroom, and new furnitures. I salute the cambodians who took their precious time off to work on something that serves its community. How many of us are willing to volunteer such time and effort for our own? not many....
I feel inspired to wanting to help, in watever big or small ways i can. If everyone helps a little, the world would definately be a better place... a much better place.
