World Gallery of Hope – Service Learning and Cultural Exchange Trip to Cambodia
World Gallery of Hope was a service learning project intiated by a group of REDbird members and assisted by HKUST Connect and Sakka Foundation, which aimed at bettering the life of children in Cambodia. Our trip was carried out in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and lasted for a week from June 2 to 8, 2011. The group brought love, care and happiness to two orphanages: a slum school and a Cambodia-based NGO, Cambodia Children's Fund (CCF). Lastly, the group spent two days on cultural exchange in Phnom Penh to increase their understanding of the history of Cambodia.
Our students spent five and a half days conducting service activities. First, they visited CCF, where Daniel taught photography knowledge and then the rest of the team shared their personal stories with members from CCF. Next, they stayed in Wat Opot Children’s Community for two days and conveyed their love and care through various outdoor activities and art classes with its orphans, whose parents had died of AIDS, or who may be HIV positive themselves. The group learned about the orphans' stories and gave them encouragement, just like brothers and sisters. After that, the students helped to build a barrier wall between two pools in Who Will Village for another two days. We also held an “amazing race” with the children after they studied the area. Lastly, our students visited Aziza School, a slum school with high poverty.
For our students, the five-day service was a mix of sweat and laughter. Hours of games in the dazzling sunshine left both the children and participants pouring with sweat, but they all enjoyed it. They played, chatted, sang and built friendships with them. A sense of satisfaction was gained at the sight of their smiling faces. Holding the children's hands, students felt an emotional connection with them despite the existing language barrier. When our students were leaving, the children's sincere words of love and gratitude moved them to tears and reminded them to cherish love and remain grateful to the world. Our students went from partnership to friendship to a family. This is simple life and yet it is a forever memory.
