Cambodia Service Learning Trip (Jun 2014)

This is the seventh service learning trip to Cambodia since 2011. During the 8-day trip (4 – 11 June 2014), we visited Cambodian Children’s Fund Centre 1 & 6, Who Will Village and Wat Opot Children Community. Our aim is to empower Cambodia children to pursue their dreams by showing affection and compassion through the specially designed educational and cultural exchange programs for kids in different organizations according to their needs and English level.

Since the beginning of the semester, the organizing committees (OCs) had been having regular meetings every week to ensure the whole trip was on track. To better equip our participants, there were workshops and a service learning day for them to have a better understanding of the trip and to learn to get along with kids. The team was divided into five small groups. Each OC and their respective group were responsible for a specific part of activity design. Small group meetings were held frequently to come up with a rounded plan. Right before the trip, all participants and OCs collected and bought materials for the activities as well as accommodating donation in our luggage.

On the first day, the team had some sightseeing in Phnom Penh to have a general understanding of Cambodian local culture in the morning, and in the afternoon, they went to a local market to gain deeper insight of Cambodian life and buy some goods according to the list of needs provided by NGOs. All the session plans were successfully carried out with some minor  amendments, and the team chatted and played games with the children as well as delivered several lectures. At the end of the service learning trip, we were fortunate to have the chance to further explore the local culture through taking a local bike tour. In order to learn about Cambodian religions, history and society, we also visited the Royal Palace and the Genocide museum on the final day. This one-day tour drew a perfect full stop for this eight-day service learning trip to Cambodia.

The eight-day trip was definitely a life-changing experience for all participants. Some of them got some insights for their future jobs; some of them learnt to treasure the opportunities and resources that they have; some of them learnt to step out of their comfort zone and to become someone that they are proud of; and some discovered their strengths and weaknesses. Most importantly, they gained a life-long relationship with each other and Cambodian children.

In the beginning of the trip, most of the participants doubted about the meaning of service learning trip. They were worried whether their effort was worthy or not. However, after eight days of volunteering, they were ensured by the smile of Cambodian children that their hard work was surely paid off and happy memories were created in their hearts. To make sure that Cambodia service learning trip is improved year by year, participants are willing to pass their experiences and insights on to the members of next trip so that the quality of trip can be enhanced. Moreover, they become more aware of the impact of NGOs to a country and to the growth of children. Though the trip has ended, the passion and love received by participants in Cambodia will stay in their hearts forever and will be spread to their surroundings. Volunteering will not end with the trip but will continue in Hong Kong and even other countries.