Young Hearts Yearn to Learn in Cambodia

Two Schools

So similar,

yet so different

A large complex of buildings

with a field built for playing

no power, no water,

just chalk and books

The other school floating

a boat built for learning

no power, no water

just chalk and books

Every soul engaged

bright eyes, smiling faces

visibly yearning to learn

and embrace the unknown

Two Schools

So similar

yet so different

both striving towards a better future

for those enrolled

While traveling in Cambodia, we decided to volunteer some of our time to an organization called, ABOUTAsia Schools (formerly I Am Cambodia). This organization is heavily involved with over 100 schools in Siem Reap. For our visit, we went to the Prey Chrouk School, which teaches children of all ages.  On the first day, we brought fun English learning books with us for the classes to use as well as various treats for the children to enjoy. (Cambodia relies heavily on tourism. Learning English, as well as other languages, is a fabulous tool to help the children have a prosperous future).  

Entering the classrooms to engage with the students and present the books, you could feel the excitement and see the brilliance shining in their eyes. These children were visibly excited about learning and wanted to engage with us. The day was dedicated to tongue twisters and we added a few more to the list. Helping with pronunciation and answering intelligent questions from curious minds, having an absolutely fabulous time.

Chris Smith who founded the program, organized our involvement with the school and even had us do some work outside of the school as well. It was so nice to see how much the administrators, teachers, and students appreciated the work Chris Smith along with Andy Booth were doing for their school.  

One day outside of the classroom was particularly memorable. Chris took us to a local Buddhist temple to help paint the pagoda. At this temple the Buddhist monks were not allowed to be in the same room with a woman so a few of them left to sit outside when we arrived. Entering the room to join a couple local helpers, we got to work painting the ceiling and the walls. There was paint splattered everywhere and we tried to show some of the workers how to protect the floors from the paint dripping off the ceiling. However, we were not incredibly successful and I am certain after all was said and done, they had to paint the floors as well.

We tried to balance our volunteering with sight seeing, enjoying Angkor Wat and making our way to a floating village. Overall, the floating village was fairly disappointing as they had learnt how to take advantage of the tourists. However, along the way we saw some children in uniforms on a boat and asked if it was a school . Due to our interest, the boat driver stopped so we could go in and say hello to the children. I thought this was rather odd at first. Why would they want to see some random strangers? But they loved it!
As soon as we walked into the “classroom” (which was the interior of the boat) the children’s eyes lit up and they were excited to get the chance to talk to us. They were bursting with questions about where we had come from, what we were doing in Cambodia, and what we thought of the things we had seen. Their school-boat was incredibly colorful with fun decorations adorning the ceiling, and some of the students showed us what they were working on in their books. We enjoyed meeting the children and said goodbye to continue on our peculiar river adventure. Grinning ear to ear the children waved goodbye and in the flash of an eye we were gone.

It is so fabulous to see such a desire for learning in the youth. Both schools, though completely different, with children from completely different environments, were filled with passionate pupils. Walk into most classroom in America or the UK and the only thing likely to evoke that much excitement is One Direction or Justin Bieber.