Teaching in Cambodia with the SAFE foundation

There are numerous charities and organisations all over the world and in Cambodia that enable people like me to reach out to local communities, contribute and help. It is hard to know and understand who you could and should be working with but the fact is that it is your job to be a responsible volunteer. From my limited experience, it is important to make enquiries on the ethos of the organisation you could work with and to try to have a positive impact on the people you are trying to assist.

I like the ethos of the SAFE Foundation. Lucy's experience and her values have made SAFE a charity that gives what it promises to local people. This is very important everywhere but in Cambodia it goes a long way. The direct links and the personal communication between Lucy and the people runnning local projects or charities makes a real difference. The SAFE foundation deserves our support in any possible way.

Lucy was in Cambodia working with Cambodian Child and Hope Association in June 2010. Dan Green who works with the SAFE Foundation as a photographer has documented much of the work that takes place here at the schools. In August Lucy put out another call for volunteers to teach in Cambodia.

I thought I should write a bit about what volunteering here involves. In case you are interested.

I cannot imagine a better place to help young teachers and students in the supplementary schools of the Siem Reap villages. Many of the children (and  teachers) go the public school (run by the Government) in the morning or  early afternoon,  many also work in the fields with their parents and/or work in restaurants, hotels and resorts to supplement the negligible income of their families. They still run to  English Language School, bright eyed and willing. This is because this is a community endeavour , a place where children meet and feel safe and happy.

The teachers need assistance with their pronunciation, some common grammar and syntax mistakes rooted in the absence of plural, past and future tense in the Khmer language. Repetition is the mother of knowledge. Their brains are like sponges and they are thirsty for knowledge.  For those of us who have taught in the UK and other western countries there is so much satisfaction to be gained  (from a selfish point of view I guess). There is so much respect to the teacher. Volunteers experienced in teaching can drive teachers and students here to improve vastly. Our experience in lesson planning, revision and learnging techniques could be very useful. It is important to teach sensitely respecting their ways.

The Khmer language is a soft and nasal language. Many word endings are silent. This is a sign of respect to the person you are addressing. This is why phonic teaching is an ideal method of teaching here. It is very important to help teachers and students to pronounce some sounds correctly and help them find words in Khmer that help them reproduce english sounds or offer them pronunciation techniques.

Teaching phonics in class is very simple and any type of accent (so long as it gives them a correct sound compared to their interpretation of what a word should sound like) is helpful. Teachers and students also need help with putting the correct stress on a word or a sentence.  So listening and conversation exercises are invaluable.Then of course there are many other ways that you can help. Introducing more songs, games, interactive exercises and also just working with specific teachers and schools during your stay here could be invaluable.

There are 8 schools and teachers. Each teachers runs two classes a day that consists of between 20 and 40 students (sometimes you just lose the count as they keep streaming in). Do the maths, that's a lot of students!

As the first volunteer here I think it is important to talk a lot with the teachers and Phalla about what they need. My teaching day runs from one to eight in the evening (door to door , from my hostel to the main school, the school villages and back). It is tiring but I am very keen to participate in lessons at all village schools and inspire children. It means a lot  to teachers and students  alike that Neak rou Lia makes the effort spend an evening with them. Another place where my reputation precedes me! This is another important contribution of a volunteer, their own presence.
The first part of the day involves working with the teachers for a couple of hours, through conversational, phonic and grammar exercises. The level is still elementary. The second part involves empowering them, helping them with lesson planning, time consiousness and giving them help with structuring the lesson. They discuss their concerns, new ideas, teaching and other techniques. Finally, I play the role of a teaching assistant, observing them and helping them throughout the class. Some want me to take charge but in my discussions with them I explain how important it is for them to remain in charge. We work  well together. I help with phonetic exercises, reading texts , making sentences and acting out the meaning of words (clowning around in their class).  The teachers here might be young and in need of improvement but they are all handpicked for their teaching skills and have a real charisma in communication and teaching. It is inspiring to watch them get through to children.

So this is a snippet of what you could be doing through the SAFE foundation. Think about what you could offer and before you send an email or make an enquiry I would also suggest you think about why you would be doing this. The minimum term of volunteering here is 3 weeks. The more you can give the better of course.

Lucy is an inspiring woman. She and Phalla of CCHA deserve all the support they can get. So think if you can also help in ways other than volunteering. You can also speak to me about my experience when I am back. Don't hesitate to email me at liamoutselou@gmail.com.

If you want to find out a bit more about the Siem Reap project, the SAFE foundation and Lucy Dickenson, follow this link:

http://thesafefoundation.co.uk/index.php/projects/siam-reap-cambodia/

http://thesafefoundation.co.uk/index.php/about/

Lucy's email address is:
lucy@thesafefoundation.co.uk
info@thesafefoundation.co.uk

Dan Green's work can be viewed at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dangreenhalloween/
httt://www.biglittlecity.com

Teacher Pat and his class

Love to all xx

At the temples

http://picasaweb.google.com/liamoutselou/AtTheTemples#

As I carefully go down the steps of an ancient temple, I mutter to myself: ‘I could actually fall here’. ‘Don’t tempt fate’, advises a warning voice',  I lift my eyes to see a young tour guide smiling at me. ‘You might not be able to see them, but the spirits are here and they might just give you a push’.

I would have hoped that the spirits and I forged a strong and lasting friendship at sunrise. Today I woke up at 5 am, and met Phalla at 530 to be at the Angor Wat temple in time for sunrise. Angor Wat is the grandest but not the oldest temple in the Angor area. Phalla has insisted he accompanies me on my first visit to the temples. 'You are my volunteer, you help me so much' , he says. But when we get there he lets me to enter Angor Wat on my own and I am grateful. This is a personal experience.

The site is busy at 6 am, busier than I would have liked. But then again this is the cool season in Cambodia when tourists flock the Angor Wat area. The dawn light is mystical and I cross the bridge that leads me to the temple site. I don’t want to miss the sunrise but it is impossible to rush here. I walk mesmerised. There is beautiful music coming from a pagoda somewhere. I climb up the steps of the imposing temple in the middle of the Anghor Wat. Something stirs inside me. I am overwhelmed by my own being. Black and white spirits, fears and hopes, baggage and memories, sadness and happiness, the pressure of the past and the bliss some of the happiest moments of my life are all unleashed in the corridors of the temple noisily floating around me. I surprisingly find a quiet east facing spot on a high point. It looks like it has been reserved for me.  I sit still as my restlessness is painfully kicking me from within. But all I am able is to be still, watching the sunrise and feeling simultaneous unease and release.  

Inch by inch the sun is rising as if lifted by a giant invisible hand. I don’t know if this is a spiritual experience or if my subconscious has cunningly timed this. I realise what I already known: I am happy. The rest:  restlessness, questioning, troubles are human phenomena. Every now and then they overwhelm but with time and wisdom it all quietens down. After all the intensity of my humanity gives me the satisfaction, the contentment I am getting from this beautiful sunrise and this quietens eveyrthing down.

Happy I  continue with my tour. I admire the bas reliefs (figures sculptured in a temple wall)   of Mahabharata, one of the nicest books I have read. The temples in Angor area narrate stories of the Buddhist and Hindu‘religion’ , which interchangeably dominated Cambodia at different times. ‘Religious’ tales are depicted amongst other tales of of the empire's past warfare and glory. This is why parts of some temples are ‘missing’. When Buddhism was dominant some Hindu stories were removed and vice versa.

About two hours later I meet a smiley Phalla. Together we visit Bayen Temple entering the Angor Thom , a complex of more temples. He then leaves me again to roam Ta Prohm temple on my own. He smiles knowingly. I have just told him I love the vegetation and nature here.  

Whilst I continue my wandering, I am occasionally faced with my contradictions as well as those of this world: a peaceful ancient site conquered by hordes of tourists who sometimes just rush to photograph themselves on a site they have seen in their guide book before they go. Sometimes they annoy me other times I meet and chat to wonderful people. But my highlight at Ta Prohm aside from the impressive maze of temples, are the trees.  I think I am a true tree hugger. Imposing, gigantic trees, with their beautiful trunks and scents greet me everywhere. Their roots embrace the temple stones: a triumphant coalition of nature and human ingenuity wins you over. There are moments when I really want to share this with people I love. I really do. As I say to Phalla later I think life is for sharing. Whilst I am content in my company and self (most of the times): I cannot think of anything that makes my joy and happiness more intense and real than sharing it.

Even driving and walking around the area is an experience in itself. At Bayen temple, I wander off to a Pagoda, where I am once again amongst Cambodians this time in their festive wear paying their respects to the Buddha. Some excitable nuns jump around making me dance to the music. I enter the Pagoda and pay my respects. I watch the pilgrims bring presents for the monks. I am filled with peace and joy. Am I really here?  Then I suddenly miss Dan so much. There you go I am a living contradiction!

Tomorrow it’s my day off as the teachers have an exam with the Ministry of education.  I might head to the Tonle Sap Lake and then deposit myself in a hammock on the banks of the western barray (a manmade Angor era lake in the Angor area). I might even have a swim.

For now I sit and sip a much needed coffee with Phalla who proudly beams at my excitement. It’s just after one in the afternoon and time to meet my lovely students again.