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Published: January 13th 2010
So after the festivities of Christmas and new year.. we have finished our traveling and have started to work!
it wasn't the easiest place to find but last week we arrived in the pitch black at the school well be working at!
in the dark there wast much to see so we had an early night.. i awoke to the pre dawn chorus of the many roosters, hens, cows, dogs and people that make the Cambodian morning.. it starts around 5ish.
the mornings here are beautiful its much cooler and we could see the school, mostly a wooden structure and the large gardens that surround it.. it does tend to look more like a farm quite alot of the time.. there about 60 chickens at the moment, there aiming for 200 there both eaten and sold (chicken eggs are rarely eaten as chicks that grow up are worth more, they tend to favor duck eggs) there's also a cow currently waiting to be given to one off the poorer families in the cow lottery and 4 big fish ponds where they farm lots and lots of fish again to be sold at the market.. all of this is
aimed at making the school self supporting so it no longer need charity donations!
Ive been helping in the 8 to 12 year old class where we practice the months and singular and plurals (as they dont have plurals in cambodian) "what is this... This is a potato" "what are these.. these are tomatoes" and then in the evening helping in conversation class where we talk about subjects like photosynthesis and population growth these students are closer to 20-21 and have very good english.
the school is open all day but the pupils actually goto different public schools in the area, they are supposed to be free but the children are often charged by the teachers. Nearly all lessons at these school are taught through dictation so simply copying down off the board. on there two breaks and after school the students then come to sorya to get extra help and improve there English and computer skills.
i dont think you could go anywhere in the UK and find children as eager to learn as you do here.
there are currently 15 of the students here starting university next year, and Sorya as a charity has
helped some of the older students over the years and they are now the main teachers that we help. Sorya also provides the funding to send them to university.
It is an amazing organization and everyday we see more ways they are helping the local community support its self. One of the best things about it is that its nearly all run by the local staff rather then from people overseas which means they know who and how best to help.
The staff have all been extremely friendly and helpful making sure we know what were doing, theres also another volunteer here from Germany called Gabby who has basically showed us the ropes and given us the history of the school! which were very grateful for.
ive been here just over a week and have under two weeks left.. im very disappointed i cant stay for the 6 months i promised and everyday i want to stay longer.. but i will hopefully be back as soon as possible.. an then ill be able to take on more responsibilities.
A good friend of mine told me "To teach is to learn twice" and i cant think of
anything more fitting.. some times i feel guilty that im getting more out of being here then i put back..
anyway im going to be making the most out of the two weeks i have left and will try and get some more photos up too..
if anyone is interested in the school or the organization ill put some links below..
at the moment there building a new silk weaving center which they have raised the money for but they still need money to pay for the solar power panels and battery's which would run both the sewing machines for the local girls and provide lights so they can teach in the evening time. any contribution helps and you can do so through there better place website listed below.
a website run by the staff here..
here is where you can donate for the solar power parts.. unfortunately it is in german but its still pretty easy to understand and you can read the testimony's in english by the students at the bottom.
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from Mere
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Impressed
Nanny is very happy to see that you like it there so much! and she will be glad to see you when you come back. You have grown up!! Callum is catching up with you in height ! Rosie and I are impressed because we know what a hard job teaching can be. Mariette sends you a kiss.