PEPY SCHOOL - Day 2
Last night we went to a restaraunt run by a Swiss organization that offers a free one-year training program in tourism to local youths, who learn from the couple running the place and hands-on experience at the inn and restaraunt. Pretty cool concept and extremely charming place. The place was a little hard to find (it was along the Mekong river but the roads were not lit past the city center), but within walking distance and dinner was amazing! The kids, in their late teens, are the first group, are about to complete the program and have all found jobs. I hope they do well.
Mekong Blue
We left Stung Treng really earlythis morning (6:15), stopping ast Mekong Blue, a local women's development center. Tam and I were up in the middle of the night, sweating and searching frantically for someone from the hotel, when our air conditioning wasn't working (and Tam still suffering from stomach problems), but the adreneline of knowing we were going to the school kept us going.
Once at Mekong Blue, we stopped in the cafe first and had vietnamese coffee and bread for breakfast (I think I am addicted to both!!) before it was time for an intro to the project and a tour of the center (which specializes in silk production and teaching practical working skills to rural women). They took us to the warehouse and showed us the looms and silk worms, which seemed much more of a hands-on process (or was on a smaller scale?) than the silk worm factory I visited in China few years ago. I was also really impressed by the canals of water around all the buildings (that keep bugs and critters who can't cross the moat out) and how much faith and passion womn put into project. The male co-manager started to explain the world they were doing at the center, but his female counterpart took over (impressive in Cambodia).
Day 2 at the School
When we arrived at the school, the kids were waiting for us (all of us excited about our reunion!). Today they were dressed in normal clothes. We learned that Thursday is not normally a school day in Cambodia, so there were also many kids that hadn't come back the second day. Next month (or in about 2 weeks) is New Years, so school will break for about a month then, as well, in order to celebrate (people don't celebrate birthdays until they are 50 in Cambodia so New Years is like one big birthday party for EVERYONE to celebrate getting a year older).
In addition to seeing less kids, 2 teaches and the principal didnt come. At first, some people were really turned off by this, but we soon realized this is another reality of Cambodian schools. When I talk about showing the kids we support their education and think it's important, we mean it, because sometimes the teachers can't even come or the kids have to work and that comes first. In addition, teachers make on average about $30 a MONTH in Cambodia, far under the poverty line. There are actually arguments AGAINST raising that amount (because it would take money away from the government), but this also means that most teachers need a second job. If the crops are good, they need to stay home and tend to them and can't go to work at school. PEPY has worked with bonus programs for good teacher attendance (and another NGO had a successful food-bonus program that seemed to help), but it's a big problem and part of the system. You hear it, but actually showing up and seeing it brought the reality home.
We split the kids that were there into classes and started wtih an environmental video in one room and a few of us organized a garbage pick-up game. It went really well (with prizes for the group that got the most), but we soon filled up all the bags we had brought and there was only a small, concrete barrel-like structure for burning the garbage, so we had to wait to get more so there was a place to put it afterwards.
One of the women in our group is a lawyer, married to a professional baseball player, so she brought t-shirts and hats from the team that we also handed out when they finished the video. We also gave all the kids PEPY t-shirts and water bottles (like a little thermos with a cup on top - from RDI - so they can try out the new, filtered water).
We played some games and ate at river again, little kids following behind us and stripping down to swim when we got to the water.
In the afternoon, we taught the kids an awesome song and game about greetings (the "Hello Everybody song") that Andy (the grad student doing his field research) had written while teaching in Japan. It was a big hit, but because even less kids were able to come back after lunch, not everyone got to do all the lessons we planned. Instead, however, we all worked on a big art project (drawing portraits and doing origami) and taught a few dances in the yard (Macarena, Electric Slide), hooking one of the intern's laptops and speakers up to the generator.
We didn't get to resume the garbage pick-up game (not enough kids and still nowhere to throw it), but when we were dancing, I tried to get a rock out of my shoe and realied it was a metal stick that had gone through my shoe! Thankfully it was just rubbing my foot, but between that and the peices of broken glass I found lyin around (the areas where the kids are walking without shoes!). I hope the lesson about garbage sticks (esp since it's not about culture, it's about safety and the environment)...
The day came to a close as we played with some of the little girls, no longer shy AT ALL. Before I knew it, the art lesson and everything was over and the doors were closed. It was time to leave. We said goodbyes (telling the 9th graders we would see them the next day for an outing to Kratie), but it was sad to leave some of the kids we had just started getting to know.
Back to Kratie
The bus ride back seemed long. I tried to hide tears as I read my book about the Khmer Rouge ("First They Killed My Father"), now imagining the faces of Cambodian children to match the names of those described in the book. We drove several hours and I fell asleep, waking up as we reached Kratie.
We went to a pizza place called the Rising Sun for dinner. On the way there, we passed tents of drink stands in a row, displaying fresh fruit and large metal grinders to make smoothies. There were some foreigners looking over the Mekong River, enjoying the warm (but not unbearably hot) weather. Once we got to the restaurant, it took a long time to get the pizza (and they put sausage on the vegetarian one "as a favor because they liked us"...hmm), but the food was good (especially the fries with cheese!). We've been told they'll usually ask you how "happy" you want your pizza to be in Cambodia, but the place seemed pretty innocent (never asked us and seemed fine afterwards) and the owner even drove his motorbike to the market to get sugar cane juice for me when they didn't have any. Had some beers and chatted with some ladies from the group, while the guys taught the Cambodian waiters pick-up lines at another table. Fun night.
We have a later start tomorrow, before meeting the kids. We're going to visit a local NGO (started by and run by a Cambodian staff!) to learn about opportunities that the kids might have to make a difference or help their community in the future. We're also going to see the dolphins and maybe swim a bit, so it should be a good day. We have HBO and hot water (sometimes a commodity) at the hotel, and the roads are dark, so I think I'm gonna head back and get clean before bed.
Afterthoughts
Ok, there is a LOT if info here (partially to share with people that really want it - hi mom - but also to just keep track of the little memories for myself). There might be some questions about whether the work we are doing (even the money we fundraised) is helpful, however, so I wanted to share with you this interview from the PEPY site.
It answers some aggressive, but also very realistic, questions like:
Mekong Blue
We left Stung Treng really earlythis morning (6:15), stopping ast Mekong Blue, a local women's development center. Tam and I were up in the middle of the night, sweating and searching frantically for someone from the hotel, when our air conditioning wasn't working (and Tam still suffering from stomach problems), but the adreneline of knowing we were going to the school kept us going.
Once at Mekong Blue, we stopped in the cafe first and had vietnamese coffee and bread for breakfast (I think I am addicted to both!!) before it was time for an intro to the project and a tour of the center (which specializes in silk production and teaching practical working skills to rural women). They took us to the warehouse and showed us the looms and silk worms, which seemed much more of a hands-on process (or was on a smaller scale?) than the silk worm factory I visited in China few years ago. I was also really impressed by the canals of water around all the buildings (that keep bugs and critters who can't cross the moat out) and how much faith and passion womn put into project. The male co-manager started to explain the world they were doing at the center, but his female counterpart took over (impressive in Cambodia).
Day 2 at the School
When we arrived at the school, the kids were waiting for us (all of us excited about our reunion!). Today they were dressed in normal clothes. We learned that Thursday is not normally a school day in Cambodia, so there were also many kids that hadn't come back the second day. Next month (or in about 2 weeks) is New Years, so school will break for about a month then, as well, in order to celebrate (people don't celebrate birthdays until they are 50 in Cambodia so New Years is like one big birthday party for EVERYONE to celebrate getting a year older).
In addition to seeing less kids, 2 teaches and the principal didnt come. At first, some people were really turned off by this, but we soon realized this is another reality of Cambodian schools. When I talk about showing the kids we support their education and think it's important, we mean it, because sometimes the teachers can't even come or the kids have to work and that comes first. In addition, teachers make on average about $30 a MONTH in Cambodia, far under the poverty line. There are actually arguments AGAINST raising that amount (because it would take money away from the government), but this also means that most teachers need a second job. If the crops are good, they need to stay home and tend to them and can't go to work at school. PEPY has worked with bonus programs for good teacher attendance (and another NGO had a successful food-bonus program that seemed to help), but it's a big problem and part of the system. You hear it, but actually showing up and seeing it brought the reality home.
We split the kids that were there into classes and started wtih an environmental video in one room and a few of us organized a garbage pick-up game. It went really well (with prizes for the group that got the most), but we soon filled up all the bags we had brought and there was only a small, concrete barrel-like structure for burning the garbage, so we had to wait to get more so there was a place to put it afterwards.
One of the women in our group is a lawyer, married to a professional baseball player, so she brought t-shirts and hats from the team that we also handed out when they finished the video. We also gave all the kids PEPY t-shirts and water bottles (like a little thermos with a cup on top - from RDI - so they can try out the new, filtered water).
We played some games and ate at river again, little kids following behind us and stripping down to swim when we got to the water.
In the afternoon, we taught the kids an awesome song and game about greetings (the "Hello Everybody song") that Andy (the grad student doing his field research) had written while teaching in Japan. It was a big hit, but because even less kids were able to come back after lunch, not everyone got to do all the lessons we planned. Instead, however, we all worked on a big art project (drawing portraits and doing origami) and taught a few dances in the yard (Macarena, Electric Slide), hooking one of the intern's laptops and speakers up to the generator.
We didn't get to resume the garbage pick-up game (not enough kids and still nowhere to throw it), but when we were dancing, I tried to get a rock out of my shoe and realied it was a metal stick that had gone through my shoe! Thankfully it was just rubbing my foot, but between that and the peices of broken glass I found lyin around (the areas where the kids are walking without shoes!). I hope the lesson about garbage sticks (esp since it's not about culture, it's about safety and the environment)...
The day came to a close as we played with some of the little girls, no longer shy AT ALL. Before I knew it, the art lesson and everything was over and the doors were closed. It was time to leave. We said goodbyes (telling the 9th graders we would see them the next day for an outing to Kratie), but it was sad to leave some of the kids we had just started getting to know.
Back to Kratie
The bus ride back seemed long. I tried to hide tears as I read my book about the Khmer Rouge ("First They Killed My Father"), now imagining the faces of Cambodian children to match the names of those described in the book. We drove several hours and I fell asleep, waking up as we reached Kratie.
We went to a pizza place called the Rising Sun for dinner. On the way there, we passed tents of drink stands in a row, displaying fresh fruit and large metal grinders to make smoothies. There were some foreigners looking over the Mekong River, enjoying the warm (but not unbearably hot) weather. Once we got to the restaurant, it took a long time to get the pizza (and they put sausage on the vegetarian one "as a favor because they liked us"...hmm), but the food was good (especially the fries with cheese!). We've been told they'll usually ask you how "happy" you want your pizza to be in Cambodia, but the place seemed pretty innocent (never asked us and seemed fine afterwards) and the owner even drove his motorbike to the market to get sugar cane juice for me when they didn't have any. Had some beers and chatted with some ladies from the group, while the guys taught the Cambodian waiters pick-up lines at another table. Fun night.
We have a later start tomorrow, before meeting the kids. We're going to visit a local NGO (started by and run by a Cambodian staff!) to learn about opportunities that the kids might have to make a difference or help their community in the future. We're also going to see the dolphins and maybe swim a bit, so it should be a good day. We have HBO and hot water (sometimes a commodity) at the hotel, and the roads are dark, so I think I'm gonna head back and get clean before bed.
Afterthoughts
Ok, there is a LOT if info here (partially to share with people that really want it - hi mom - but also to just keep track of the little memories for myself). There might be some questions about whether the work we are doing (even the money we fundraised) is helpful, however, so I wanted to share with you this interview from the PEPY site.
It answers some aggressive, but also very realistic, questions like:
- Why is PEPY facilitating the introduction of the OLPC $100 laptop? A laptop is not what a poor rural Cambodian schoolchild needs. On top of that, it’s expensive, requires maintenance, will become outdated, AND it’ll require the construction of electricity and telecommunications infrastructures.
- Are you
- Is PEPY actually doing any good for Cambodia?
Personally, I think says a lot about PEPY, but also gives insight into NGOs and the situation in Cambodia. Worth checking out!
posted by Brenda Ann Elizabeth McKinney @ 5:23 AM
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