Travel Notecards: CAMBODIA

Showing posts with label CAMBODIA. Show all posts

Friday, 27 April 2012

Chatting with Jimmy from Siem Reap, Cambodia

In my previous blog post here I spoke about Jimmy Chan Sarath and the incredible work he does at the English school for children (Jimmy's Village School) that he founded and runs in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

I mentioned also that because of Jimmy's incredibly busy life we hadn't had the opportunity to sit and chat in more detail about his work, his school or his students.

I was intrigued by this young man who gives so much of his life to help others and naturally wanted to know a little more about him and the children...Jimmy very kindly gave me some of his precious time to answer these questions via email.

How did Jimmy's Village School come about and what were your initial objectives for the school and its students.

I wanted to help underprivileged Cambodian children with their education. The education system in Cambodia still requires a financial contribution from the parents and many of the poorer children are unable to afford to complete their schooling. I was helped by my family and tourists to convert the front of the house into a school room.

How important is it for the children of Cambodia today to learn English?

I'm sure you understand that English is a universal language in commerce, science and engineering, not to mention tourism, and will be very important for the children's career prospects.

You mentioned to me that you also teach other subjects other than English to your students, what are these other subjects?

I try and teach them about things outside of Cambodia. General knowledge; such as culture, geography, history,...etc.... about the world around them.

Students having fun while waiting for their class outside school

When I was at your school one day you mentioned to me that currently students in the school system are not being taught about the Khmer Rouge period of Cambodian history, why is this and do you think this will change in the future?

The recent history of Cambodia is no longer a taboo subject and from this year onwards it is to be gradually introduced into the school curriculum.

What sort of background do most of your students come from?

They are poor children from villages. Their parents are typically farm workers, cleaners, waitresses or street vendors - they live very hand to mouth lives.

Boys at Jimmy's school ready to learn

How do the children enroll in your school?

They just turn up! They hear by word of mouth.

Are children in Cambodia taught English in the mainstream schools?

Yes they are.

What is the percentage of children receiving an education in Cambodia?

About 45% to 55 % of children do not get an ongoing education as they live in rural villages and have no transportation to get to school.

What are your future plans for Jimmy's School.

I would like to construct a new school building in the village on a new site. When I am able to get an overseas scholarship i will open an international school after my graduation.

How can others help you in achieving this goal?

They can help with cash donations and advice.

The children I met at your school were incredibly warm and receptive and appeared very motivated to learn, are most Cambodian children as receptive?

They are probably just like children of any other nationality – although I expect more eager to better themselves. Furthermore, we educate them more about morality.

oops... turn those fingers the other way around guys!

They also appear to be very respectful and polite which is so beautiful to see..... in general how are children brought up in Cambodia, is it a very traditional upbringing?

Yes, in Cambodia children are very deferential towards their elders – it is a Cambodian tradition.

How would you describe life in Siem Reap?

Depends on who you are. For tourists its a pleasant destination. But I'm sure you will have noticed on the streets there is a big gap between the rich and poor.

How can future visitors to Siem Reap help out at Jimmy's School.

Through cash donations, their time and advice.

Do you have a website or an email address for interested people to visit and learn more about the great work you are doing?

I am on Facebook “Jimmys village school”.

Telephone number: 855+(0) 92 847 265.

Email: jimmysvillageschool@ gmail.com

Angkor Wat is breathtaking.

Just to change the subject matter a little and to give future visitors to Siem Reap an inside tip... can you share with us your 5 top things to do in Siem Reap?

Angkor Wat
Bakang mountain (You can see Angkor Wat from here)
The floating Village
Koulen Mountain
Visit Cambodian villages in the countryside

Outside the lovely Golden Banana Hotel in Siem Reap (which I can highly recommend).

Thank you so much Jimmy for your time and for all that you do for the children in Siem Reap.

Millie xx

Monday, 23 April 2012

Jimmy's Village School, Siem Reap, Cambodia

There is no greater joy nor greater reward than to make a fundamental difference in someone's life

Mary Rose McGeady

The happy and industrious scene from the street with Jimmy at the whiteboard

Jimmy from Jimmy's school in Siem Reap, Cambodia is doing just this...making a huge difference to hundreds of Cambodian children's lives and doing it every day of the week.

One evening as I was walking the streets in Siem Reap I couldn't help but hear and notice a very happy sounding group of children sitting at school desks in the front yard of a house. Very hard to miss!

I love to poke my nose in when I am traveling (no point leaving home otherwise)! and it looked like everyone was having a great time, so I stopped to find out what all the FUN was about.

I'm happy I did.....Jimmy, bounced up and introduced himself and his school 'Jimmy's Village School' and I learnt that this particular group of children were one of three groups that come every evening of the week and Saturday mornings to learn English (as well as other subjects that Jimmy feels are important for the children).

Jimmy serving lunch for a Saturday afternoon party at the school.

Jimmy is Cambodian and himself from Siem Reap. He founded and runs the school single handedly (with some help from volunteers when possible), and as I watched him that night with the children in each of his three classes I quickly realised that Jimmy was certainly not your ordinary kind of guy.

While we never had much time to chat about the work that he is doing, he is visibly passionate about his teaching and has plans for future expansion of the school. I can certainly testify to how much these children adore and respect him, you don't have to spend too much time at the school to get an appreciation of their special relationship.

I returned a handful of times to the school to help with a few of the lessons and to interact with these beautiful children. My favourite class to watch was the 7 steps of hand washing as recommended by the World Health Organisation. When Jimmy asked me to take this session I embarassingly had to admit to not knowing them. The kids however certainly did and they made the whole ritual of hand washing a lot more fun than it has ever been before!

If you are in Siem Reap please stop by Jimmy's school and help out where and when you can. You'll love seeing Jimmy in action with the children and if you are lucky enough you will get to be involved in a lesson or two (its up to you how many). These kids are clever, funny and loving (you'll never get so many genuine hugs at the one time again)!

Even if you do not have enough time to stop by and help out teaching you can still pop in (from 5pm to 8pm) with stationery, clothing, dental items or a cash donation. All of the above are very much needed and very much appreciated.

To locate the school; I don't have the exact address but it's very easy to find. Cross over Sivatha Boulevard from the Old market and head away from the river, it's the first little street on the left, walk maybe 50m and you'll find it on the left. (The Golden Temple Villa is located on this same street if you need a landmark).

If you would like to get in touch with Jimmy's Village School join them on facebook or you can email Jimmy at; jimmysvillageschool@gmail.com.

Whenever I feel there is little hope for the world and its problems I think about people like Jimmy, they are the real heros of this troubled but still beautiful world.

Thank you to all of these incredible people.

Millie xx

Thursday, 29 March 2012

Cambodia and Laos...'Because of your smile you make life more beautiful' Thich Nhat Hanh

A little girl runs to give me a lotus flower (which I proudly kept in my room for many days), Cambodia

I have been traveling in southeast Asia and I have not blogged in a few weeks.... besides having very little time to do so my main reason is that I simply did not know how to put into words the experiences I was living at the time...and I still do not know.

It is my hope that my photos will replace these 'lost' words and help tell the story of the incredibly wonderful and resilient people I met in both Laos and Cambodia.

I felt so many emotions during my time there......I was overjoyed, I was sad, I was happy, I was HOT, I smiled a lot, I cried a little (behind closed doors)! but mainly I was amazed, amazed by the courage and fortitude of people whose everyday hardships never seemed to wipe the smile from their faces, whose gratitude at the smallest gesture of kindness or even just recognition was overwhelming.

I shared their stories, I shared their meals, I partook in their ceremonies, I sang with them, I was hugged and I hugged, I laughed with them......these four amazing weeks and these equally amazing people will stay in my heart forever.

Here are some of the images I hope convey the emotion and huge respect I feel for these people.

Cambodian children paddling back from the floating school to their floating homes in Tonle Sap lake (there is always time for a lolly pop!)

A loatian woman and her beautiful smile help pass the time at a roadblock

Boys cleaning the fishing nets on the shores of the Mekong river, Laos

Boys being boys on the river island of Don Khon, in Southern Laos

Rice pickers employed for the harvest and their makeshift plastic tents

outside of Siem Reap, Cambodia

Cambodia

A beautiful girl and her smile on Tonle Sap Lake (The largest freshwater lake in southeast Asia)

Weighing the fruit and veg at the floating green grocer on Tonle Sap Lake

A Nun sits with her offerings in a Temple, Cambodia

I consider myself blessed to have had the opportunity to cross paths with these people and the many others that touched my heart and I thank them for their never ending generosity of spirit and their smiles which radiated from morning to night.

Thank you also to Yaz, Dunakeo and Sichanh Duangmara, my very special friends from Laos who welcomed me into their home and their family, I can never forget their warmth and hospitality and the wonder at being part of such a beautiful and touching ceremony, thank you again and again.