Social work trip to Rattanakiri
The four-day trip (12 to 15 May 2007) to the Northeastern province of Cambodia, Rattanakiri, has left an unforgettable memory of Cambodian Youth’s social activities which plays the important role in contributing and helping the poors. Not only dealing with community people but we also had a very good opportunity to learn new things and making new friends.
The trip, which is orgnized by a committee of students with clear plan, set off at 6:00am from University of Cambodia with around 60 people from various univerties and institutions toward Rattanakiri. With two mini buses, we safely arrived Rattanakiri at 8:00 pm. And one of our committee memebers whose mother is the owner of Kolsamporn Hotel offered the accommodation. We had a small disccussion during the dinner on what we were going to do the next day.
The next morning come, and the mission began. Our destinations were two elementary schools about 15km from Banlung, provincial town of Rattanakiri. After breakfast we had prepared some small gifts such as notebooks, pencils, clothes, instant noodle, and drinking water for offering to school children and villagers. Not very long, we arrived Tong Nong Le, the village where the first school locates. The first thing we noticed is a 4-classroom brick and motar school building lie on the reddish-color square.
Upon arriving, we were warmly welcomed by school teachers, villagers, and the commune chief. The visit was not only to offer gifts, but also provided awareness on health care to the villagers and children. The happy moment was the game of answering question with the children. Group of 4 to 5 children is devided for a discusion with each of us to share with them some knowledge and life experiences. As time was not allow, we began offering gifts to all school children (around 70 children). A package of notebooks and pencils for each. Clothes were for villagers and teachers. And after that we lead the way to another school.
Noticeable also that the above mentioned villagers are Kreng (Minority group), most of the children could not understand khmer well. And the medium of instruction at school are both khmer and kreng. Their living condition is hard by depending only on Cashew farming. And the pitifulness is their daily food is Kandev leaves, a kind of wild plant can be found around the village, with salt. For the drinking water, they use filtered stream water and not boiling properly.
Here come another school, I’m not sure about the name. But this school seem to be in the middle of the wood and was contructing. And we also had similar program as the previous one. Sopheap, a guy reponsible for the school construction said the new term will start in September once the construction finished and the school will receive the students from around the communities.”Books are what we also need for our students to read”, he added. That is what he appeal to everyone if they could share as the charity gifts the reading books which are no longer used.
Our field trip finished but we also had another debate session in the afternoon with indigenous youths from CEDAC (Centre d’Etude et de Development Agricole Cambodgien) over their progress of agricultural development and training for indigenous people. A short movie discussion about youths and social work come afterward.
A short break before dinner, my friends and I just spent a short time visiting around Banlung town and buying some fruits and also finding the place to eat. A very nice evening i could say.
One more small talk at the dinner table about our activities constribution to society and leadership. We got a lot of good ideas and advices from Mr Manara, an active leader of this trip. There was also the charity fund raising for building the water system (cost US$160) at the first school we visited. The school principal was the representative and receiver of the fund from all of us around $120. The next thing was to say thanks to the hotel owner who support our activity by providing accommodation and place for our discussion. Once the talk finished we had prepared a nice party with which we had tried the mavellous taste of indigenous wine..aka Sra Peang…
The whole next day, come a nice visit to some of the well-known natural resorts around the province. Cha Ong waterfall, Kachhang waterfall, Yak Lom Lake..and finally Kanseng Lake.. A lot of photos had been taken for keeping our good memory to be together there.. And again the second night party.. dance dance and Mr manara taught us to sing together a quick just composed song before we all return back and apart. Listen..
It’s time to be back, and we were sure that this trip, though short, has taught each of us a lot of critical lessons on how to help each other, to love, to live together, to create solidarity, and become a future leader. Everything is for the bright future of our beloved country and its people.[Learn, Live, Love, and Legacy], said Mr Manara.
May this activity last longer and become bigger.. And thanks to all organizers who make this work. From my heart, I’m very proud of you and this events…
More info goto: http://communityevent.blogspot.com/
More photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/borort/
