Yesterday marked the end of the youth expedition program or overseas project I embarked on with a group of 17 wonderful individuals, in Cambodia. This was an experience like none other, and no matter how clichéd it sounds, the memories forged will remain dear to me for life. Through the course of these two weeks, we carried out a concoction of projects through collaboratio
ns with the Khmer Youth Association as well as CEDAC.
ns with the Khmer Youth Association as well as CEDAC.In the first project, we worked with youths (from 16 to 20 years of age and above) to train and provide lessons on anti-alcoholism affairs. Following that we helped them hold an anti-alcoholism fair in Khmer (their native language) - which was a success! (: To publicize the fair and invite people, we combed several areas in Phnom Penh with posters and fliers. I memorised a few sentences in Khmer as well! That was quite an experience. I was hoping I would not end up saying something wrong and get stares. Haha. In any case, the problem of alcoholism is a burgeoning one in countries like Cambodia, where alcoholism seems like a cleaner altern
ative to water and a quick solution to problems. It does not help that the streets of Cambodia are littered with posters that attempt to increase sales of alcohol through pictures of happy families and glitzy lifestyles. They openly advertise cigarettes as well; an act which would probably would get you sued in Singapore. Advertisements like these aims to target the weak-minded and less educated and these people get sucked into a never-ending vicious cycle of poverty and sorrow. It is truly a saddening case. However, we did our part is trying to educate Cambodians on the negative aspect that surrounds alcohol and hopefully the KYA will propagate our efforts. Working with the KYA youths was truly an experience which I will cherish for a long time to come. They truly warmed my heart with their non-judging acceptance and carefree lifestyle. It is remarkable how to find bliss in the simplest of things like bread and fruits, unlike youths in Singapore who yearn after lifeless technological gadgets. As the first project drew to an end, we also visited a village to talk to ex-alcoholics and their stories of quitting really made me smile.
ative to water and a quick solution to problems. It does not help that the streets of Cambodia are littered with posters that attempt to increase sales of alcohol through pictures of happy families and glitzy lifestyles. They openly advertise cigarettes as well; an act which would probably would get you sued in Singapore. Advertisements like these aims to target the weak-minded and less educated and these people get sucked into a never-ending vicious cycle of poverty and sorrow. It is truly a saddening case. However, we did our part is trying to educate Cambodians on the negative aspect that surrounds alcohol and hopefully the KYA will propagate our efforts. Working with the KYA youths was truly an experience which I will cherish for a long time to come. They truly warmed my heart with their non-judging acceptance and carefree lifestyle. It is remarkable how to find bliss in the simplest of things like bread and fruits, unlike youths in Singapore who yearn after lifeless technological gadgets. As the first project drew to an end, we also visited a village to talk to ex-alcoholics and their stories of quitting really made me smile.
The second project was conducted at Kampong Chnnang, where over the course of the next few days, we built a grand total of 55 water filters from scratch to be distributed to household
s in the village. That was a back-breaking experience! - Drilling holes into buckets with basic tools, washing gravel and charcoal, packing sand and what not. While working in the village was far from convenient and we had to go through harsh living conditions (for example, no toilet, electricity or clean water), it was all worth it in the end. We even taught the village kids how to wash their hands correctly and brush their teeth as well as draw fruits. It was heart-warming when the kids remembered the actions and complied. Initially they were hesitant and distant from us but towards the end of the project they warmed up to us to the extent that they’d hop onto our backs for piggy back rides and what not. Seeing their carefree life in spite of their harsh living conditions was a thoroughly warming experience. I take away so much not just from the experience I had there but in terms of how much the Cambodians I have met have affected me in more ways than
one. On a side note, the girl in the picture next to me really reminds me of myself when I was younger to the point that I referred to her as ‘baby vibha’. She’d go behind our backs while we’re working in the sun and give ticklish massages, climb trees and run around playing mischief. But they really livened my life for the few days we were there.
s in the village. That was a back-breaking experience! - Drilling holes into buckets with basic tools, washing gravel and charcoal, packing sand and what not. While working in the village was far from convenient and we had to go through harsh living conditions (for example, no toilet, electricity or clean water), it was all worth it in the end. We even taught the village kids how to wash their hands correctly and brush their teeth as well as draw fruits. It was heart-warming when the kids remembered the actions and complied. Initially they were hesitant and distant from us but towards the end of the project they warmed up to us to the extent that they’d hop onto our backs for piggy back rides and what not. Seeing their carefree life in spite of their harsh living conditions was a thoroughly warming experience. I take away so much not just from the experience I had there but in terms of how much the Cambodians I have met have affected me in more ways than
one. On a side note, the girl in the picture next to me really reminds me of myself when I was younger to the point that I referred to her as ‘baby vibha’. She’d go behind our backs while we’re working in the sun and give ticklish massages, climb trees and run around playing mischief. But they really livened my life for the few days we were there. I feel that people really tend to take their lives for granted when surrounded by comfort and technology, for one. However, we need to remember that there is a life beyond material possessions that make us human. We should never let these material possessions and dispensable objects be the centres of our lives and should instead look into our own values and relationships and mould our lives around these. We have to constantly remember that we have been blessed with a gift from God in the form of life and we should live it to its fullest. Hardship comes and goes, but it is after all how we ride the storm that matters and not how we let the storm ride us.
On the whole, I think 2009 has been quite a roller coaster ride and I look forward to 2010 with a tinge of excitement and a dash of apprehension together with a spoonful of hope and aspirations.
Till 2010, cheers! (:
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