After a great weekend in Kep, monitors said goodbye to the ones leaving far away to Sihanoukville and Siem Reap. Because of distance, all the monitors will reunite at the end of the three weeks. A large majority of monitors will remain in Phnom Penh. They will sleep at the PSE Centre and 11 different groups will work in 11 sub-programmes, all located in and around Phnom Penh: Central, Teenagers, Pensionnaires, Kindergarden, Handicapped, Smile Village, Takhmao, Phum Russei, Sen Sok, Veal Sbov and Oberk ka Orm (OBK).
The four other camps are located in Sihanoukville and Siem Reap; they include one community service centre in Sihanoukville, a public school in Siem Reap and the two main Pse centres in both of those locations.
Heading back to PSE after training in Kep, the volunteers get together with their groups to start a more detailed training after being put in different camps. One that will go more in depth about how to chose activities and how to make sure the kids have fun. Only a few days remain before the start of the summer continuity programme, where thousands of kids will come running into the doors of all PSE centres!
Integration is key
PSE has an even larger team of Cambodian monitors; teaching at the summer programme and working as hard as the Europeans. In an environment so different from the one they are used to, the European greatly appreciate the help of Khmer monitors. This integration is a necessity and a choice respected by many, as it creates a relationship between both cultures.
The Khmer monitors help to organise activities and share equal responbiility in the planning and development stages of the games. The highlight of this initiative is firstly to integrate Khmers in the summer programme and bring them closer to the kids in need. Secondly, this decision creates intergration between two cultures and ultimately brings more value and quality to each programme.
“I am so excited but nervous as well!”
Phim, last year a pensionnaire, this year a monitor
Many of these Khmer monitors have studied with PSE, and therefore symbolise strength and progress in the eyes of the NGO. Realising that their help is valuable and can make a positive difference is a key part of PSE’s work in Cambodia; giving more responsibility to a generation in need of empowerment.
A clear example of empowerment and change is the story of Phim, last year a pensionnaire in PSE, this year a monitor for PSE! Seeing her so happy and content with helping the children in Cambodia is a beautiful thing, one that PSE helped create! This year, as she turns 16, she will help and entertain hundreds of children the same way she was taken care of as a pensionnaire for years! Phim will head to OBK for three weeks of intense fun!
Lets make our team proud
One of the best things about PSE is the fact that you can become friends with a completely different culture. Part of this friendship is formed during the painting of the flag. After a meeting on a warm Saturday afternoon, Khmer and European monitors met for the first time in the T1, a big room used for meetings and flash mobs!
“Try to forget everything you’re used to. Your comfort, your food back home. When your here, just concentrate on the kids and never forget to make them smile”
Gabi, veteran from last year’s summer camp.
They listened to formal talks where they were told in detail about the different camps and their role within each of them. Gabi, a veteran from last year’s programme gave a beautiful speech on getting out of your comfort zone and jumping head first into this adventure.
In addition to the many dances taught and learnt by PSE monitors that day, everyone had the opportunity to meet Fernando Alonso —founder of the programme with his wife Marisa— who put into perspective the important work and big responsibility you carry joining the PSE continuity programme.
Games and the first meal in the canteen preceded a little trip to each location, where each team could catch a quick glance of their camps!