One of the PSE summer programmes is located in Siem Reap, not far from the temples of Angkor: Unesco protected and the largest religious site in the world. Together with the sup-programme in Aranh, a village located 45 minutes away, both centres allow the children of this region to enjoy the month of August in a safe and joyful environment full of care and entertainment.
An almost divine place
It may be that the proximity to the temples of Angkor influences the idea around the camp’s aesthetic, but the PSE center in Siem Reap has unquestionable charm. Trees and nestled plants in large pots surround the road that lead to the main building, where the roofed room is located. Due to the decorative balustrade, this open space gives view onto the rest of the camp. It is used as a common room where the children dance, eat, meditate and sleep.
“I’m already feeling part of the Siem Reap family, even though I’m only there for a few days” Miguel Ángle, Doctor of the PSE Summer programme 2018
Nearby are located the buildings where the monitors rest at night: 12 Europeans and 12 Khmers. They will all spend two in a half weeks side by side – sharing meals, incredible moments of happiness and exhaustion – creating a strong, reliable, and united team. This is the case of Miguel Ángle, the new Spanish doctor and a professor in Camilo José Cela University, who admits feeling “part of the Siem Reap family”, although he will only spend a few days with them.
More than 300 kids, every day
“We played footbaIl with kids from the nearby village even though we were all getting soaked from heavy rainfall. It was a very special moment” Alexis, coordinator of the Siem Reap sub-programme
When the programmes situated in Prey Thom, a nearby town, disappeared, the children who used to go there now arrive by bus to the main centre in Siem Reap: 170 to be exact. This centre also welcomes around sixty children from the poorest suburb and another 20 from the nearest village, all of which arrive either by bus or truck, anticipating what the team has planned for them! They usually extend their stay here at the end of the day to spend extra time with the monitors. Alexis, coordinator of the subprogramme this year and the previous one, fondly remembers the day that he and other volunteers played soccer with children from the nearby village while the monsoon soaked them to the bone. “It was a very special moment”, he evokes with tenderness.
Alexis, along with 20 European and 20 Khmer monitors, they will take care of around 300 children a day, 170 in the morning and 140 In the afternoon, as many of them combine the summer programme with the school they attend for half the day. When the buses arrive to drop off the small ones in the afternoon, those of the morning shift end their film session and return to their life outside PSE. The challenge: carrying out the schedule of the midday switch smoothly.
A very capable team
Effectively, due to a united and organised team, the camp runs very smoothly. Children of the morning and afternoon shifts switch without any difficulty and all are greeted and dismissed in the buses with joy, a pure PSE attitude. Alexis, who shares the coordination of Siem Reap with Sreypov, a Khmer coordinator,, is very happy with his team.
“My responsibility is to teach them the strategic positions at all times so that we can have all the children under control. Once they trust me and check that it works, I’ve done well”, Alexis
In Aranh and Central Siem Reap, the coordinators are ready to face any challenge, but their work would be much more difficult without the help of the Social Services team, led by Mr. Sara. Among other tasks, they lend a hand during attendance, a tedious but necessary task and with the rice compensation. Each Friday, 3kg of rice is given to each child as a compensation for the families loss of money. Perhaps the child would have worked instead of attending the programme, which is why rice compensation started: to get more kids off the hard work and into a safe and happy environment.
The logistics here are also essential. In addition to the complexity of transport, payments or purchases, volunteers cook their own dinner and need to deliver the shopping list on time. “There are rotations and every day two of them cook for the others”, explains Jorge, head of logistics in the two subprograms of the Siem Reap area. Adriana, one of the volunteers who has already carried out this communal task and who accompanied the market to the Khmer cook of this center, was amazed by the vision of an authentic Khmer local market, full of unprecedented food for her, with its peculiar presentation .
The sweetest madness
Visiting the PSE plant in Siem Reap on the right day can imprint on the visitor’s mind a long-lasting picture of wild fun. Children and monitors completely soaked, laughing loudly, while throwing water to whomever passes by: water party day! The truth is, however, that every day something special happens that aims to involve and entertain the children.
On Fridays, for example, the Olympics take place. A day in which different sport competitions take place and where children compete in their teams; a ritual for all PSE sub-programmes, although each have their special touch! This is the case for Aranh, the other sub-programme in Siem Reap, to which the next post is dedicated and where they also world class PSE Olympics planners!
A day at the camp
