PSE’s efficient and long-lasting work towards training Cambodia’s youth is valued worldwide. It is not only valued, but admired for its dedication and love for the country. The reason why the summer continuity programme works so well every year is due to the interactive and extensive training of all European monitors.
“Be good to one another. Take care of yourselves and remember that there is only one life”
Marisa, founder and President of PSE Spain
For seven days prior to the start of the programme, PSE organises a training week in which the volunteers get to know each other and learn about activities related to their individual programme. They will learn about the Khmer Language and living with others, Values they will remember for life, but especially when dedicating their time, energy and thoughts to hundreds of children in the coming weeks; an incredible idea. One that creates trust between monitors, a deeper understanding of the country, all to make this experience the most enriching and special for both European monitors and Cambodian children.
How to explain a game to Khmer children
Each coordinator organised training games for the monitors of their team. In one of these groups, for example, the coordinator told his team to think of an activity they would want to do with camp kids. Then, they had to try to explain it to the group using only gestures. One by one, each team member acted out the rules of their game using simple words and body language.
The aim of this exercise? Training the monitors in explaining activities to children who don’t understand their language. Most games were successful, others less so. A good epiphany for some monitors that now need to simplify their games for the summer programme.
Role-plays, values, and Cambodian history
Another activity organised by PSE every year during training week is the role-play game, teaching them about honesty, compassion and love. Monitors are divided into groups and told to act out three different stories. Each team will then have to find a way to act out the story in front of the rest of the monitors. The great thing about this exercise is that each story revolves around an important ideal behind PSE.
The first revolves around Cambodian history and enhances the monitors’ knowledge about the country and its present situation. The second revolves around teamwork and living in a community: a game called ‘everyone, someone, anyone, no one’. The third displays Socrate’s triple filter test, a story on the harm of spreading lies and rumours; values that will come in handy when hundreds of monitors will be living under the same roof for three weeks !
Marisa gave a heartfelt speech that left the monitors with glittery eyes and thoughtful looks. A speech filled with luck, love and a reminder of why they are here: to help children spend an unforgettable summer away from the harsh realities of their lives at home.
This year, the training week included a great weekend to Kep, a southern province of Cambodia where monitors could relax, share stories and discover a new part of Cambodia. All the monitors, as well the coordinatiors and the PSE management team slept at Don Bosco, a vocational centre. Similarly to the PSE Centre in Phnom Penh, where monitors sleep in classrooms that are used by PSE students during the year, Don Bosco was full of students, doing vocation courses in hotel training, cooking and more. The monitors had to respect the rules of the school in terms of the volume at night but also had the chance to speak to students who Study in the same setting as PSE students; a great experience for both cultures!
“People are really bonding and having fun here!”
Anna, a veteran from the 2017 summer programme
What a great weekend this was! All the monitors arrived hardly knowing each other and left with a communal sense of both fatigue and anticipation for the weeks to come!
Some time was also dedicated to discovering Kep’s biggest food market whilst having group meetings between each team to prepare the next three weeks. From fried banana dipped in dragon fruit to fish and exotic fruits, everybody was trying out new things. A great way to get to know the team you’ll be working with, all the while getting to know Cambodia’s local food.
After the outing, the PSE team headed to the beach in four big buses. Singing and dancing gave way to an enormous game of Peter Pan at Kep beach, a grab and catch game. Two hundred monitors, three teams, one beach. You can imagine how entertaining that scene was. Another way that PSE manages to unite all volunteers with positive, team building games.
Training week is a valuable week ! One that unites, teaches, touches and gets every monitor in the right, motivated mindset before the intensity and the school !