The first days in Phnom Penh are very exciting for everyone. The Welcome Committee’s people are the ones in charge of welcoming the new volunteers, not only at the airport, thanks to Richi and Miguel, but also in their very first steps in Cambodia. They are giving the best of themselves demonstrating the enthusiasm they feel for the country and the kids. This summer, the coordinator the Welcomes was Paty, and the responsibles were Ana, Helena, Thomas and Antonia. All of them make the School Continuity Program starts the best way.
“When we arrived at the airport, we immediately felt back home. The excitement was definitely here: what a pleasure to meet again the people with whom we’ve shared so much last year during this unique experience! Everything went really fast, 2 shorts nights later the new monitors were already here!”, Augustin, welcome from the 2019 School Continuity Program.
Then, started games, excursions to the city, to the markets, or to the museums to learn about the recent history of Cambodia… Everything needed to get fully immersed in the local atmosphere and, above all, in PSE’s atmosphere. “It is fundamental to know what this country has been through in order to understand its people, the kids and their way of life, their perception of what life is. I won’t say it was easy, I’d rather say it has been painful and shocking, but I’m grateful for this opportunity I had to get so close to the Cambodian History. It has given me the strength I needed to start the Camp and give the best of myself, to spread to the world what terrible things happened here and to build a better Cambodia and a better world.” Cayetana, first year monitor for Paillote II.
All the monitors had the opportunity to go and visit different places that are important in the lives of the kids they will take care of during the next few weeks. Some went to the dumpsite, others to the deeper suburbs of Phnom Penh to visit the slums where the kids live, and some others to the poor villages close to the paillotes. The monitors have also been visiting l’Atelier, factory within PSE where some kids’ mums are working to manufacture products for Le cartable de Chenda but also all the uniforms for the staff, the school’s children and the PSE’s students, following a professional training as cook or mechanic, for example.
It is very important to have an open mind and the willingness to meet the more-than-two-hundred people who are part of the Program, people with whom we will share a whole month of activities and unique experiences. “I came without knowing anyone. At first, the experience terrified me a little because I didn’t know what to expect. But as soon as I arrived here I’ve been incredibly welcomed, everyone was very enthusiastic, willing to participate to all the activities and to integrate everyone”, Carlos, new monitor in the OBK project.
To end up these few days, every monitors has been assigned to one of the 18 summer projects. All of them received the news with enthusiasm and wishful thoughts. “I’m happy with the project I’ve been chosen to be part of. Although I wasn’t at the beginning, once I met my group and got the schedule of activities I changed my mind. The truth is that it looks very good and I’m really looking forward to start”, Lorena, new monitor at Smile Village.
Most of them will continue to sleep and live together in Central, but some of them will soon be leaving for Siem Reap or Sihanoukville where 4 projects take place. The monitors will have to say goodbye to their new friends soon enough, in the meantime, they will enjoy all together the next few days together in Kep.
