Tag Archives: cambodia

Cambodia Revisited – Desperation with Integrity.

Posted on by Colin.Wee
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Between Phnom Penh and Siam Reap Province exists Baray district in the Kampong Thom Province. A region dominated by rice making and exports, where I stayed for just over a week. I was with a group of friends doing some aid work at the time. Although ‘having an impact’ was not our main goal, we were there to assist where we could and build awareness in ourselves.

I stood readily to give out lollies from a bag I had in my hand. As I held out the lollies to the children they just stared at me and I stared back at them puzzled. Why did they not take my sweets that I was offering them? Why were they not receptive? Were they not all hungry? It just did not make any sense. Following this, the children looked at their mother(s); waiting for approval before they were allowed to take those sweets from me.

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Cambodia Revisited – All in One School.

Posted on by Colin.Wee
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As part of our aid work in Baray District, Kampong Thom in Cambodia, we helped to paint a run-down school. It was a small building in the middle of nowhere with a well at the side for water. The level of education was primary 1 and 2. The yellow plastic bags in the photo consisted of a toothbrush, a tube of toothpaste, a hair comb and a razor blade. I was skeptical about giving razor blades to children, but apparently it had happened before. 

School was not available for everyone though, children had to compete for a place at school. I am not sure how it worked, but often parents will work their buttocks off just to send their children to school. However, if they are unable to, the children are required (implicitly) to work with their parents.

The children looked at us with awe as we attempted to explain how to use the gifts they got. They are gifts because they often can’t afford to buy such items. After which we came to a hiccup when attempting to teach them how to wash their hands properly… Continue reading →

Cambodia revisited – Nurture vs. Nature.

Posted on by Colin.Wee
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Whilst I was visiting Cambodia in the beginning of 2011, I had the chance to visit the Angkor Wat Temples. I had rented an old bicycle for 1USD per day. Let’s just say I got what I paid for and by the end of my trip I my buttocks were aching like there was no tomorrow. I bought a 3-day pass to see the Temples, the first day I was accompanied by some friends that I was doing some aid work with and the remaining 2 days I was pretty much on my own. Because the Temples were a tourist attraction, needless to say there were numerous side shops that were selling similar items (all probably organised by a monopoly). I had stopped for lunch at one of the Temples and (of course) I was touted by a girl to buy some items from her nearby shop… Continue reading →