Every year, a group of Kennedy students and staff travel to Phnom Penh to work alongside Transform Cambodia, I am always so impressed by the character and abilities of our students. On Friday 27 June we left a freezing cold Perth at 2am and flew to Cambodia for two unforgettable weeks in a country where so many have so little.
Through our ongoing partnership with Transform Cambodia, our students have the opportunity to work directly with the children from the slums of Phnom Penh and assist in the vital work of developing English language skills, with our particular focus being on pronunciation. Our Year 10 and 11 students who came on the journey spent many months developing effective lessons and developing their own capacity to lead a group of children aged 10 to 17. While the teaching days focused on language skills, we also had lots of fun. We played games, ate, worshipped and danced (a lot) with the students and the staff from Transform, developing lasting friendships. A unique opportunity in this year’s tour was the ability to run a full day of sports for the children at Transform C4. We spent the day teaching footy, skipping, playing volleyball and being convincingly beaten at soccer and badminton.
While teaching was the main focus of our time in Phnom Penh, there was definitely more to the tour as well. We shopped in markets and mega malls, looking for “I-love-Cambodia” shirts and little statues of elephants. Some of our highlights included Tuk-Tuk tours through the national monuments of the city, visiting the sites of the Khmer Rouge campaign, building relationships with one another, playing Uno, and enjoying many dumpling dinners.
During the middle weekend, the students are given a break from teaching to experience the majesty of the eighth wonder of the world and one of the largest religious monuments on earth, Siem Reap and the wonders of Angkor. This year we were blessed with minimal crowds and a very pleasant 29 degrees. On our bus ride north, we also had the chance to stop at Skun, which is famous for its local pets and delicacy, Tarantulas….
When asking the students what their highlights were, the feedback was consistent. Firstly, the Cambodian people who shared so much of what they had with us and welcomed us in like family. There were many tears of goodbye and “see you next year” at the end of our trip.
The other common highlight for the students and me was the relationships formed with one another on the tour. The love, strength and care that was displayed amongst the group when students needed support and encouragement, was a highlight of my teaching career. They truly are a remarkable group of people, and I am certain there will be many catch-ups for years to come.
More personal highlights came in the form of the plane and the bus rides. Having the opportunity to simply sit and get to know our exceptional students and staff was a privilege I am eternally thankful for. Each one has made a lasting impact on the lives of the children in Cambodia, but also on me.
To the staff and students who attended the tour, thank you for your dedication and service each day and for deciding to make a difference. I hope this tour has allowed you to challenge yourself and see just how wonderful you and the rest of the world can be. The Lord bless you and keep you. Always.
Mr Liam Austen
Cambodia Mission Tours Coordinator
