- by Ng Xiao Hui, Year 2 student

We left Singapore on 23 September 2010 for a 14-day Youth Expedition Project in Cambodia. There were 25 of us, including our lecturers Ms. Jean, Dr. Juliet and Mr. Tan.  Although there was some initial nervousness, this was soon gone once we were on the plane.

Upon arrival in Phnom Penh, our hostess, Ms. Esther Ding extended a warm welcome to us. From the fresh baguettes to the sprawling boulevards, much of the French influences from the old colonial rule can still be seen around the city. As we drove further away from the city and closer to Khmer Village Homestay in Baray District, the harsh, high-rise buildings gradually faded away into the lush greenery.

The next morning, we met the Baray Youth Volunteers and Teacher Theara who would work with us on the community projects. After breakfast, we embarked on our refurbishment project in Chhom Trach Village. The village school was in a bad state. The school grounds were overgrown and the classrooms had termite mounds. We started by clearing the grounds and plowing the soil. It was heartening to see the villagers coming forward to help as well. Over the next few days, we spent hours painting the school under burning hot sun. It was hard, hard work, but wonderfully refreshing at the same time. We also developed good rapport with fellow Cambodian volunteers, as well as the village children through games. In addition to painting the school, the YEP team also organised feeding and educational programs for the school’s students. It was very touching to see them sharing their food with their younger siblings.

As part of our community efforts, we visited the villagers to distribute donations. We also spent half a day at a fishing village carrying out an educational program for the children and distributing the last of the donations. The villagers there were a nomadic people who moved their homes according to the depth of the river. Even the villagers at Chhom Trach were better off than the ones at the fishing village. As one of the local volunteers aptly said, “I thought that I am poor, but they are far poorer”.

These visits confronted us with the realities of lives below the poverty line. However, many villagers seemed contented with their simple lifestyle. 

At another village, we were tasked with building a hut and paving two wells. The hut was built under the careful instruction of two experienced contractors and was miraculously completed in a day! Another day was spent carrying out activities for children and youths with disabilities. We played games such as fukuwarai (Japanese version of pin the tail on the donkey) and hopscotch. The participants’ laughter floated on the wind like the tinkle of bells. It made our hard work and careful planning more than worth the while. The YEP trip wasn’t all work and no play. We visited Aunty Esther’s social enterprise and got to try weaving and painting. We also experienced the Khmer cultures through a pony cart and ox cart rides through the busy streets and villages, as well as visits to the pagodas and local market.

On our last night at Khmer Homestay, we organised a Cultural Night in which the locals and our YEP team put up entertaining cultural performances. It also provided a platform to show appreciation to the Baray Youth Volunteers for their contributions. It was a night of much merriment.

After 12 days, it was time to leave the Homestay and the volunteers. Our farewells were filled with enough tears to fill the Tonle Sap River. The journey back to Phnom Penh was very much subdued. In Phnom Penh, we walked through the Killing Field and visited the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum which helped us understand Cambodia’s dark historical past.

On 6 October 2010, the team departed from Phnom Penh international airport. The trip was a truly life changing one and we would miss Cambodia and the wonderful people whom we had met.