Scholars enhance UWC life - United World College of South East Asia

Dunia, April 2010
12
Visiting Cambodia
Over the Chinese New Year break, a
small group of teachers from UWCSEA
East and their families travelled to Phnom
Penh, Cambodia to visit and spend time
with two non-government organizations;
Starfish Foundation and Future Cambodia
Fund. The visit was with a view to
establishing connections for new Global
Concerns projects for the East Campus
students from next year.
Starfish Foundation supports a local
village, where its community create their
livelihood by scouring dumpsites and
rubbish piles for anything that can be
recycled for sale. Many of the children
attend the school that Starfish Foundation
have established, where they have
opportunities to learn, play and enjoy a
meal for breakfast and lunch. We were
fortunate to spend two days working with
the children and staff sharing in games,
music and language.
Over the next couple of days we visited
Future Cambodia Fund located about
20km from central Phnom Penh. In contrast
to the concrete walls and grounds
of the Starfish School, this drop in centre
had a grassy field, open space and two
shelters made from natural materials.
We were welcomed warmly by a small
band of six staff who provided support to
a community that were struggling to deal
with the repercussions of being evicted
from their homes. At the time of printing,
we have just been informed due to lack of
funding, the global downturn and political
complexity, Future Cambodia Fund Directors
had to make the difficult decision
to close down its operations.
Although a brief visit, it was heartening to
meet people with real passion and sincerity
for the community and the smiles and
the warmth of the people of Cambodia
left a truly lasting impression.
Cambodia Team 2010 (Mario Saez, Beth
Saez, Margot Marks)
Grade 5s make a difference in Cambodia
Books are a main key to education. In the Chinese New Year break a handful of teachers
from the East Campus went to Cambodia to make a difference. UWCSEA has
sponsored and helped change the lives of many in Cambodia, but for some reason
everything had to do with money! So Mr. Saez, a Grade 5 teacher, suggested that
students do something themselves, thus the idea for books was formed. All of the
students from Grade 5 made a short book about some easy topics; numbers, vowels,
animals, toys and etc. When the teachers went to Phnom Penh they took the books
for the many illiterate children of Cambodia, so they could learn to read simple English
books. I think that day all of Grade 5 made a difference.
Ameya Rao (5MSa) on behalf of Grade 5
“The reason I made a book for children in Cambodia was that I thought of the power of
books and how poor children may not have access to books. I wanted to make a difference.
It is amazing how a book can change a child’s life.”
Victoria Birrell (5LWh)
“I chose to make a book for children in Cambodia because I thought about my life
without books, and decided that I should make a very simple book to help others in the
world. I choose a numbers as these are needed to think about mathematics. I really felt
that I should make a very simple book to help educate others and make a difference in
someone’s life. Now, afterwards I feel very happy that I helped these children in a very
simple but caring way.”
Al Roger (5LWh)
Photos by Mario Saez and Kate Woodford