RGS Overseas Service Learning

About Cambodia

http://www.yatesweb.com/Cambodia/images/cambodia%20map%20frame.gif

Capital: Phnom Penh

Main Language: Khmer

Main Religion: Buddhism (Theravada)

Ethnic group: Khmer, Vietnamese and Chinese minorities

Climate: Our trip will be made during the dry season (from November to February); temperatures will average between 17 to 27°C.

Time Zone: UTC/GMT +7 (1 hour behind Singapore)

Monetary unit: 1 Singapore Dollar = 2,708.05 Cambodian Riel (As of September 2007)

Exact place of residence

Cambodia, Takeo province, Samrong (Samraong) district, Khvao (Khvav) commune, Tramkul (Tram Kol) village, Botomsoriya.

Takeo province is South of the capital Phnom Penh. The village is just 50km or a 2-hour drive away from the capital.

We’ll be staying at Sok Ann High School while in Tramkul, and Sydney Hotel while in Phnom Penh.

About Yem Khim Development Centre aka Meakea Centre

• It was completed in February 2006 and is managed by a local community working in collaboration with Meakea Organisation. It has a total of 64 students and serves as a day care centre for children.
• Meakea president, Mr Sil Sineng, who also serves as a staff of Habitat for Humanity, holds a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration and has attended many training courses in Cambodia as well as overseas. He also has a diploma of Social Rural Leadership from Philippines.
• The Centre hopes to promote English Education, Business Education, Children Sports as well as a Traditional Orchestra, however, the last three could not be implemented due to a lack of resources.
• The Centre’s motto is “Iron sharpens iron, People sharpen people”
• The full name of Meakea, Meakea Aphiwadh, means “The Way of Development” in Latin.
• The Centre’s goals are:

1. To provide basic education and skills training to enable the poor and oppressed to improve their livelihood opportunities, particularly women and children.
2. To assist communities in setting up saving mobilization and credit services, which are managed and owned by the community, towards self-employment and economic independence.
3. To assist communities in organizing a community-based working approach in order to ensure food security in the target areas
4. To promote the protection of the natural environment through education on the effects of pollution on nature, people and animals
5. To preserve local cultures through education and cultural activities such as dance, music and story telling.
6. To promote human rights, AIDS/HIV and sanitation awareness in the community.

About Sok Ann High School

Founded in 1999, it was previously a rice field. It currently has 32 teachers, 5 of whom are female and 1178 students, of which only 472 are female. It has 24 classes from grades 7-9 (the equivalent of our secondary school) and grades 10-12 (the equivalent of our junior colleges). Classes are held in two sessions, 7-11 am and 2-5 pm, and serves a radius of 7-8 km. Its one double storey and three single storey buildings were donated by several Non-Govenmental Organisations (NGOs).