Feeding Dreams Cambodia

Tuesday, January 14th

Sick today. As I write this reflection, I am surrounded by comfort. I have been sick many times during my travels and work in other countries. I am normally swatting away the mosquitos, using facilities without running water, and without privacy due to sharing rooms with many people. Today was peaceful although painful, so I consider myself lucky. I have ample amounts of water, mediation on hand, and am in a comfortable bed - this is yet another layer of privilege that I am turning over in my head.

Wednesday, January 15th

This morning we had the privilege of visiting the NGO "Feeding Dreams Cambodia." We were greeted in song, observing and participating in the "morning meeting" ritual in which students sing a variety of songs in their native Cambodian language, Khmer, as well as English. The energy and positivity was infectious; it was impossible not to smile. Students eagerly gave us all high fives and scurried off to their outdoor classrooms, where they receive additional schooling to supplement their 4 hour school days provided by the public school system.

Feeding Dreams started this community school to provides free education and English instruction that will help push academic levels, given the limited amount they are receiving.  The school serves over 700 children living in impoverished areas around Siem Reap. The organization is engaging in what seems to be high quality case management in addition to academic support. They have several case managers who do outreach and community support to the children in their families. This service ranges from monitoring the childrens' grades in their local public schools to helping families get birth certificates needed for entering the educational system. Case managers also work with village chiefs to help problem solve issues of domestic violence and alcoholism affecting the children who attend their school. Additionally, they facilitate medical care for the children and their caretakers, as well as provide workshops around the themes of health, hygiene, and morality.

Feeding Dreams, unlike Friends International, opened its doors for us to interact with their clients. Their way of operating was drastically different - it seems that they are stretched pretty thin and have a broad range of services that with little boundaries. They adapt their services to each individual case, and I appreciate their dedication and commitment to their community. I do though wonder about how the range of case management services could potentially burn out their staff members, specifically the social workers.

Following our visit, we headed to Ta Pang to volunteer. I was again able to work with the same English teacher. He eagerly taught an English lesson about "The House." Another volunteer constructed a collapsable replica of a traditional Cambodian home. The English teacher taught each part of the house step by step, from the word "wall" to "roof." I was able to work with him to incorporate TPR (Total Physical Response) movements for each word. The students quickly caught on to all the vocabulary and were really engaged with the multiple teaching strategies. I was impressed by the students energy and participation!