What's Next?

... will the seeds planted here and there in the Mondolkiri Highlands , Cambodia take root? 

The beautiful hills of Mondolkiri!

First and foremost, we wanted to mention that the best part of the trip was sharing our Cambodian adventures  with our family; our 3 daughters,  our friends who came to visit us and of course with all you who diligently followed us with our stories on our blog.  Thank you. 

Fishing in one of the lakes

Rewinding the clock to early September 2013,  in courtesy of VSO/Cuso International, Kevin and I were placed (initially for 20 months) in the Northern-eastern part of rural Cambodia. The beautiful hills of Mondolkiri province!  Whilst there, I was assigned to work alongside State and Community teachers, school directors, cluster chiefs, DOEs and POEs staffs to help improve the quality of basic education and to increase access to education for a better tomorrow … As for my husband Kevin, he taught English as a second language to NGO staffs and to locals who were interested in pursuing their English further. 

Bunong children on their way to the Bunong Hilltribe airstrip market to sell their 'top' quality fresh produce

Further to this delight, during our time in the Kingdom of Wonder, we also worked  with a  group of dynamic VSO Cambodia Country staffs, together with VSO/Cuso International volunteers who were placed in various parts of Cambodia and, who came from: the Netherlands, the UK, South to South and Canada..

One of many workshops with POE staff, teachers, school directors and clusterchiefs

Our initial 20 months placement rolled out to another glorious adventurous year in Cambodia.   As a result of this ‘brilliant’ stroke of luck, it gave us, my Khmer /Bunong colleagues, an opportunity  to continue to pluck away in  promoting school enrollment - increase access to education, in particular, in poor and isolated rural Bunong Communes.  Together with improving the sustainability of higher school enrollment across all grade levels from grades 1 to 12.  .

Provincial Office of Education - POE

Workshop on the document in Kho Nhiek Village

Our intent: build the capacity of POE staffs to be more effective in increasing school enrollment  for new innovative ideas  / novel strategies’ outreach that they had not yet used.  What did we do?  Together, we gathered a collection of recorded interviews on the value of education.  Rationale:   to reach out to as many people as possible; Village Chiefs, village elders, monks, parents, children, educators, schools and the communities at large throughout Mondolkiri province to show the benefits of education and thereby encourage school enrolment.   When?  During and after the School Enrolment Campaign:  October – November - December 2015. How?  My Khmer/Bunong colleagues, together with another Bunong NGO- ICC, took their time and energy to go out to the villages with us, to capture, record and broadcast on the Mondulkiri local radio station personal stories of local Khmer and Indigenous Bunong men and women to talk about how their education has been of value to them in their jobs and in their personal lives.  They also delivered a personal message of encouragement for All children to attend school.  The stories were later translated to a written document in Khmer, Bunong and English.    

School enrolment update

In the past, although low school enrollment had always been an issue, inaccurate data was collected to measure school enrollment and sustainability, showing that the enrollment was higher than it really was.   However, when 10 slots of vignettes per day of people’s personal stories were in the midst of being aired and were followed up as a *written document; And, although already well known by all - maybe changing the course of direction? - My Khmer partner nevertheless wanted me to know  that the Ministry of Education was cracking down on accountability and transparency with school enrollment. The Ministry was now requesting accurate enrollment in the schools throughout Cambodia;  Socheat told me that  ‘it was now more than ever important for POE’s staffs to record  genuine and precise school enrollment measurements in order for International NGOs and the Ministry of Education to fund the correct number of children, (instead of  funding ghost children) that attended school.’  

Follow-up workshop activity at Srae Y Village School

*A written document on the collection of interviews on the value of education,  was created and published by my Khmer/ Bunong colleagues to educate the public on the value of education.   

See post:  Anyone for a Unique Experience - Sunday, February 28, 2016 for Training workshops and follow-ups on the document for the months of January - March 2016.

As for wrapping up our 'glorious and extraordinary' years here in Mondolkiri.  Well, it goes without saying …  we had a brilliant time and leave with countless happy and fondest memories ...    We now bid our warmest farewell to Cambodia, to all you in the beautiful hills of Mondolkiri:  

My amazing colleagues: Bhopy, Sinet Sindie

My amazing colleagues at the POE

Novuth planning a workshop with his colleagues

First,  I owe a deep debt of gratitude to my amazing colleagues at the POE - for giving me the opportunity to work closely alongside them, for giving me a chance to have a productive and a rewarding experience with them:  Tim Sangvat, Chea Socheat, Kheav Novuth,  Kim Bunthie, Loyt Chantee, Chre Chou, Sindie, Sinet Bophie, Tirie

Tirie and Chre Chou working on a project

Training Workshop in Kaov Seima

Training Workshop

Training workshop

Our sincerest thanks to our Bunong/Khmer teachers, school directors and cluster chiefs who took on the challenge of using new initiatives, (that they had just learned),  to test it and  to use it in their schools.  They said that they ‘felt a great sense of accomplishments at the end of each workshop training and more’ – Further, they expressed that they had ‘achieved these activities with good results to support teaching and learning, in the aim to strengthen the quality of Cambodian education’.   

Follow-up activity workshop with students and teachers

Stepping into another time, into a road less travelled in the Bunong villages, in the communes throughout the 5 districts of Mondolkiri  province, Sometimes teachers come to school, sometimes students come to school.  Other times they are out in their farms, a usual obligation for children to be there in the fields helping their parents;  either harvesting mung beans, planting cassava, collecting resin in the forest, working in rice fields and more.   Seasonal food production work is critical to the village people and salvaging their crop will always be a priority for the people here, Alas, sometimes a detriment to education.  For example, if the village people don’t harvest their beans before the rain comes they will spoil.   

How did we strategize?

Planting rice

Bunong lady

My (Volunteer Assistant) VA and I planned our activities around the teachers’ and students’  schedule to ensure that everyone was included and reached.  

School enrolment campaign

Reaching out to parents in the villages

With time, during my time in Mondolkiri, we  began to notice a change in the people’s attitude toward education – a good change at that!  Not only did parents and students show enthusiasm about education, they

Bunong boy selling his produce

understood the link between school attendance and reaping the rewards of education. They understood the significance of Education for All.

      

OuDom with his lovely wife, new baby  daughter and friend

Dararoth with his family

We would like to also take this opportunity to thank the people whom we have gotten to know so well  and  for their  availability at moments notice ... during our near 3 years term: our local friends :   Oudom, Sophal, Sophek, Sophea;  In PP:  Ke Dararoth, Pisith, Kimsorn, Somkin, Sancha.

The local market in Sen Monorom

Our extended thanks to our little community: Sukhon - Savy, the locals that we're interacted with regularly for this and that at the Bunong market and around town ... And, who told us stories about Mondolkiri, chatted about upcoming weddings and more  –  More to the point, we sometimes  wondered, if they were talking about the government or the prices of mangos … ?:)

An enormous Merci to NGO's:  MNN, Caritas, NH,  ICC - Srom Bunthy and Sohopal, CARE – Nithie, Room to Read – BETT reading programme for taking part in our programme and giving us invaluable feedback and the help that we needed on any given projects.

Voleak

Savy

Panha

My indebted thanks to the 3 musketeers - my 3 VSO/Cuso Internatioal translators/assistants: Let Savy, Chan SovanPanha, Heng Voleak who played an important role in supporting this very important programme and who were my ‘penguins’ during our time together.

Opening school ceremony- November 1st, 2015

We want to let you know that it’s been a true privilege to have worked with all you for near 3 years and a joy to have been placed in the beautiful hills of Mondolkiri.   It’s hard to believe that we were here for that length of time, but somehow it feels like yesterday, when we had just arrived, having had an adrenaline rush of meeting new people, learning a new language … being introduced to a new culture … it truly feels as if we’ve simply passed through the Kingdom of Wonder in the blink of an eye!

You opened your hearts and you gave us your friendships - We shall indeed miss you!

  In the end, several people claimed, before we left Cambodia, that ‘we will leave many seeds behind in Mondolkiri province that will continue to grow and flourish … 

 ‘  Time will tell ... 
:)


Elsewhere in the globe, across the ocean ...    Canada 

Ontario Trilliums

Canoing on the Speed river

Here on the home front, we've touched Canada soil from Cambodia - via the UK, to a new and refreshing rhythm of life - where time appears to be gentler in every way; as I speak, we’re presently appreciating clean air and clean water that we can freely drink from any water taps … :)  What's more, we're enjoying the long days in the garden -which needs a serious 'face-lift' ... :)  Since our arrival, we're surprisingly slipping back to our regular routine, bit by bit of course. Thanks to our tenant, whom you recall were the perfect match for the neighbourhood whilst we were away, took very good care of our home.  Part of slipping back into  a normal routine, we just, just bought a  car with  good mileage, to get around in.  We also got  a Koodo phone  plan and,  Yes, we  knew how to connect with voice mail without a hitch, yay! ...  :)   

See post Round 2 – a hop and skip  – July 27, 2016.

Rejuvenating the garden bit by bit

Oh yes, on our return to Canada, I visited the tailors to have  some old clothes to be loose fitted, since I had gained quite a bit of weight whilst in Cambodia …  Of course we were happy to see each other and to reconnect.  I was soon reminded the joy of this Canadian/Italian family, where grandma aka Nina, aside from having her own tailor shop in her basement, is either busy in the kitchen or with her family.   Below is a short excerpt of their interaction with each other, with me.   On my arrival at the house,  Nino, (grandpa) seemingly worn out, recounting their little excursion to the park, claimed that they (his 4 year old grand daughter and wife) had just

Peonies in bloom

returned from a 2-hour walk.   Leaning against her grandfather, with a hand on her other waist, his grand-daughter promptly corrected him and said ‘Nino, you walked. I went on my bicycle’.   Nina who stood beside me, smiled at her grand-daughter and whispered in her grand-daughter's ear (loud enough for everyone to hear)  'darling you were on your  tricycle'.   Everyone began to  chuckle at the little girl's giggling response 'I know Nina ... '  before returning to this and that …    

Celebrating with friends ...

Aside from the usual ins and out of getting back on track, we’ve been busy with hiking, canoeing, rejuvenating the garden to say the least, visiting with family and friends to regroup, celebrate birthdays, engagements and much more.  Next month, we plan to visit with both our daughters in Vancouver island;  with Léah who's a fabulous kayaker instructor at a lodge and, with Rachel who's a baker and makes some very impressing breads and cakes :)   We're reminded how lucky we are to be around wonderful people

... and family

back in Canada - family, friends and neighbours... 

Celebrating with friends

Kevin and I at the Bull ring in Sen Monorom Town

Still on our agenda, in the not so far future, we’ll have to yet unpack our many things, (sound familiar?), stored in one of the bedrooms for the last 3 years.    I imagine, that because we have gone without these things for some time, that I’ve no doubt we’ll gladly give most of it away.  Before we left Cambodia, people were surprised to find that we were returning home with only two suitcases, two small  suitcases at that, after being away for near 3 years …    Our response: people have little to nothing in Cambodia – Like them, like the locals, we felt it unnecessary to incur so much stuff.  What's more, we felt it unnecessary to cart it home,  when in fact we have little use for it ourselves.  Instead,  we gladly gave most things away to our Khmer/ Bunong colleagues,  friends, villagers and teachers in remote villages.  See post: Lunch with Sophal and Sophek – April 29, 2016. 

Thank you once again to all you - for all your supports and well wishes  throughout our time in Cambodia ...  

Last but not least, my deepest  thanks to my husband Kevin who was my strength and for all the wonderful reasons you can think of …
 
What's next for us ... on our agenda?  We have many wonderful things in store for us...  Til next time :) Alice/Kevin xo