What Volunteers Say...
This part of the site is devoted to the reports and experiences of volunteers who have visited the project and worked there
From Jemma Stocks, July 2007
What can I say...!?! Working with the children at Trapang Sesh village has been a unique and wonderful experience! I only wish we'd had longer to spend there. This was my first experience of teaching English as a foreign language and when we arrived on our first day I had no idea what to expect. What I discovered was a classroom full of smiling and enthusiastic faces - both on the students and on their support staff: Kalyann and the now infamous Mr Luckyman.
I couldn't recommend working with the programme enough and would urge other travellers in the area to go and spare some of their time with HSPCCO. The kids are genuinely lovely and full of energy - I left each day shattered, but already excited about returning the next morning.
HSPCCO is a very worthy organisation and I will certainly be keeping in touch in the future. We've met some amazing people and were made to feel very welcome. If I'm ever fortunate enough to come back to Cambodia I will definitely be dropping in for another visit! We have had a great time and will miss the kids - send them our love!
Jemma
From Howard Johnson & Jemma Stocks
We have had a superb time whilst working with the school for a few hours each day and have found the whole experience very rewarding.
We really feel as if we have been able to help the children improve their English, (if only a little) which we hope will enable them to secure jobs in the future.
Working for the HSPCCO has also been well organised (thanks to Luckyman and the Cambodian teachers) and free of ''administration'' charges', as well as being one of the most enjoyable experiences of our trip. I would recommend this to anyone who has even only a few days/hours to spare when in Cambodia.
Take care and keep up the good work.
kind regards,
Howard and Jemma
From Daniel Nuderscher
I just came back from two weeks in a very interesting project near Siam Reap, the Helper Students for the Poor Children of Cambodia, it is both a school and an orphanage for some pretty smart and lovely kids. I was English teacher, helping them to get rid of their accent and teaching quite low level English. For me it was a unique experience. I will come back to this project for sure and I hope that some of you will go there and help Ms Pisai and Mr Luckyman! And please bring the kids greetings from me, Mr Daniel, I miss them. It was a beautiful time for me there, I wish them and you just the best!
By the ways, I got an answear from Lonely Planet, the guy told me that there's gonna be a new research in Cambodia for the Lonely Planet to stay up to date and the guy who is gonna make it will go and see the project. That's at least what they told me, if they really do I think it could be a big step for the project...
OK so long, halt die ohren steif, gruesse aus indien
Daniel
From Holly Dickenson
Holly helped HSPCCO move to the new school in May 2007, then taught at the new site
Holly is here pictured at the school with one of the students (Holly is on the left)
My thoughts on HSPCCO:
I thoroughly enjoyed my time at HSPCCO and it was definitely an experience. We were unaware we were teaching until we arrived at the school, so standing up in front of a class of eager teenagers learning about grammar was a little scary to say the least.
The children were so lovely, quiet and shy at first, that we soon forgot our fears and got stuck in. I think we learnt as much if not more than the children we were teaching.
Unfortunately for the children we found out on the Friday that they had to move and find a new place to live ASAP. So with the move and the public holiday we only got to teach for three days out of the two weeks that we were there. We helped out with the move and hung out with the orphans for a couple of days at lunchtime, which was just as good. What amazed us the most is how resilient they are, they did not seem fazed by the move in the slightest even though most of them were very happy at the old site, and they had the most wicked sense of humour, they were so much fun to be with.
The only regret I have about the experience is that I didn’t book to stay for longer. Two weeks was just not enough and even though the days teaching were hard work, I wish we had more. I would definitely like to come back and stay for longer next time.
I had an amazing time in Cambodia, it is a beautiful country with some of the most beautiful people I have met.
Holly