The group heading off at Auckland Airport

The Journey to Takeo, Cambodia - Jacki Smith

Only a few days into our Addventure VSA trip and we are still on our
way to the project in Takeo. We crossed the border from Thailand after a
4-hour journey by minivan from Bangkok on Tuesday morning, and a walk
through "no mans land" organising our visa and arrival into Cambodia. We then had a very bumpy ride by bus on a long clay road, ditching the bus half way and exchanging it for four taxis to get to Siem Reap at a reasonable
hour (another 4-hour ride!). We are still in Siem Reap at the moment,
northwest Cambodia, which is very hot. It is a wonderful place and we have
already met some amazing locals and visited the famous Angkor temples.

We have met with another NGO, Trailblazers, and heard about their work at a
village 32km from Siem Reap. They have built a school, dug wells and put
in water filters (water filtered through sand), which has already lessened
the spread of malaria throughout the village. The people running Trailblazers
are very passionate about what they are doing, and it is really interesting
to talk to them. They are planning to continue their work through other areas of Cambodia.

We have also just visited the Landmine Museum to see some info about all
the landmines around Cambodia and meet some landmine victims. There are
many amputees in Cambodia and still many people fall victim to the landmines
that remain.

This afternoon a group of us will go and donate blood at the local Hospital. Cambodians do not donate blood, so it is a great thing for tourists to do.

Tomorrow we will continue our journey toward Takeo, stopping in Phnom
Penh, visiting the Cyclo Centre and the Seeing Hands Massage Clinic,
partner organisations of VSA.

We will soon be in Takeo to work on the reading shelter at Kla Krohim school. The concrete floor has been poured and is curing now, ready for our work. There are three ESOL teachers in our group and they have been busy
preparing and planning their teaching for when we are at the school. We
have mountain of books between us to donate, and even some recorders for
the kids to play!

It has been interesting talking to the group and hearing about their fundraising efforts - people all over New Zealand have contributed to this project, which is fantastic. They money will go a long way.

Well, that's all for now. I will send another instalment as soon as I can.

Jacki Smith
www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/JackiSmith

Inspired fundraising

A photo of Paul and his rickshaw taken at his daughter's school. The school held a mufti day fundraiser for Paul earlier in the year and donated $300.

In the photo (left to right): Ross Nicholson, Head of Primary, Jacqui Hurley, Paul's girls, Libica (13) and Sarena (11) are on the rickshaw, Paul Hurley - Addventurer, and Stuart Masterton, Head of Secondary at Rangiora New Life School.

No malaria in places we stay on the trip

Good news...we've recently had confirmation that there is no malaria in the places we stay on the trip (Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Takeo), so you shouldn't need to worry about malaria medication  - obviously, final decision is yours, and its always good to make this kind of informed choice after chatting to your doctor/travel clinic about it. 

The Gecko Trails team

Taking your Vodafone cellphone on the trip

It is easy to take your Vodaphone cellphone overseas. You can use it in Thailand and Cambodia.

If you are on a plan, simply call Vodaphone on 777. Press 2 for "Products and Services", then Press 1 for "Taking your mobile overseas".

If you have a prepay, you have to go into a Vodaphone store, fill in a form, (you will need photo ID and a credit card) pay $10 and you're set.

When you arrive in Thailand or Cambodia you simply select an available network and away you go. Details of how to select a network will vary from phone to phone but for my ‘Nokia’ I go > Menu > Settings > phone settings >network selection, then choose from available networks.

Call costs are roughly
Thailand: Incoming from or international to NZ $3/min, Texts $0.80
Cambodia: Incoming from or international to NZ $6/min, Texts $0.60
Obviously you will not want to be receiving too many calls from friends at home but it is great if you need to be contactable while you are away.

For more information, visit: http://www.vodafone.co.nz/services/07.a.15_autoroam.jsp?hd=foryou&st=coverage&ss=goingoverseas

VSA Addventure Project Plan

Introduction: This VSA Addventure project is the first one of its kind, where VSA New Zealand, Gecko Trails and the local school community of Kla Krohim High School, Takeo Province, Cambodia will be working in partnership.

Aims:

• To construct a Reading Centre, adjacent to the existing library that can be used by students as a place to read.
• Implementing a basic Dewey Decimal Classification System in the library of existing books and new books that will be donated or purchased.
• Construction of shelving for the books.
• English as a Second Language lessons to be taken by volunteers on a daily basis for students learning English, with other volunteers participating in conversational English with students.

Partners:

• Provincial Office of Education, Takeo, Kla Krohim High School, VSA New Zealand, Gecko Trails

Participants:

• 12 New Zealand Addventure VSA volunteers, 2 Gecko Trails leaders, Sue Knight / Cee Chan – VSA.

Specific Activities:

Construction of Reading Centre:

Background - Kla Krohim High School has a small newly built library with a limited number of books. The School Directors approached Gecko Trails concerning the construction of a Reading Centre so that more students could avail themselves of books and have a place within the school to read.

• Concept Plan drawn up by Mach Im in consultation with School Director, Kla Krohim High School.
  
• Construction materials to be purchased prior to the beginning of the construction and will be on site on commencement date. Tools required will be assembled.


• Volunteers will be briefed about the construction once they arrive in Cambodia and those keen to participate in this activity can indicate their interest.


• Members of the school community will also help build the Reading Centre.


• Shelving for the existing library will be constructed as well.


• Mats will be purchased for the Reading Centre.


• Mach Im and Scott Burnett will coordinate the construction.

Implementation of a Dewey Library System:

It is most important that the library system implemented can be used with ease, that staff and students understand how the system works and that it is cost effective and sustainable for the future. Library books will be coded on a basic manual Dewey System. The school does not have computers. The following activities will be carried out:

• All existing and new books to be coded according to the Dewey System. Purchase of materials for this will be undertaken in Phnom Penh. Some materials may be taken from New Zealand. It is hoped that some firms in New Zealand are willing to donate materials. A list of necessary supplies will be drawn up.


• New books for the library will be purchased/donated. It is more cost effective to buy books in Cambodia in the local market or from established publishers. Gecko Trails is already in communication with Room to Read and The Asia Foundation, international organisations that donate library books.
  
• The library will be a Bi-Lingual Library stocking both Khmer and English books.


• Further shelving will need to be constructed and shelf index blocks painted and letters applied.


• Siphen Meas, English teacher and VSA employee, the Kla Krohim School Director and the teacher in charge of the library will advise and be consulted on all aspects of the implementation.


• A suggested list of the type of books/magazines that could be taken by participants is attached (refer appendix 2).

English as a Second Language – Teaching and Conversation:

There are currently over 600 students attending Kla Krohim High School and all students learn some English. On previous visits to the school when Gecko Trails has taken clients there for conversational English, the students have responded with great enthusiasm because they get few opportunities to practice their English with a native speaker. English is the most widely used second language in Cambodia. Teaching students and engaging in conversational English with them will be an important contribution that volunteers can make.

• Three volunteers have either trained or have experience in ESOL teaching and all volunteers will have the opportunity to be part of this activity. Five mornings will be spent in teaching and conversational English.


• Any resources that volunteers are able to bring for their teaching would be useful.


• Those teaching English at the school will appreciate being able to further their own professional development.

APPENDIX 1

Books for the Kla Krohim High School Library – English Language

Listed below are suggested subjects to consider when purchasing/donating books for the
library:

General Knowledge
Transportation
Festivals
Pollution
Language – eg. Dictionaries
Earth Science
Astronomy
Science
Plants
Animals
Fish
Reptiles
Birds
Mammals
Human Body
Health
Inventions
Aircraft / Space Travel
Drawing
Sports
Buildings
Ancient History
Disasters
Explorers
Geography – countries

Note: Pictorial books are the best with not extensive text.

Other suggestions:
Magazines – eg. National Geographic (2000 onwards)
World Atlases
Games – draughts, chess

Donation of Books
There will be a total of 14 people, including leaders taking part in this Addventure.
If each person could bring 5 books we would have 70 books for the library for a start.

Introducing the group

Click on the montage below to view in larger format...

Background to Addventure VSA

The concept for the volunteer tourism project that became Addventure VSA, was developed by Gecko Trails. Gecko Trails is a New Zealand owned small group tour company established in 2001 to offer interpretive and sustainable tourism experiences in Southeast Asia.

Jennie and Roger Wilson, of Gecko Trails, are former VSA volunteers who spent four years in Cambodia - based in Takeo for two of those years working on education and rural development. Rachel Sanson and Scott Burnett, of Gecko Trails, have a background in educational and sustainable tourism, having run experiential education programs for university students since 1998, combining experiential learning and university course work with an international travel/study experience.

Since 2001 Gecko Trails has been taking groups to homestay in the Takeo region, to visit local schools, donate books and practice English with high school students (English is a compulsory subject but students rarely get the opportunity to practice with native English speakers).

The deputy principal of Kla Krohim School, Mr Mach Meas, approached Gecko Trails for assistance in establishing a library and reading centre. Because of the long history VSA and Gecko Trails have in the region this seemed like an ideal first project for the Addventure.

Kla Krohim School was built in the early 1970’s and most of the buildings are now at the point of collapse. During strong winds, classrooms are evacuated in case they blow over. Cambodia is a very poor country and the Education Ministry lacks funds for school maintenance. School buildings are generally funded by international donors. However there is not enough aid money to keep up with population growth and maintenance of existing buildings. The school recently received a bequest, enabling them to build one classroom block and a small library. The library (pictured) is designed to be a secure storage facility for books but is too small for students to read in. The Addventurers will be assisting the school community to build a reading centre in front of the library, and to further establish the library itself (books, systems etc).

Gecko Trails has always incorporated volunteer components into its tours because we believe it is important to bridge the gap between visitors and local people, to create win-win experiences for both our clients and host communities. The concept of the Addventure (combining travel in the host country prior to a collaborative project) enables participants to gain an understanding of life in Cambodia, to develop empathy for the community being assisted, and through shared experience, to develop bonds between the Addventurers.

Gecko Trails presented the Addventure concept to VSA and it was approved by the VSA board in late 2005. ‘Addventure VSA – Cambodia 2006’ is the inaugural project and a partnership between VSA and Gecko Trails. We hope it will be the first of many.

We look forward to Addventure VSA being a great opportunity for people to gain insight into VSA, the life of VSA volunteers, and the projects VSA undertakes; that it will build bridges of friendship and understanding between the Addventurers and their host communities; and that Addventurers will continue to take an interest in their host communities after their return.

The Gecko Trails team is volunteering all their time on the project (beforehand and whilst in Cambodia), a donation of approximately $10,000 dollars.