Beginnings are always difficult.
The 3rd delegation left the village of chi phat after a big and loud cry, and left a huge vacuum, in which we, delegation No.4, were sucked immediately.
Within seconds we became best friends, appreciated teachers and role models, for people we barely know.
When we marched to the dock, accompanied by almost 100 kids, we marched as guests. When I walked back to my first volleyball practice as a coach, I was hugged by two kids I had never seen before. It was inconvenient. Strange. Unnatural. I thought those two kids were weird. During that day and the day that followed, I was hugged by many other people. Physically by some, mentally by others.
At that point I understood something about the importance of our project for these kids.
They do not need us desperately, they can keep on living their lives on this small but noisy street they call village. They can go after their parents – as a boat driver, housewife, or the woman that sell fried bananas across the street, but we give them something that they never had before.
It may be personal attention, exposure to new subjects or a different culture, better English or just time to play together, but every one of those things can be an opportunity for those who want to choose a different route.
The thing that frightened me most before I came here was that we’re gonna be those smart-white-western guys who came to tell those natives-locals-charlies how to live their lives right. But it’s not like it.
We can only encourage people to learn. Once you learned a bit you can choose. If you know 200 words in English there’s a whole new world lying at your feet.
and suddenly it’s legitimate for Sokny to want to become a media-reporter – because he KNOWS he wants it.
6 kids are leaving to high school this week. This is a huge number comparing to previous years. Srieng, Sokny, Naiheak, Savoeun, Tepi and Pov. Three girls and three boys, that are leaving their homes for the chance of having a choice.
6 kids. Only about 20% of junior high graduators. And this number is 3 times higher than last year.
But can you get it?
One year they send 2 kids to high school, and after less then a year of presence of IBC proect, those 2 kids were tripled!
Is it possible that such a small project can make such a difference? is it just a coincidence that will not repeat next year?
Or did we make a difference for a mother who had decided to spend the savings of a lifetime for in order to send her son for high school, far not less than 2 hours on a boat?
Hi, my name is Oren Shacham. 22 years old from Rishon le-zion, Israel.
I came here for the experience, and staying with will for making a difference
The 3rd delegation left the village of chi phat after a big and loud cry, and left a huge vacuum, in which we, delegation No.4, were sucked immediately.
Within seconds we became best friends, appreciated teachers and role models, for people we barely know.
When we marched to the dock, accompanied by almost 100 kids, we marched as guests. When I walked back to my first volleyball practice as a coach, I was hugged by two kids I had never seen before. It was inconvenient. Strange. Unnatural. I thought those two kids were weird. During that day and the day that followed, I was hugged by many other people. Physically by some, mentally by others.
At that point I understood something about the importance of our project for these kids.
They do not need us desperately, they can keep on living their lives on this small but noisy street they call village. They can go after their parents – as a boat driver, housewife, or the woman that sell fried bananas across the street, but we give them something that they never had before.
It may be personal attention, exposure to new subjects or a different culture, better English or just time to play together, but every one of those things can be an opportunity for those who want to choose a different route.
The thing that frightened me most before I came here was that we’re gonna be those smart-white-western guys who came to tell those natives-locals-charlies how to live their lives right. But it’s not like it.
We can only encourage people to learn. Once you learned a bit you can choose. If you know 200 words in English there’s a whole new world lying at your feet.
and suddenly it’s legitimate for Sokny to want to become a media-reporter – because he KNOWS he wants it.
6 kids are leaving to high school this week. This is a huge number comparing to previous years. Srieng, Sokny, Naiheak, Savoeun, Tepi and Pov. Three girls and three boys, that are leaving their homes for the chance of having a choice.
6 kids. Only about 20% of junior high graduators. And this number is 3 times higher than last year.
But can you get it?
One year they send 2 kids to high school, and after less then a year of presence of IBC proect, those 2 kids were tripled!
Is it possible that such a small project can make such a difference? is it just a coincidence that will not repeat next year?
Or did we make a difference for a mother who had decided to spend the savings of a lifetime for in order to send her son for high school, far not less than 2 hours on a boat?
Hi, my name is Oren Shacham. 22 years old from Rishon le-zion, Israel.
I came here for the experience, and staying with will for making a difference
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