The end of the trip has come and the students await boarding at Ho Chi Minh City for the final leg of their journey home.
The homestay served its purpose as an opportunity to reflect and unspool the significance of the experience over the last 10 days. Time was spent seeing the unique environment of the Phnom Kulen National Park, including its waterfalls, river carvings and a temple housing a reclining Buddha carved into the natural mountaintop.
As we discussed our experiences, we drew connections to the purpose of service work in developing countries. We came to understand that ours has been a journey of flourishing in solidarity with those we have met, respecting their resilience and resourcefulness, and using our own comparative privilege to offer what we can give.
Included are some photos from the homestay, including the celebratory final night of singing and dancing around the campfire, having enjoyed a BBQ feast prepared by our host family. The students were admirable in the gratitude that they showed for their hosts and the experiences they have had, and we would also like to offer a big thanks to them for their spirit and purpose throughout the trip.
What a rollercoaster of highs and lows today has been. Some students started the day with much trepidation as VCAA released results for Unit 3/4 subjects. All of the students should be justifiably proud of their academic achievements, yet a trip like this also serves as a reminder of the richness and diversity of experience that underpins a true education as a citizen of the world.
We set out for Green Gecko with enthusiasm and exuberance in our stride, and also a little apprehension, knowing that this would be the last day to spend with the larger group of Green Gecko students. We had been briefed by Liz yesterday about the importance of a smooth separation, especially for some of these children who have experienced trauma or separation so early in their young lives.
With this in mind, we fully immersed ourselves in the moment, enjoying cultural immersion activities led by the youngest Geckos, including counting in Khmer, writing our names in Khmer, and the traditional martial art of bokator. Liz from Green Gecko is very deliberate in the way that these activities are delivered, allowing some of the youngest children to act as teachers and empowering them to communicate their knowledge in the way they see fit.
It was wonderful to see the Camberwell girls participating so enthusiastically and showing such initiative, as has been characteristic of their mindset throughout the trip. For me personally (Nirvana), today held a special significance, as my own family arrived in Cambodia yesterday and Liz invited my children to participate in the cultural immersion activities alongside the CGGS students. After participating in 3 previous tours and developing a personal connection to the staff and students at Green Gecko, I have always relished how enriching the experience is for your daughters – the CGGS tour participants. To have the opportunity to appreciate this further, from my perspective as a parent, was truly special – what a great opportunity these young people have had – yours and mine.
The farewells at Green Gecko were emotional as predicted and we departed with full and heavy hearts. Continuing with the tour itinerary, we visited Plastic Free Southeast Asia in the afternoon and heard about the origins and problem of plastic pollution in Cambodia, as well as learning about some innovative organisations working to overcome it, and the steps we can take as individuals to minimise waste.
We had a special treat in the afternoon, as there was some spare time and a definite need to lift spirits, so we split into two groups and alternated between fulfilling Christine’s bucket list goal of drinking coconut water from fresh coconuts, and enjoying some downtime at Sugar Spa Siem Reap. Describing themselves as a business providing ‘pampering with purpose’ the students enjoyed the chance to reflect on their experiences and indulge in some self-care.
Tomorrow we have the Green Gecko market challenge, where the students will be competing in groups to purchase some items on behalf of Green Gecko from the local Psau Lar market – with the added complication that they will be paying – and bargaining in Cambodian riel!
Tomorrow afternoon we check out of our hotel and head to the Kulen Mountain homestay. We will be away from internet service while there, so please don’t be surprised or concerned if you do not hear from us again until Sunday.
In the words of Aalisha “the best day yet”. We were able to deeply engage with our purpose on this trip today, as we shared the activities we had prepared for the Geckos. Each tour, we are asked to plan a series of activities for primary-grade children (ages 6-10) and lower-secondary children (aged 11-14). Our students work in one of two groups, preparing either STEM and Logic challenges, or Art and Craft activities.
Today’s reflections are offered by Zara:
“Travel leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.” – Anthony Bourdain.
Gentle sunlight begins to engulf Siem Reap, remnants of yesterday’s sunset before a sleepless night of planning and excitement. Today we are running our activities with the geckos, and after a refreshing morning walk, our heads are clear and we are ready to share what we’ve been planning.
A blur of macrame string, ball games, chalk and laughter, our morning was packed with competitive spirit and exuberance. The Geckos’ happiness was contagious and they were absolutely radiant. We all went back to the hotel with souvenirs of Gecko-made necklaces filled with the memories of today.
Following such an active, exhilarating morning, Rehash Trash was the perfect way to focus our energy on creating and repurposing. With the help of the mothers there, we created key rings, coasters and bracelets out of plastic bags. The connection that I felt making these with the ladies overcame the language barrier and left me feeling so serene and loved.
Today it was difficult to think about leaving the Geckos, as there is such a close bond between us all. As devastating as it is, we can’t control when people come and go in your life, but we can make sure they know they matter to you while they’re around. I can sleep tonight knowing that today’s experiences were what the journey of life is all about and I will hold today’s memories and the profound feelings of love and pure happiness so very close to my heart.
The Gecko kids are clever, wily and active, so we are always mindful of planning activities that will challenge and engage them. The STEM and Logic group prepared a range of challenges, starting with a ball-throwing game that used a pattern for passing the ball, as well as a separate one for remembering everyone’s names. In the raucous chaos that followed, many smiles showed this to be a success. The older Geckos also participated in a game of Scattegories (in both English and Khmer) and large-scale Connect 4. The younger Geckos had an engineering challenge called “High to Low by Going Slow”. Each group was given a tennis ball and an assortment of salvaged and recycled items such as egg cartons, sandpaper, carpet squares, foam and pipe cleaners. The group that made their ball run down a slope most slowly, was to be the winner.
In the Art and Craft group it was all about macrame. The younger kids got to make their own macrame dragonfly, while the older ones worked on hanging plant holders and beautiful rock necklaces. These activities were certainly more calm and contemplative than the others, and allowed a great warmth and connection to grow between the CGGS students and the Geckos.
After a delicious bento-style Cambodian lunchbox, we headed off to Rehash Trash to participate in a crochet workshop. At Rehash Trash, plastic bags are retrieved, cleaned, transformed into lengths of ‘yarn’ and crocheted into beautiful and practical household items, such as rugs, baskets, placemats, coasters and shopping bags. As another Green Gecko social enterprise, Rehash Trash employs mothers of the children cared for by Green Gecko. They have a safe and inviting place to come together in meaningful work which also has a positive environmental impact. As with many Green Gecko initiatives, the solution they have designed is so practical and thorough.
After an afternoon with plenty of time available to relax at the pool or catch up on some journalling, we had dinner at a local training restaurant called Marum.
We are so proud of how your daughters engaged with the activities with the Geckos today. Their generous and lively spirits shone through in everything they did, and their collective contributions have made this such a wonderful trip.
These words best sum up the dual nature of our activities today: a visit to the APOPO landmine clearing organisation, and a boat tour of the floating villages of Lake Tonle Sap.
Starting the day at APOPO, we were introduced to the HERO Rats, whose natural ability to sniff TNT, has led to the development of a program that allows the animals to be trained to assist in landmine clearing efforts. The African Pouched Rats are trained using clickers and rewards, and work in a systematic way with human handlers, to clear areas of landmine contamination. A video explaining the whole process is provided below. As an organisation, APOPO provides an example of resourcefulness and ingenuity to solve a complex issue in areas of past conflict.
After a cooking class where we visited the food market and then made our own three-course lunch, we set out for Lake Tonle Sap and a boat cruise to the floating villages. This is an opportunity to see the resourcefulness of traditional subsistence lifestyle on the lake.
The students always find the visit to Tonle Sap quite dispiriting. Although we work with excellent organisations here, and see plenty of examples of positive and progressive change, Tonle Sap remains severely impoverished and the begging by adults and children is quite pronounced. We all took some time to reflect on this and consider the judgements and assumptions underlying our reactions. This is also a complex issue, with implications in terms of traditional practices and lifestyle, environmental degradation and biodiversity loss, the double-edged nature of tourism development, and many other issues.
The reflections that commence this post are from Kelly:
The highlight of the day for me was going to the Footprints Farm. We walked with the Geckos to the Footprints Farm and once we go there we immediately split into groups and began work. I was assigned to the mushroom hut first. Our group was led by Chon, and all of us, even the youngest of Geckos was ready to work. Everyone had a part and did it with enthusiasm, making the jobs so incredibly fun. From Geckos getting piggyback rides on Zara and Phoebe, to the little Geckos climbing to the top of the bamboo frames. We had a quick break where we ran up and bounced on the giant hay stack. After some dances and Khmer, more like calling each other names (eg. Souvai – monkey and muan – chicken), we rotated our work. We went onto removing weeds amongst the banana trees. The highlight was when one of the little geckos decided to turn on the SPRINKLER!!! Today I learnt that true happiness can come from the smallest of things, from being around friends that become family.
After a weekend of immersion in the local history and culture, the students were keen to get back to our core purpose here, which is to engage with Green Gecko and the social enterprises they have founded. This meant an early start so that we could beat the heat and do some work on the Green Gecko Footprints farm. A chemical free permaculture site, the produce from the farm feeds the Geckos, and any excess is able to be sold at market. All of the Geckos have the opportunity for practical work on the farm, which is managed by a Khmer farmer. We got to work assisting with weeding, laying compost in new garden beds, and adding shadecloth inside the mushroom hut that our September group worked on.
After lunch, we made our way to the Silkscreen Printing Lab, which employs many Gecko parents. Here, items are printed for a range of Siem Reap clients, such as uniforms for local hotels and restaurants. The lab also runs workshops for tourist groups like ours, and profit from these is channeled back into providing workshops for young local children. At Silkscreen Printing Lab, we printed our own tour t-shirts which we will wear when we complete our lessons with the Geckos.
Tomorrow is a public holiday in Cambodia, which means we will take the chance to visit Lake Tonle Sap and another fabulous organisation called APOPO. More updates tomorrow…
I was quite fascinated and amazed by the intricacy of the design of the temple we visited. Temples are one of the most historical parts of Cambodia and to be able to be guided by the Green Geckos who often go to the temples with their own family was a great experience as it was like they were showing part of their country’s history and culture.
We then moved on to a landmine museum where we learnt more about the history and aftermath of the Khmer Rouge and the purpose of this museum. It is eye-opening to learn about the history of the country we are visiting.
The silk farm was very interesting for all as the life process of a silk worm and how silk is made from the worms is extremely amazing. It was particularly interesting for me as in the markets that we visit, most clothes are made from silk and to see how it actually is made is fascinating.
After having a delicious dinner with our Geckos which included playing games around the table, we were able to experience a truly spectacular circus performance. My Green Gecko and I discussed what we liked about the show and we both liked the contemporary ideas of the performance as it was not just a number of individual performances but the whole circus performance followed a storyline.
Despite only just starting the tour, I have gained a new perspective and a sense of joy and gratefulness. I am excited to see what the rest of the trip brings our whole group and to share my experience with my family and friends back home.
The day’s itinerary was a mixed bag of experiences which somehow manage to coalesce to reflect what contemporary Cambodia is all about.
I found resonances in photos from the past couple of days which reflect patterns and perspectives on the various aspects of Cambodian history and culture. The first image, captured at Angkor Wat, shows the symmetry and craftsmanship in these temples. constructed many centuries ago, representing the Khmer empire’s powerful past influence. The second image features artillery displayed at the Cambodian Landmine Museum. reflecting the painful past of the Khmer Rouge genocide and decades of civil war that ensued. The third image, symmetrical to the others, shows the spools of silk produced at the Angkor Silk Farm, which we visited today, and which helps to maintain traditional craftsmanship, as well as providing training and opportunities for a fruitful future for the women employed there.
We started the day with a site offering a spiritual reflection of the land and its people, with a visit to another temple, much further out of town, at Banteay Srei. The temple is known as the ‘women’s temple’ as it was constructed in honour of the Hindu goddess Shiva, and features ornate and intricate carvings in the pink sandstone.
From here, we moved to the Cambodian Landmine Museum. As explained in the itinerary, the museum was founded by a Cambodian man named Aki Ra, who set about personally clearing areas contaminated with landmines, at the end of the civil war period in Cambodia. The project has evolved and continues to do the work it was initially founded on, as well as supporting a facility for children with disabilities, and has supported the construction of 32 schools in rural areas which would not otherwise provide education. Aki Ra’s story is an inspiring one, and we were amazingly fortunate to meet him on site during our visit. He explained that the future of his project involves continuing to remove landmines from contaminated areas, as well as expanding the education and care elements.
After lunch we visited the Angkor Silk Farm. From the mulberry trees, to handling (and eating!) the silkworms themselves, and being mesmerised by the swift and rhythmic work of the women at the loom, the entire production process is fascinating.
The evening meant we could see some of our Green Gecko friends again, seeing a performance of the Phare Circus. Founded in Battambang as an arts training organisation, the circus features contemporary acrobatics and uniquely Cambodian stories, which was much appreciated by all members of the audience.
Tomorrow we are off to get our hands dirty and no doubt our hearts full as we work alongside our Gecko friends at their Footprints farm.
Today the Geckos and the Camberwell Girls went and explored the temples of Cambodia. Walking through the gates of each temple, I personally started to feel a sense of belonging and connection, not only to the location that I was in, but also with the people around me. Having the opportunity to explore and immerse myself in a new and foreign culture had allowed me to broaden my perspective on the world and the people in it. Im so grateful and excited to be in a lifestyle where this is possible.
As noted by Phoebe, we had the opportunity today to explore the rich and centuries-old culture of the Khmer empire by visiting the UNESCO World Heritage-listed temples of the Angkor complex. Though the most well-known temple is Angkor Wat, the Angkor complex is a large expanse with more than 1000 separate temples, constructed in various periods, by a range of rulers, and dedicated to a diversity of religious influences from Hinduism and Buddhism. The Khmer empire flourished between the 9th and 15th centuries.
We started in the Angkor Thom complex, with the Bayon temple, notable for its carved smiling buddha faces. We proceeded from there past Baphuon temple along the raised Terrace of the Elephants, overlooking an arena area which once hosted a range of entertainment for 11th Century Khmers! From there, we delved further into the jungle-like terrain and arrived at Ta Prohm, memorable for the intricate interweaving of trees growing amidst the temple ruins and featured in the film Tomb Raider. Throughout our temple visit the weather was favourable and allowed us to enjoy meandering among the ruins and taking plenty of photos.
After lunch in a local restaurant, we set out for the big one: Angkor Wat. The students climbed to the top level to take in the breathtaking scale of the monument and afterwards appreciated the opportunity to do a short meditation with our guide Dong, inside Angkor Wat – truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
All of this temple-hopping was accompanied by our new Green Gecko friends, and everyone made warm connections and enjoyed plenty of laughter, games and of course selfies, throughout the day. Being able to visit alongside the Geckos brings a unique personal perspective to an experience which many tourists seek, but few get to experience alongside locals. whose culture and history is steeped in this breathtaking place.
The afternoon was made up of a visit to the artisan Made in Cambodia Market, and I am pleased to report some of you may be receiving some lovely thoughtful gifts from here…
We also started today with the first of our morning walks, which allows us to experience local life at ground level, exploring some of the streets and sights near our hotel.
Tomorrow promises more adventures, and we will send another update soon.
“There are dark shadows on the earth, but its lights are stronger in the contrast…”
Charles Dickens
Today’s student reflection is from Alecia. Each day, we will feature a different student’s words.
Today is our very first day in Cambodia. The weather is so perfect, the sun is comforting and warm… The streets are noisy and hectic, and there are motorcycles and tuk-tuks travelling to and fro at hyper speed! Despite the hectic-ness, I can say on behalf of every girl here, that it is a peaceful and extremely positive environment. We have eaten beautiful, yet terrifying Cambodian delicacies…..frogs, insects and duck embryos…..delicious! We even bought souvenirs and clothing at the markets, where we were able to practice our bargaining skills! Overall, it was a thrilling and enjoyable day! Furthermore, we met our Green Gecko friends for the very first time! It is amazing how positive, friendly and radiant they are. And so inspiring to hear their stories of how far they came from being poor beggar children on streets, to the intelligent and radiant children that they are now.
Alecia’s words very accurately capture the enthusiasm with which the students have embraced their environment.
We were all up bright and early today, in spite of our long day of travel yesterday, we still felt like we were on Melbourne time. After breakfast in the hotel restaurant we set off for Green Gecko, spying many points of interest from the bus windows on the way there: morning light slanting across the nearby Buddhist temple, emaciated stray animals, a mother, child and 10L water bottle precariously perched on a passing motorcycle, and security cameras mounted on the gates of fancy expat residences. The streets between our hotel and Green Gecko gave us some of our first daytime opportunities to observe the life and culture of this city of contrasts.
At Green Gecko, we had a tour and overview of the project from its inception through to the current day, before meeting some of the Geckos who had come to Gecko Central for the morning. Although we took some of them away from their important study, the students had a lot of fun meeting each other for the first time and bonding through conversation, games and music.
An important part of the tour is that we ask the students to participate in debrief sessions and to write in their journals to process all that they see and do while participating. This morning we had quite a confronting experience as we arrived at Green Gecko, with a little boy about 8 or 9 years of age (not part of GG), was sitting on the road nearby Green Gecko, with a dog in his arms. At first we thought the boy was helping the dog, perhaps tending to a sore paw as the dog yelped. It became apparent that he was actually hurting the dog, and this was a very difficult thing for us to see, as we come from a country where we care for our animals and count them as family members.
When we told Liz from Green Gecko about this, she swiftly intervened and put a stop to it, but it was nonetheless a difficult thing to see. The reason I mention it here is your daughters may discuss it with you when you speak, and we did discuss how we rationalise this event, when today we also heard the inspiring story of the founding of Green Gecko Project and the significant difference it has made in the lives of the young people and families who are part of it. No doubt contrasts like this will continue to be a feature of our experience here and we will be mindful of how we support the students as they integrate these new encounters and ideas.
Today we also had a workshop with Michael Horton, founder of local NGO ConCERT, which focuses on community engagement relating to responsible tourism and volunteering, allowing us to bring together many of our thoughts from the day.
Your daughters are engaging in this experience in such a wholehearted and authentic way, it really is such a privilege to be here to support them as they make sense of the whole experience.
Safe, sound and sensorially-stimulated, we have arrived in Siem Reap and settled into our hotel for the night. A long day of travel was handled with great patience and good humour by the students. Tomorrow morning we have an early start to go and meet the Geckos and hear all about the project with a guided tour at Gecko Central.
Our partnership with Green Gecko is such a unique and significant part of our Service Learning Immersion Tour to Cambodia. The partnership, now in its 4th year, allows for the development of continuity and sustained relationships which are mutually beneficial.
Please see further information about Green Gecko and how you can follow them on social media in the previous blog post here.
Please refer to the previous post containing Travel Tips here.
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