Some very keen team members started the day off crazy early doing training with the Cambodian Police. Troy Roberts and his team run fitness and other training for the Cambodian anti trafficking police as this training is not provided by the government and some fitness freaks decided to join in. After breakfast we pushed a mini bus to its limits on a ride on very rutted road to Gunty's island where we started building a house for two children who lost there mom to aids 3 months ago. Gunty has organised for the kids, boy aged 5 and a girl aged 13, to live with a teacher from the school but they did not have anywhere to live. There was lots of sunscreen and more plumbers cracks than necessary as the boys went to work on the house while the majority of ladies interacted with the kids from Gunty's school and the surrounding orphanage. To celebrate our achievements we had tarantulas as an appetiser which a few insane people actually tried.
Athol teaching Amy which end of the hammer to use
PERSONAL VIEW by Lyn Prior of the kids at Guntys
Today I was looking forward to spending time with the kids at Gunty's island. I got to spend a lot of time with the kids from the school and also ones that came in from the village. I taught the kids knuckle-bones which they had never seen before but within half an hour I had gone from teaching 2 kids to 12 who had not only mastered the game but created new ones using the knuckle-bones. It was great interacting with the kids and there was no language barrier as they all spoke English quite well. I also did some other activities such as colouring in, sticker books and some much needed nit removal. I am really looking forward to tomorrow as I feel in my element playing, helping and giving attention to these kids.
Lyn teaching the kids knuckle-bones
PERSONAL VIEW by Rob Hartley of the building
It was hard but rewarding work today as we started building the house. Because it was over 2m off the ground it made normal jobs extra difficult. It was amazing to see how the locals worked with hand tools and do a better job than I can with power tools. After the last couple of days where we have seen and heard all of the bad things that has happened to Cambodia, I felt like I was able to give back and achieve something worthwhile today.
No comments:
Post a Comment