Bishopstown and Som Roung Village in Cambodia are nothing alike, but there are both places I proudly call home. I left Westgate Road on the 8th of December 2012 for the South East Asian country of Cambodia with a one way ticket. Awaiting me was a job as the Development Officer for a small local organisation called Save Children in Asia Organisation (SCAO) in a small sleepy rural village outside Phnom Penh.
Myself in front of the School in Som Roung A.K.A. Home
Having spent my early youth playing wall-ball and tip the can around Westgate Road, you could say that I had a normal childhood. I completed my Leaving Certificate in Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh in 2008 and then went on to study International Development and Food Policy BSc in University College Cork for four years. University is a time in your life that you really get to do what you are passionate for. It was during my time at university that my passion for development work shone through. It was here that I took on extra-curricular work in the International Development Society as well as organising a development showcase for an audience of over two hundred people that included the Ambassadors of Nigeria, Uganda and Kenya.
Ever since I was young I had the desire to travel and see the world first hand, this dream became a reality in university on my six month work placement in Kolkata, India. It was here that I worked with the teachers in small education coaching centres that tutored local disadvantaged children. Kolkata was a total new experience for me; it was my first time living in a developing country, and as far as Kolkata goes, it is one of the most impoverished in the world. It is however a very inspirational place, you can see families that have nothing but a plastic sheet over their heads, but their smiles stretch from ear to ear. It was here that I realised how unimportant materialistic items are in the bigger picture. These families have nothing but each other and they are some of the most genuinely happy people I have ever had the pleasure of sharing a cup of Chai with.
Working in Kolkata, India
Returning home to Cork was a bigger culture shock than arriving in Kolkata, but with one year left in my degree I knew it wouldn’t be long before I got to travel again. This opportunity arose through the Dublin based organisation; The SCOOP Foundation, in the form of the Development Officer in their school (operated by SCAO) in Cambodia. The opportunity to travel and volunteer abroad again was something that I couldn’t pass up. I would encourage everyone to volunteer at least once, it does not necessarily need to be abroad, there are dozens of organisations around Cork looking for dedicated volunteers.
This was the first Christmas I have spent away from my family, and it coincided with my first English class. This was not the typical Christmas I was used to back in Cork. Instead of exchanging presents with my family I was teaching fruits and vegetables to my class. Turkey, ham and gravy was replaced by pumpkin, rice and soy sauce. It was my first Christmas that I was away from home, but it is a Christmas that I will remember for the rest of my life.
So here I am writing this in sleepy Som Roung, the village itself has around 400 families, with the average livelihood being farmers (males) or garment workers (females). There are no paved roads or street light and livestock roam freely through the village. I live and work in a school with other volunteers who come from all over the world, varying from Ireland, Germany, China, Australia, Spain and many more. In the school we have 11 English classes daily, consisting of over 250 students, ranging in ages from 6-22 years old. We also run computer classes that give the students the opportunity to develop computer skills such as Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. The most recent addition to the school is the new hairdressing project that trains 18 local students the skills of hair styling, make-up and nail design.
Pagoda in Som Roung
Since I have arrived I have begun a household survey of some of the poorest families in Som Roung. Through this survey I have discovered that the people lack 3 basic services, access to clean water, access to a toilet and access to healthcare treatment. By the time you are reading this article we will already have installed ceramic water filters into over 30 households, thus providing over 30 families with clean drinking water. We believe that this will reduce the number of water based illnesses and improve the livelihoods of the families. Further on down the line we have plans to build public toilets in order to improve the sanitation conditions in the village. As well as to put a roof on our school so we can start traditional dance and music classes for the children in the village.
Carrying out household surveys in the school
So far I have been here 6 months, and I would not change a thing about it. It is a huge learning experience for me both professionally and personally. Travelling is something that will benefit you for the rest of your life. It is the people that you meet along your journey and the situations you find yourself in that help you grow prosper as a person.
If you would like to read some more you can follow my blog: https://peterjamesdowney.wordpress.com/
Or check out the organisations’ website: www.savepoorchildreninasia.org www.thescoopfoundation .com
Peter Downey 