REACH OUT VOLUNTEERS TEACHING PROGRAM BOOK

Transcription

1 REACH OUT VOLUNTEERS TEACHING PROGRAM BOOK

2 Reach Out Volunteers Everything you need to know about the Reach Out Volunteer Teaching Program

3 REASONS FOR TEACHING IN CAMBODIA Why teach in Cambodia? 1. 23% of young women are illiterate, 16% of young men are illiterate 2. More than one third of Cambodians live below the poverty line, earning less than $1 per day 3. Many families cannot afford the associated costs of the Cambodian State school education system 4. English is not a compulsory subject in Cambodian State Schools 5. Only 24% of Cambodian children eat an appropriate diet with many at risk of malnutrition 6. Malnutrition in the main cause of child mortality and morbidity in Cambodia 7. Only 15% of rural Cambodians have access to adequate sanitation and 65% to safe water CAN YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE? The answer is always yes, you can make a difference. Every person has the ability to make a difference and everybody should try. With the growing tourist industry, English is a vital skill for local people, and in rural schools in which we work, students do not usually have the opportunity to have native speakers, or even teachers proficient in English. You can offer these children a chance to hear and learn. Every child that receives an education from Reach Out Volunteers, medication from programs and access to water and food, is a step in the right direction. 2

4 WHERE IN CAMBODIA WILL I BE? Student Teachers in Siem Reap will stay in town and work in a village about 30 minutes from the city, near the remains of ancient Angkor. A thousand years ago, Angkor was the world's largest city, with 750,000 people, ten times the size of the largest European city, Paris. Now only the stunning temples of this city, the UNESCO listed Angkor Wat complex, remain in the jungle near Siem Reap. Siem Reap is a small city with Khmer and Chineseinfluenced architecture, an Old French Quarter with local and international restaurants and cafes, as well as a vibrant Old Market. In the city are traditional Apsara dance performances, craft shops, silk farms, and nearby rice-paddy countryside, fishing villages and a bird sanctuary near Tonle Sap lake. Student Teachers on the island, will be living on a beautiful and remote Cambodian island in the Gulf of Thailand. Far away from the tourist trail, you will be immersed in the lives of these traditional Khmer people, many of whom have never left the island, becoming a part of their community and culture. The gateway to this program is Phnom Penh, the capital and largest city in Cambodia, located on the banks of the Tonle Sap lake and the Mekong river. The city was founded in 1434 and in the 1800 s was part of French Indochina. Some gracious French colonial buildings have survived and wide boulevards still exist. Phnom Penh is currently home to approximately 2.2 million people. 3

5 WHAT WILL I BE DOING? - SIEM REAP During your program you will be living in Siem Reap and taking a tuk tuk (a motorcycle with a trailer) from your guesthouse to a village approximately 30 minutes away, traveling between rice fields on the only dirt road into the village. There you will be working at the local village school, interacting with the children, playing sports and improving their English. preparation and delivery, classroom management and extracurricular activities. You will be working with the local teachers on the day to day issues that all teachers deal with. Through this life changing experience you will also have the opportunity to practice your up-to-date teaching and pedagogical practices. You will be involved with the teaching staff to deliver the current education program. There will be the opportunity for you to assist with lesson 4

6 WHAT WILL I BE DOING? - ISLAND You will be living on the island along with the Reach Out Volunteer participants in the Marine Conservation program and be involved in teaching experiences in and out of the classroom. Not only will you be working with the children and adolescents on the island, you will also have the opportunity to teach English to the predominantly illiterate adults. The lesson times are organized around the routines of the fishing families. The sessions for the women occur in the morning before they become involved in their daily activities; the classes for the adolescents occur late in the afternoon following their fishing duties and classroom lessons occur during the day. The key to a positive teaching experience is flexibility. If you are looking for a classroom experience with books, regulated times and set ways of learning then the island will probably be too much of a challenge. If you like developing strategies to meet perceived learning needs, if you are willing to be involved in learning environments outside the classroom and have a desire to interact with the locals through gaining a knowledge of their own language & culture then you will love the challenges of the island. 5

7 ACTIVITIES - SIEM REAP Your program is full of activities to ensure you are immersed in Khmer culture. Siem Reap is home to one of the wonders of the world: Angkor Wat. Your itinerary will make sure you get to the view the temples of Angkor for example Ta Prohm (featured in Tomb Raider) and Bayon (famous for its 37 free-standing towers). Additional activities include Khmer language classes, a Khmer cooking class, Apsara dancing, a history lesson on the Khmer people and their fascinating past, temple blessings and much more! To really immerse yourself in the daily routine of Siem Reap we have organised walks and bike rides. The flat central plain makes it an ideal place to explore. You ll get to take your time moving through the villages and outlying areas of the city. Children will run out to meet you on the village roads and their parents may even practice their English on you! You ll also have the opportunity to visit local markets, or even stop for a massage. You will also visit the great lake of Tonlé Sap, the largest freshwater lake in South- east Asia which is an ecological hot spot designated as a UNESCO biosphere in In fact, 16% of Cambodia s GDP comes from fishing in this lake, and it is home to a vibrant mix of floating villages, inhabited by Khmer, Vietnamese and Cham ethnic groups. Tonlé Sap is unusual for two reasons: its flow changes direction twice a year, and the portion that forms the lake expands and shrinks dramatically with the seasons. From November to May, Cambodia's dry season, Tonlé Sap drains its waters collected from the Himalayas into the Mekong River at Phnom Penh. When the rains begin in June, the Tonlé Sap backs up to form an enormous lake. You will visit the floating villages at the edge of the lake and have an optional choice of a canoe ride through the floating forests. 6

8 ACTIVITIES - PHNOM PENH & ISLAND You will be working alongside and interacting with Khmer families many of whom have never left the island. You will also be part of the Reach Out Volunteer island team which includes our marine conservationist volunteers. While the conservationist volunteers complete their data collection and marine surveys as part of our conservation program you will have the opportunity to be involved in the water activities such as scuba diving or snorkeling over the coral reef, maybe even swimming with a turtle or spotting an endangered sea horse. On weekends the team will be involved in island activities trekking, picnicking, visiting nearby islands, beach cricket, beach volleyball and if you are lucky there may even be an island celebration such as a wedding. Additional activities include Khmer language classes and a Khmer cooking class run by the local village women. You will spend the second weekend of your program in Phnom Penh where you will visit local craft markets, sample a range of traditional Cambodian food and visit cultural centres, temples and museums such as The Killing Fields museum and the Tuoi Sleng Genocide Museum. These museums are confronting as they are reminders and memorials to a bleak and bloody 5 year period following the end of the Vietnam War. The time of the Killing Fields and the Kymer Rouge is detailed in The People and History section of this booklet. You may also visit the National Assembly building or the National Museum which is the main historical and archaeological museum in Cambodia or the Royal Palace. Activities will be determined by the Team Leader after considering the time available and the interests of the group.the group. 7

9 PAST EXPERIENCES & BLOGS To see exactly how a Cambodian Adventure program operates, you can visit past program blogs. The blogs are updated daily while you re in Cambodia so that your friends and family can see what you re up to. To view the blog, visit: and in the top right hand corner you will see a tab Live from Cambodia and that will take you to the program blog. Below is what just a handful of past volunteers have said about their teaching experience with Reach Out Volunteers: What I enjoyed about the teaching program, was the 9lexibility that we were given to be able plan lessons and the opportunity to interact with the teachers and students through the various activities that the school provided. The program gave me more that what I had expected. It chal- lenged me both mentally and emotionally (both a positive) and has shown me my inner strength and what I am capable of. Siu I really loved meeting everyone at the village and making so many new friends. After a month with everyone, you feel like a tight- knit family. Most memorable part would be seeing the students able to put what you've taught them into practice and also their smiling faces every day!..i think what we did helped them build the foundation of starting to read which was one of our goals. Jancy The school had very high expectations for us but we worked it all out. Dancing with the children and cooking with the teachers were the most memorable bits...a month was not enough. I think the teachers learnt a lot from us and we gave them lots of resources to use. Emily 8

10 HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY The history of Cambodia is still being written today with the country rebounding and emerging from the nightmare of the Killing Fields

11 THE PEOPLE AND LOCATION The majority of Cambodians are Khmers and descend from the Khmer Empire that once extended over much of Southeast Asia and reached its peak between the 10th and 13th centuries. This is the civilization that built Angkor, which was once the world s largest city. After a long period of decline fuelled initially by Thai and Cham attacks Cambodia became a French protectorate in After 1887 it was part of French Indochina. Following the Japanese occupation during World War II, Cambodia gained full independence from France in The Killing Fields In April 1975, after a five-year struggle, Communist Khmer Rouge forces captured Phnom Penh and evacuated all cities and towns. During the Khmer Rouge regime, under the dictatorship of Pol Pot, at least 1.5 million Cambodians one-eighth of the population died from forced hardships, starvation, or execution (many in the mass graves that became known as the Killing Fields). In December 1978 the Vietnamese invaded Cambodia and drove the Khmer Rouge into the jungle. The Vietnamese occupation lasted for 10 years and was followed by 13 years of civil war. The 1991 Paris Peace Accords mandated democratic elections and a ceasefire, which was not fully respected by the Khmer Rouge. UNsponsored elections in 1993 helped restore some semblance of normality under a coalition government. Factional fighting in 1997 ended the first government, but a second round of elections in 1998 led to political stability. The remaining elements of the Khmer Rouge surrendered in early 1999, and several high ranking people from the regime have been tried for genocide. 10

12 START PLANNING One person can make a difference and every person should try John F. Kennedy

13 FLIGHTS, TRAVEL INSURANCE, VISAS & CURRENCY Flights For flight and airport information you must read your Get Ready document which will be provided when you pay your deposit. If you are extending your program it is very important that you the ROV office to confirm your arrival and departure airports before you book your airline tickets. Travel Insurance Although our programs are safe, take the stress out of your trip by making sure you are fully covered for any unexpected health or travel problems that might arise, including cover for emergency flights and hospital visits. Travel Insurance is strongly recommended. Visas A Cambodian visa is purchased on arrival for around US$25 - make sure you have an extra passport photo in your hand luggage. A departure tax of around US$40 may apply although most tickets now include this tax. Currency Cambodians operate on a dual currency, but prefer U.S. dollars, so we recommend that you bring cash. A valid ATM or credit card can also be used at the airport ATM (which dispenses U.S. dollars). Note that if you plan to use your ATM or credit card in Cambodia, you should let your bank know ahead of time to avoid blocked transactions. 12

14 WHAT WILL I NEED TO BRING? Weather The months of November to January are dry in Cambodia. Humidity levels are low and there is little rainfall. Daytime temperatures are mild, while the nights are cool. The hot months are April to May, with temperatures from 30 C (86 F) to (more often) 40 C (104 F). In July, monsoons bring rain and humidity that last until October. All this water means Angkor is surrounded by fertile land and lush foliage, but rain can also make it difficult to access the schools and villages where we work. Clothes to Pack Think about your favorite clothes, shoes and handbags and then discard those thoughts.think practical, comfortable and easy to wash. Think hats and sunscreen. Your program will involve lots of practical work and you don t require precious garments or flashy jewelry. Short and strappy is definitely not acceptable in Cambodia.The Reach Out Volunteer T Shirt is given a real workout most weeks! Refer to your Get Ready document located on your Volunteer Launchpad for a detailed list. Donations are welcomed Sports equipment,runners, joggers, sports clothes educational books & posters whiteboard markers and erasers, grey lead pencils & pens 13

15 FUNDRAISING! Because of volunteers like you, we can provide employment to local tradespeople, medication for children, materials for building projects, donations for antipoaching activities, and money for local infrastructure, like accommodation providers, activities, transport. Every cent helps the local people. We need your help to make a difference. Many volunteers fundraise for their Reach Out Volunteer program. That means not one cent has come out of their pocket. Your fundraising materials will be available to you once you have paid your deposit or uploaded your priority code to your profile. We also recommend using a crowdfunding site like Go Fund Me. Be sure to embed Reach Out Volunteer videos and links to our website to give people an idea of what they re contributing to! People will want to help you and get behind you, all you have to do is put yourself out there! 14

16 MEET YOUR GROUP Excited about your program? Reach Out Volunteers creates Facebook groups for every program so that you can get to know your group months before leaving! You may even meet someone who lives close by with whom you can travel. How to meet other volunteers: 1. Like Reach Out Volunteers Facebook page. reachoutvolunteers 2. Add ROV Adm as a friend. 3. info@rovolunteers.com or private message us via Facebook with you full name and program name and dates. We will then add you to the private Facebook group. 15

17 QUESTIONS?

18 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS is Cambodia dangerous? Cambodia is predominantly buddhist with very little civil unrest. will I be met at the airport? We will collect you on the day you arrive, and be drop you off at the airport on the day of departure. will I have electricity / adaptors? Not all the time, but often enough to charge your cameras, phones and ipods. will there be wifi? Not all the time will there be big insects / wild animals? Not in the cities or villages will there be mosquito nets? On the island, yes. In Siem Reap you will be in air conditioned rooms can you wear singlets (tank tops) shorts, bikinis? No! can we bring toys and other small gifts? Yes! do we need bedding? No! do we need vaccinations? Ask your doctor do we need to arrange airport transport for departing flights? No! can I bring a suitcase? We recommend a backpack is there a difference between Travel and Health Insurance? Yes do I need Travel Insurance? Yes! what things / clothing should I bring with me to donate in the village? Children s clothes and shoes are always welcome along with early childhood development educational materials 17

19 Will I be Safe? EVERY ASPECT OF YOUR PROGRAM HAS SAFETY AS ITS HIGHEST PRIORITY 1. We organize your program from start to finish. 2. If you arrive at the airport on the day the program commences, there will be a Reach Out Volunteer representative to meet you. 3. The Reach Out Volunteer Team Leader will be with your group for the entire duration of the program, and will be available 24/7 to help in any given situation. 4. You will be living in a shared, same sex room (whenever it is available), in clean, hygienic and safe accommodation. 5. You will have constant access to safe drinking water. 6. The Reach Out Volunteer Team Leader will have a mobile phone for emergency contact for the duration of your program. 7. Sunscreen and hand sanitizer will be readily available. 8. If you choose an Asian extension (with the exception of Laos), Reach Out Volunteers will provide on ground transport to the next program location, where you will be met by a Reach Out Volunteer representative. 9. We escort you to the airport for your departure. 18

20 How to join Reach Out Volunteers? If you haven t already applied for the program, you can do so through our website: and click on the Apply Now tab. If you have already applied and been accepted for our programs you will need to pay the deposit to confirm your place. Reach Out Volunteer Teaching PLACEMENTS ARE LIMITED so if this program is of interest to you, we suggest paying your deposit early to secure a position. We re waiting to welcome you to our team! 19