When
in Cambodia our group from Rochester Community and Technical
College (RCTC) was privileged to work with the Youth Service
Cambodia (YSC). The YSC is a non-profitable organization made
up of University students with the difficult mission of aiding
Cambodia. They work on many projects to help their people,
and one event they partake in monthly is that of planting
trees and flowers at primary schools. During our travel to
Cambodia, we helped with their mission to beautify the habitat
of the Kendal primary school located in Phnom Penh. During
our entire stay, several students from the YSC willingly supported
our work tagging along to help with our projects. They were
the most enthusiastic, kind, genuine people we were blessed
to have as friends, translators, and sources of confidence.
Whether they were translating, organizing games, or simply
communicating with us, their work was highly appreciated and
many of us in the group felt our experience would have been
drastically altered if the presence of the YSC students were
vacant. Their kind hospitality in showing us their home—their
country—built a sustainable relationship we will continue
in the future in a lasting effort to help Cambodians help
themselves through local diplomatic efforts to bring a broken
country to prosperity.
Here
is a video about our interview with the YSC President:
Being
able to communicate with the YSC students via e-mail and infrequent
phone calls gives us a chance to retain friendship and a relationship
to work together in the upcoming future. When some of the
students were asked their feelings on RCTC and YSC working
together and what impact it had on their lives, this is how
they responded:
Here
(in their own words) are what they had to say:
From
YSC Member, Sopheak Phat:
“Do you know what I think about activities that
we did in the two weeks ago? I have never imaged for
doing that with you. It was so values because all
of each activity gives me a chance to help children
who need to help during two weeks ago that we did
together. It was like activity that we helped orphanages;
it means that we love and like them and we wanted
to do a good thing for them. We did this because we
want to make them to think that although they are
orphanages, they still have people to take care them
and it can make them feel warm. For planting the trees
in Tuolsakor, we wanted to show that we love our environment
and we want the children love the environment of their
school and like their school, so it makes them want
to study. It has much useful for people and society
for these activities. Although this was so short time
for us to help them and it was a little for help,
I think that we could help some. In the time that
we worked together, I felt very happy and proud because
I am not useless person in my society; I could do
good thing some. I hope that I will be able to do
that again with people who need to help and I hope
that I will be able to work together with you to do
these activities. Coming from these activities, I
can get a lot:
-I could practice and learned to use my English with
foreigners. Before I always feel fear of speaking
with foreigners, but these feeling are reduced during
I did these actions.
-I could know new friends and all of them are foreigners
like you.
-And I learned how to work together and learned to
adopt into the group of people.
-finally, I could share my knowledge to children and
gave some help.
With these actions, I feel that it is not enough to
help them, I have to do more and more, that is better.
This is true in my mind.”
From
YSC Member, Kimsin Brang:
“When i work with your group. I think it very
good for me.Because, befor i never work for Cambodia'speople
but when i know your gourp I can do it.One more it is
experience for my life.I can pratice English with your
group. Especialy I think it is happy when i have work
with you.”
ABOUT
YOUTH SERVICE CAMBODIA Quoted directly from the YSC Profile
received via email correspondence.
Background
In the last few decades in 1990’s and 2000’s, social morality
has been going down gradually. Consequently, most of
Cambodian young people, more or less, have lost their
sense of social responsibility and obligation, which
has resulted in increase in crime rate, misbehavior,
violence, and distrust. Therefore, Youth Service Cambodia
is committed to addressing the said problematic aspects
of the society.
Youth Service Cambodia was established by ten founders on 5th October,
2005 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. It is a non-governmental
and non-profit organization which plays a role in providing
students of all ages with volunteer opportunities to
serve the communities in Cambodia, tackling the community
issues and meeting community needs. Basically, student
volunteers are encouraged to get involved in the most
possible community services in order to build better
relationship with communities. In addition, student
volunteers are given favourable opportunities to obtain
not only working experience but also life enhancement.
In other words, student volunteers are granted chances
to use the knowledge and skills they have gained from
school to give back to their own communities.
VISIONS:
For
community Our
vision is to build wholesome communities through youth-based
service activities.
For
youth Our
organization envisions the empowerment, ownership
and role of the youth in communities
MISSIONS:
Our
main mission is to engage young people in volunteer
service activities in communities in order to
build a bridge between educational institutions
and communities so that both sides can learn to
love and serve each other.
Our
organization will provide tremendous opportunities
for young people to experientially learn and develop
their character at the same time.
Our
organization is determined to raise community young
leaders who have self-determination and strong commitment
to taking ownership and responsibility in taking
care of their own community.
GOALS :
Mobilize
youth to identify and address the needs of communities
through their voluntary services.
Support
youth on a life-long path of service and civic engagement.
