I'm here!

It's been emotional.  

My first night was spent in a dizzy haze of sweat.  There is no aircon or running water for part of the day.  Picture of my bathroom below...If I'm really honest I completely freaked out when I first got here but thankfully Weeze is only in HK and picked up on wassap.  It all felt very far away from London.

What's weird is that although I'm only on day 2 I now feel so much more at ease here.  The shower isn't nearly as daunting (the cold water buckets are a welcome relief to the heat), I managed to sleep with a cover and my PJs last night and I've eaten Khmer lunch and dinner with the girls without any repercussions (it's delicious food). 

Om Malis, the house mum, brought me mini bananas and the girls are so friendly and tonnes of fun. I'm desperately trying to remember everyone's names, there are 46 girls in TT dorm. 

They all work really hard.  I was having a conversation about going to the cinema this Saturday (which proved difficult on two grounds, the first because they didn't understand the word for cinema, not ever having been to one before, and secondly because they have classes well into the evening).  I was tutoring a couple of girls at 10pm last night, one just wanted to talk in English and the other wanted me to review a grammar lesson plan she had prepared.  

I had a lovely lunch with Juliet in BT dorm (who also arrived on Wednesday).  We had arranged on email to meet on the corner of Street 111 and Street 182 at Orosay Market, all very organised we thought.  When I got there I realised how ridiculous a plan it was.  The place was packed with motos, tuk tuks, shops, street vendors and everyone's goods all over the pavement busy will shoppers.  I saw a blonde girl on the opposite side of the road and after a nervous glance we almost fell into each others arms.  

Had my first experience of monsoon last night. The sky goes really dark, the rain chucks it down and there's lots of crashing, thunder and lighting. It clears up as quickly as it arrives and only lasted 20 minutes. 

I'm off to prepare my first Cambodia Daily Discussion Group, we'll be discussing Japan's recent support of Burma.  

Inji Won

Well done to Inji Maher who won the Cupcake Competition with Crumbs Couture.  She said she never wins anything so now she has.

Harpswell Foundation is also now arranging for new fridges to be installed in both dormitories in Phnom Penh thanks to the kind contributions which we have raised and their own funding.

The Careers Skills Unit which I will now be leading over June and July for the 19 third year students will cover how to send professional emails, draft cover letters and CVs, interview preparation, interview skills and what to expect in the work place.  The "what to expect in the work place" session will include discussion on the basic principles of employment contracts, job descriptions, hours of work, sick and holiday leave, complaints, equality/discrimination and salary discussions.   

There will be national elections in Cambodia on 28 July 2013. It will be really interesting to follow what happens and how it works.

I fly Monday. How exciting. 
  

Cupcakes

Crumbs Couture is kindly offering you and a friend the opportunity to win a one day cupcake workshop at their cake parlour and kitchen at Park Royal near Westfield Shopping Centre, London. 

You will be able to learn how to bake different types of sponges, layer cakes, make the intricate fondant decorations, pipe the butter cream icing and watch orders being processed by the professionals! If you want to focus on a particular area of the cupcake business they will tailor the day to your specific requirements so far as possible.

To enter the raffle, just click on the Donate tab above and donate a minimum of £5 between now and 5pm on Wednesday 22 May 2013.
 

The day usually costs £250 per person.The winner will be selected at random, notified by email and announced on The Cambodia Project blog on 23 May 2013
All donations go towards The Harpswell Foundation and my work with them this summer

Please feel free to share this with your friends and family

It's a fantastic prize and very generous of Crumbs Couture (thank you so much guys).

 

As seen in Vogue, Glamour, TimeOut and Conde Nast Brides Magazines

Clients including Hermes, Mulberrry, Rita Ora, The Saturdays, Linklaters and Herbert Smith

www.cupcakeslondon.com

Final Countdown

Only two weeks to go!

Remy (the Leadership Resident in TT Dorm) has just finished a series of nutrition classes with the 19 Third Year students. 

 

Its been a big part of the programme this year and helps prepare the students for living on their own once they secure jobs and leave the dormitory.

Remy also mentioned this week that she's been enjoying lovely morning bicycle rides around Phnom Penh with some of the students.  You get to see different parts of the city which sounds great.      Hopefully no lycra required...eek.

Northwest Missouri State University has also been in touch.  They want to set up a project where small groups of students in Phnom Penh and Missouri make and share short videos with each other about life, food, culture and experiences of education.   The aim is to broaden both sets of students' awareness of every day life in another country, improve confidence with English speaking and have a bit of fun putting the movies together. Some of the students in Missouri will be the first in their families to have gone to university may well have similar experiences to share.  My friends Steph and Jo know all about movies and documentaries. I'll definitely be emailing them for help.  ...maybe we'll even be able to have a wrap party after the first "series".  

By the way, we've raised an enormous £4,040. It means we may even reach the original £5,000 target by the time I leave. Thank you so much everyone.

 

Sunny Spring Hike (and a quest for fridges)

 

Thank you so much to all the ladies (as well as the two honorary boys and three dogs) who came on the Spring Hike this Saturday!  

The weather at The Devil's Punchbowl, Hindhead was glorious and everyone survived the first leg of 2.8 miles around the yellow route.  We stopped for lunch (kindly provided by the National Trust café). Those that were up for it then carried on to complete the second leg, a 3.1m walk along the red route through the forest.

 

We raised over £500 on the day for The Harpswell Foundation and my work there this summer which is an enormous amount and brings the total up to £2,200 (with a few more donations still on the way!). 

 

If you have not yet donated and would like to just click on the DONATE HERE button below (it's really easy and takes no time at all):

 

 

  Donate Here now

 

 

 More pictures of the walk are on the Gallery Page.

 

Fridges - Urgently Needed

 

The current Leadership Resident in the BT Dorm (Kristen) has been in touch today.  

 

Here's what she said:

The two dorms only have "…one small mini fridge which makes it nearly impossible for all the food that we eat to stay fresh, resulting in the girls and LR's getting sick pretty often. I think a second mini fridge for both dorms would be a huge help! This has been a problem at Harpswell for a few years, as I have learned from previous LR's..."

 

Can't believe that no one has thought to mention it already.  One mini fridge for 40 people? Makes being allocated a specific shelf at uni look luxurious (and ours were really grotty).  If transport wasn't an issue I'd seriously consider taking my fridge from home.  It's only really used for coffee and the odd bag of salad (which goes off anyway)...Poor Jon. He's going to come home one day and find I've given everything away. 

 

I've told Kristen we'll fix it AND that we can do better than a couple of extra mini fridges.  Soo the mission for this week is to find out where you buy two large fridges in Phnom Penh (or buy and ship from London).  If anyone has any ideas that would fantastic. I may need to sort it out when I get there next month.  I know Raffles Hotel Le Royal, Phnom Penh must have one (they managed cappuccinos and pancakes without difficulty)...  

 

If anyone would like to donate money specifically towards the cost of a fridge (or two) then please do donate via the DONATE HERE button above or on the main page of the blog.  Write "fridge money" in the description and I'll make sure it goes towards the cost!

The Weekly Programme

I now have a pretty good idea of what my average week will look like which is great.  Here goes...

Monday:

10am to 3pm Class and Mentoring Preparation (for me!).  Lunch at the dormitory with the girls (they come back from university to the dormitory each day for food because the budget is so low that it is more cost effective for them to eat together) 

3pm to 9pm Individual Mentoring (this will involve grammar workshops, CV writing, helping with coursework, assisting with applications for work placements and jobs, teaching basic IT skills (some can't use a computer when they first arrive), helping them with personal issues and concerns (they are all living a very long way away from home without family or friends other than those at The Harpswell Foundation), connecting the girls with mentors in the UK, talking to them about my experiences about working in a city law firm, how to work in a team, helping them with preparation for international English qualifications and talking to them about the concept of working to help others)

9pm to 11pm Intermediate English Lessons (2 classes of 1 hour each)

Tuesday:

10am to 3pm Preparation and Lunch 

3pm to 9pm Individual Mentoring

9pm to 11pm Intermediate English Lessons (2 classes of 1 hour each) 

Wednesday:

10am to 3pm Preparation and Lunch

3pm to 9pm Individual Mentoring

9pm to 10pm Intermediate English Lesson (1 class of 1 hour)

10pm to 11pm Cambodian Daily Discussion (which involves the class of 36 girls reviewing, analysing and discussing issues raised in a minmum of two articles written in The Cambodia Daily newspaper). The aim of these sessions is to develop their critical thinking, team work, analytical skills, develop presentation skills and build confidence with public speaking.  

Thursday:

10am to 3pm Preparation and Lunch
 
3pm to 9pm Individual Mentoring

9pm to 10pm Cambodian Daily Discussion

 Friday:

10am to 3pm Preparation and Lunch

3pm to 9pm Individual Mentoring

9pm to 11pm Movie Night!! I will be making the popcorn.  My aim is to show a film with some sort of positive female role model and allow time for a short discussion afterwards.  Suggestions so far include Erin Brockovich, all the Jane Austins, Matilda, Chocolat, Legally Blonde, Sister Act, The Queen, Coco Before Chanel, The Iron Lady.  Not sure about First Wives Club although it is very funny...

Saturday: Day off or time for excursions with the girls.

Sunday: Day off with a Leadership Seminar for all 80 girls (every other Sunday in the TT Dorm). It's in Khmer so I don't need to go to this.

EXTRA CURRICULAR

As and when I have a moment, I plan to squeeeeeze in the following:

Hosting a networking drinks/lunch with local businesses at Raffles
Organising new work placements
Connecting Harpswell with UK Trade and Investment Office in PP (opened 2013)
Connecting Harpswell with The Cambodia Business Forum
Working with The Cambodian Daily to see if we can arrange for the girls to contribute
Suit shopping (or formal wear) is going to be necessary if the girls are going to have a chance of getting decent jobs. They can't wear school uniform!
Looking at move on accommodation opportunities for once they graduate

JUST FOR FUN

In my view this is important. It looks like the girls work solidly for pretty much the entire week from waking to sleeping (lights out is between 11pm and 6am). It is important to be able to unwind and relax if you are going to be working hard long term.  Something which I have learnt from experience. Current plans as follows:

Picnics along the river - you can hire mats and buy food from street vendors
Cambodian Living Arts - There are shows every other night of Cambodian dancing, singing and other arts
Cambodia Kick Boxing - Bit scary and I'm not sure if it's a boys only event but it's one of the nation's favourite sports and is on every Saturday night
Coffee or Afternoon Tea - There are a couple of places and Costa has just opened up.  the girls won't have any money for these types of things.
Visits to the Countryside to meet the girls families and take them back.

So much to do and so little time. Can't wait to get started.  The trip starts in 5 weeks.

If anyone has any ideas or experiences from Phnom Penh which they would like to share or suggest, do get in contact.

The Handover

Kristen currently works in the South dorm and will be handing over to me in May.  We'll get two weeks to hang out together before she goes back to the USA and I'm left on my own (eek!!) so I will need to make sure she tells me everything she's learnt... 

...important things like the fact that there is a Khmer massage place right next to the dormitory (cheap and not as painful as Chinese massage apparently) and Costa coffee has just opened its first branch in Cambodia, yippee.

Here's a picture of the grand opening...

 

International Women's Day

Kristen recently held a movie night for International Women's Day (she showed a film called Frida) and all the girls enjoyed it. She's also run creative writing classes and and will be starting a politics and geography unit shortly.  Better brush up on geography??! 

Other Leadership Residents have helped the girls put together a Khmer cook book  and even performances of Shakespeare (which helps with public speaking and presentation skills). Not sure I'm any good at any of that.  Might have to read the cook book so I know what to do when I get to the food market though.

One Leadership Resident raised enough money to put together a library in each dormitory, complete with a catalogue system which sounds pretty amazing.

Here's a picture from the rally in Phnom Penh on International Women's Day.

Leadership Seminars
 

Two Sundays a month, there is a Leadership Seminar in the Teuk Thla dorm, where all 80 students from both dorms get together. The purpose of the Leadership Seminar is to talk about profiles of great women leaders of the past, the qualities that make a great leader, the special challenges that women have and the history of Cambodia.  It's in Khmer so the girls can follow it (I think we have Sunday off).
 

Facilities at the dormitory

There is a computer room where I will teach (Kristen says it's nice and big) with about 8 computers, bookshelves, couches, a white board and a pretty big flatscreen TV with a DVD player.  It sounds like a really good base for working individually with the girls and as a group.   

School's out

During the period between 1975-1979, the Khmer Rouge killed approximately 2 million people.  

A quarter of the population at the time.  That means 1 in 4 people...people who, if my age in 1979, would now be only 65 years old.  It was so recent.

Tuol Sleng 
This picture is taken from an ordinary school in Phnom Penh which Jon and I saw 3 months ago in January. The school was turned into a prison and torture centre by the Khmer Rouge and is now a museum. 

When the Vietnamese broke into the prison towards the end of the Khmer Rouge reign they found someone tied to this exact bed, in this exact room. Nothing has been moved. The item hanging on the left wall in the above photo is a blown up photograph showing the person the Vietnamese found in this exact room when they entered. It's gruesome.

No need for packed lunch

The Khmer Rouge specifically targeted and killed almost 90% of the educated population.  That means anyone that went to school (at primary school, secondary school or university), teachers, doctors, university professors, lawyers, architects, engineers.

It means an entire nation now struggles to learn the skills necessary to develop infrastructure like roads and bridges, establish sewerage and drainage systems, combat disease, stimulate business, build and provide affordable housing or protect its environment.  

The result distinguishes Cambodia from almost all modern countries. The Khmer Rouge destroyed the medical, legal and economic infrastructure of the country and traumatised those left behind. Cambodia has not recovered from that destruction.


By educating and empowering the brightest young women in Cambodia, there is a real chance that they will be able stimulate growth and development across the entire country.  



PS They really do drive motos like this. 

Houng and Sithat

Kristen is handing over the South dorm to me in May.  She's given me very good tips on what to expect like  "pack all the soap or lotion you will need during your time here as it is very hard to find soap or lotion that isn't a whitening or skin bleaching product."  Useful to know!

Kristen has also told me who I will be living with!  They will be two girls called Houng and Sithat.  Sithat is a 4th year law major (and I understand very busy with school and volunteering).  Sithat will be graduating and moving out of Harpswell in August and talks lots about getting a flat in the city and a job. So I will definitely need to help her with job applications, writing cover letters and editing her CV. Houng is a 2nd year International Relations major and is very interested in world affairs and journalism. Kristen says she is sometimes very loud and likes to sing...sounds like they are great fun!

Just realised I will be missing Royal Ascot in June this year.   Maybe I should organise Ladies Day in Phnom Penh (without the gambling but with hats and lots of dressing up!)


This was last years Ascot outfit.

Support

Roll on Friday (legal profession website)

Donate and Fundraising Target

Donations

If you would like to make a donation towards The Harpswell Foundation and Rachel's costs of getting to and working in Phnom Penh, please donate using the link below:

Donate Now

Fundraising Target £5,000 or equivalent in USD (USD are used in Cambodia)

TOTAL AMOUNT RAISED SO FAR £4,385

What your kind donations will achieve and will be put towards:

1  The Harpswell Foundation

A donation of $360 will pay for a year's food for one woman in the Leadership Center.

A donation of $375 will pay for a year's college tuition.

A donation of $150 will pay for a teacher's salary in Tramung Chrum for six months.

A donation of $1000 will pay for a year's health care for Tramung Chrum.

A gift of $1200 will pay for a year's internet costs in the Leadership Centers.

A gift of $2000 will support the full cost of one young woman for one year at the Leadership Center.

A gift of $2000 will pay for a year's supply of materials at the girls' sewing school in the village of Tramung Chrum.

A gift of $3500 will pay for a year's 24-hour security service in the Leadership Center.

A gift of $300,000 will entitle you to name the new Leadership Center in Teuk Thla

2  Rachel's costs of getting to and working in Phnom Penh

• Business Visa $25 (month one)
• Business Visa $75 (months two and three)
• Long Stay Medical Insurance £115.70
• Flight 1 (May to June) £661.40
• Flight 2 (June to August) £890.40

Rachel will receive accommodation free of charge in the dormitory and a "tuk tuk" allowance of $200 per month from The Harpswell Foundation.  Rachel will fund all other costs and expenses of getting to and living in Cambodia such as immunisations, materials for her work with Harpswell, phone, food and transport and is taking unpaid leave from her job in the UK for the three month period. 

Local Support

The Connection Magazine - March Issue

 

 

Video - First Dormitory in Phnom Penh

Alan Lightman (Director of The Harpswell Foundation)

Alan talks about the first Harpswell dormitory in Phnom Penh

Video - Hardship faced by women in Cambodia

You Tube - Hardship faced by women in Cambodia

Preparation

I didn't realise quite how wonderfully disease free we are in the UK until I started looking into immunisations necessary for a three month trip to Phnom Penh.

It's also the rainy season between May and October (when I am going) which means stagnant pools of water and mossies...can't believe I'm having to consider taking wellington boots to Cambodia.Still, I'm sure it's all going to add to the adventure.

Really keen to get out there and crack on. I will be leading workshops to help the girls build leadership skills (such as critical thinking, presentation skills and networking), learn about CV writing and setting them up with work placements and mentors.

There won't be much personal space in the dormitory.  I am sharing a room with three other girls in bunk beds so I will need to pack LIGHT.

A Tuk Tuk should be waiting for me on arrival to take me to the dormitory in southern Phnom Penh. Hopefully with a little room for my bag.












How exciting.