CHAPTER 4
Josephians and teachers-in-charge with Brother Joseph , the Principal of La Salle Pouthum School
GLOBAL EDUCATION PROGRAMME IN CAMBODIA
As part of the Global Education Programme , 30 Josephians had a once-in-a-lifetime experience in Phnom Penh , Cambodia . Ng Jun Han ( LE508 ) shares his experience :
“ Under the guidance of our four teachers-in-charge Mr Jude Tan , Mr Russell Tan , Mrs Josephine Lee , and Ms Adriana Wong , we were tasked with the responsibility of planning three days of English lessons and activities aimed at helping the children at La Salle Pouthum school . Yet , this aim of ‘ help ’ was never explicitly defined . It was ultimately a term that we would soon discover .
During the three days at La Salle Pouthum , we realised that there was much more to these lessons and activities . We barely spoke their native language of Khmer , while the children barely spoke English . And yet , we overcame that . Communication , as we have learnt it to be , is more than just adopting a lingua franca . It also entailed emotions , facial expressions , and actions that we display towards one another . With so few words being said , we managed to forge bonds with the children . I had the privilege to form a friendship with two Grade 4 boys . I remember trying to get to know them better by asking some basic questions in English . However , apart from their names , all I really got as responses were their smiles . To which , I reciprocated with a smile of my own . The constant exchanges of smiles managed to convey so much meaning with so few words being said and for that reason , I felt a sense of connection with those two boys during my time in the school .
These young children have taught us that we often become self-absorbed and perhaps even indulgent in our own lives , to the point that we take our comfortable lives for granted . While we have more , objectively speaking , we are not always content , and we tend to grumble or complain . The majority of the children we met only have a fraction of what we have . These children have less , but they are content . Coming to school in stained uniforms and muddy slippers , these children never fail to show up with a smile on their faces as they eagerly look forward to a new school day .
In those three days at La Salle Pouthum , we were not Singaporeans and Cambodians , nor were we seniors and juniors . We were friends , Lasallians , who truly enjoyed being in the company of one another and living each moment to the fullest .
Looking back , new friendships were forged and existing friendships were strengthened . Despite entering a place that had seemingly less , we Josephians left with so much more . By the end of the trip , we discovered our own meaning of ‘ help ’. For me , help comes in the form of being the reason why a child has a smile on his or her face that day .”
Ng Jun Han ( LE508 ) with his newfound friends
Before we knew it , our three days were up . All of us struggled to hold back tears as we waved our final goodbyes to the children . As a parting gift , I gave them a polaroid film of myself and the two Grade 4 boys . In return , they gave me one of the best gifts I have ever received , a warm farewell hug . That hug was special , a moment that I will forever remember . As I stood at the gate seeing them leave for the last time , I had a hope within me . A hope which I am confident all 30 of us Josephians shared ; a hope that these young , bright students will not only study hard but also continue spreading their unwavering positivity wherever life may take them .
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