Fly me to Cambodia! For volunteer work!
Hello! I am an enthusiastic and eager anthropology student hoping to volunteer this summer at Teach Cambodia, a non-profit organization in Siem Reap, Cambodia:but I need a little help getting there! I will be in Cambodia (cross your fingers) for 8 weeks, helping the Teach Cambodia team at the village school and in field research. Teach Cambodia is a wonderful organization seeking to establish self-sustaining schools in the villages of Siem Reap. [For more info on Teach Cambodia, watch this video: http://youtu.be/n2BdSnNPYfY, OR go to this website: http://teachcambodia.org]
Still recovering from its recent history, Cambodia is one of the 20 poorest countries in the world. The communist Khmer Rouge regime committed genocide in Cambodia between 1975-79, killing over a million Cambodians and specifically targeting teachers, intellectuals, dancers, musicians, and artists. After the Khmer Rouge only about 3 qualified teachers were still alive in Cambodia:yes, only three! Since then the situation has gradually improved, but the education system is still underdeveloped, not having enough teachers and resources to support children. Currently the rate of adult literacy in Cambodia is as low as 30% across the country. Teach Cambodia is striving to strengthen the education system in Cambodia, so that children can receive the education they deserve and have promising futures. This is what I hope to contribute to over the summer.
In addition to volunteering, I will be participating in a Khmer language program where I will learn the Cambodian language. This language program will greatly enhance my future objectives for graduate school, since I plan to work with and research cultural maintenance in Cambodian refugee and immigrant communities in the United States.
If you could just give up a few Starbucks coffees (or even just one), or even donate the change in your pockets, I would be truly grateful!!!
All donations are appreciated, no matter the size ($10, 20, 100 :)!! Every little bit (or big bit) helps!!
Funds will be used for transportation to and from Cambodia, and for room & board while in Cambodia. Any excess funds I receive will be donated to Teach Cambodia to purchase school supplies for the teachers and children in the village school. Your generous donations will help enrich the educational experiences of Cambodian children grades K-8, further enabling these children to grow up and make a difference in their own country as educated individuals! And since I intend to study Cambodian communities and culture in graduate school, going to Cambodia this summer will be an invaluable experience for me!
Many thanks!!!
Sincerely,
Alexx
P.S. if you have any questions or comments for me, feel free to contact me at: [email redacted]