What a Wonderful World: Voluntourism: Phnom Penh

It's rare for me to make wordy entries in my blog, always having preferred to let pictures reflect the beauty of the scenes captured during my travels, but having been so inspired by the events that occurred during the trip, I have this inexplicable urge to share my experiences...

On our first day we were welcomed with smiles by the children at Sacrifice Families and Orphans Development Association (SFODA) www.sfoda.org Yes many of the children were adorable, but I was never a warm or expressive person, and certainly not what you would call a 'natural with kids'. While some of my more passionate colleagues immediately started hugging the kids or carrying the toddlers in their arms, I was content to just smile back and say 'Hello'. Seeing one of the older kids 'de-licing' a younger boy some moments later further reinforced my restraint. "I'm just not that kind of person," I thought, "Leave it to the others who will really enjoy playing with the kids, I'll make my contribution by doing some of the manual work"

The day passed with some tasks to be done, some basic woodwork, restocking the Library and also to give the classroom furniture a coat of vibrant colours. While we were doing the painting, many of the kids wanted to help, and not wanting to disappoint them, (and also secretly relishing the thought of taking a break) I obliged and sat back, and that was when something magical happened... I started observing: A seemingly ordinary setting of kids and volunteers painting some classroom desks together in a courtyard. No, there was a lot more to it than that. Like how a movie draws and focuses your attention to a particular view, I also started to pick out several scenes, each one a story that came with a revelation...

Object of the elder kids' affection

There was this little girl who looked no more than ten, carrying a toddler around, kissing him and talking to him from time to time as she shifted her attention to and fro the painting work going on. As she paced around, other kids nearby would also spare a moment to fondle the toddler's cheeks or steal a light kiss before resuming their earlier activities.

This, I thought, IS a family. Not one bound by blood ties, but rather by circumstances, and in being so, a lot more admirable. The bonds that they share are a lot stronger than that of many families that I've seen in this developed society of ours. Looking out for each other, taking up the responsibility of looking after their younger 'siblings', I was, in a word, moved.

Srinay and me

Then there was also 11 year old Srinay, who volunteered to paint the legs of the desks yellow. (not an easy task since there were many small surfaces, and she had to be careful not to taint other surfaces painted with a different color) Even after most of us volunteers have stopped to take a break, she was still conscientiously painting, all the time still wearing a smile on her face.

Pure and simple Joy- Of being able to beautify her classroom, of being able to exercise some of her artistic flair, of being able to (forgive the pun) add color to her family's lives. So very different from Singaporean kids, isn't it? Always chasing the news and coolest gadgets, never content with what they already have. Though shabbily dressed and not being at her cleanest, to me, Srinay looked beautiful, her radiant smile exuding happiness...

As the weekend passed, I became more and more intrigued. Interacting with some of the older kids and volunteers gave me a glimpse into their lives, lives telling stories of triumph over adversity, of how having 'graduated' from the orphanage, some have found part-time jobs, scrimped and saved to pursue a university degree, all the while still volunteering their spare time to help at the orphanage.

I wonder who benefited more: Them or us?

These are but some of the beautiful stories that unraveled before me as I watched and learned from my fellow human beings over that long weekend. Not since I was inflicted with this wanderlust when I first went on my first study trip in 2001 have I ever had such an experience.

I am certainly no jaded traveler, as I still enjoy going to new places, wherever it may be, and experiencing a local culture, may it be through cuisine or interacting with the locals, but having seen quite a lot, I certainly did not expect to discover new awesome travel experiences easily, especially not in Cambodia, which I always equated with Siem Reap and crossed out of my to-go list two years ago. Boy was I pleasantly surprised. Yes the temples of Angkor were truly spectacular, but never in all my years of traveling have I been more enriched spiritually than during my time at the orphanage at Phnom Penh.

Many returning travellers say that volunteer travel is a life changing experience, and now I am finally qualified to make a comment: I paid $500 in all to make this three-day trip , but what I got out of it is truly priceless- The joy of knowing that you’ve brought happiness to so many, the time spent bonding with colleagues (now friends) whom you rarely had the chance to talk to, and the new-found sense of humility realising that we are leading very privileged lives. I’ve done much traveling in my life, but none has provided the same sense of fulfillment experienced in this trip.

I don't know when it's going to be, but will I do it again? Yes definitely!