Experiential Tour 2010

In 2010, CLC Melbourne decided to try to raise funds by creating an opportunity  for members and non-members to be a part of an experiential tour.  We named this the Cambodian Experential tour and it would be a blend of experiencing Cambodian village life in Mesang, and especially the Trorkeat Village ,  joining the expatriate community in Phnom Penh and marvelling at the heritage site of Angkor Wat in Siem Reap.  Twelve people joined the 2010 Experiential Tour which raised substantial funding for the Trorkeat Program.

In Cambodia, the Children and Life Association (CLA) hosted the tour visit to Mesang in their new vocational Centre where the tour group was accommodated in two authentic, comfortable guesthouses which overlooked the beautiful and tranquil rice fields of Mesang. This site was made more remarkable by the fact that it houses 38 young women who have had their own lives overturned through exploitation and hardship.  The young women have been brought  back to their village and offered opportunities to develop skills in weaving silk, cotton and mats, sewing, hospitality and in some cases Khmer dancing. Some of the women in the tour group tried their hand at silk weaving under the gentle guidance of the students.

There were many highlights to this trip.  On our first night in Mesang, the young women cooked and prepared a banquet for the group, and then danced for the group in traditional costumes.  Not a dry tear was to be seen in the Australian travellers as they saw the impact of what could be achieved when ‘good’ people offer young people opportunities to grow and develop away from the streets of violence and hardship.  This evening ended with the girls and young people dancing  with the group in the light of the full moon, as large speakers were placed on a utility and everyone relished in the joy of being free  to laugh and share time together.

The following day the group visited  the village of Trorkeat. It was inspiring for the participants to walk through the village and meet the families in the program. At each household, they were shown how the program had transformed their lives of poverty and hunger to having enough to eat from their vegetable gardens and chicken and fish raising.  Participants also met with self help savings groups and were able to discuss how the groups worked and what aspirations of the families were being achieved.

Participants also shared activities with the children and teachers at the Trorkeat Primary School. This was great fun for the children and the tour members. It was  followed by a communal school lunch at the local Pagoda hosted by the monks and community elders.  This was an amazing event as around 300 children experienced eating lunch together. Lunch was delicious curries, rice and noodles with a special treat for the children of bread rolls which are hard to get in rural areas.  The village people prepared this meal  for several days  and it was overwhelming to be humbled by their kindness and thoughtfulness.

Tour participants also enjoyed the Phnom Penh and Siem Reap parts of the journey. After being out and about all day in the heat, it was great to return to the comfortable hotel and have a refreshing swim in the pool.

The group shared many moments together, as couples and as friends.   The time went quickly, but it also cemented many spiritual and life changing moments for those that took this journey.  There is still al ot of work to do.  The Centre needs a professional kitchen and a space  to sell its goods.  The school needs a playground   and the village needs clean water, power, refrigeration and opportunities  to work toward co-ops of vegetables and fish.

The villages need maternal and child health care.  The children need food to ensure they can remain in school  and maintain their health and well-being.

Everything has its season;  CLC Melbourne  has made a difference to the village of Trorkeat.  This tour demonstrated  very clearly that the funds are being used  for the right purposes and that the Cambodians are a truly remarkable people.

Barbara Jackson and Enza Santangelo
December 2, 2010