PROJECT APHIREAK 05 – 22 December 2009

YEP REPORT

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Developing self-confident and resilient youths who are able to work in

teams

During the expedition,

members encountered

various challenges. The main

challenge was the culture

and language barrier.

Members initially had

difficulties communicating

with the local people.

However, through active

learning, immersing and

embracing the local culture,

they were able to develop

the confidence to communicate and build rapport with the local people. Members also had the

opportunity to live in a completely new environment where resources are limited but they developed

the resilience to quickly adapt to the new environment and bridge cultural and language differences.

Team work was also evident throughout the project. This was especially so during the community

training sessions where members had to work in teams to share knowledge on planning, running and

management of the Eco-tourism home-stay facility. The need to survive the harsh conditions enabled

the team to create dependency upon one another to share resources, help and support one another in a

real-work situation. Due to the scale of the project, every individual is accountable for contributing his

or her fair share of work to ensure the objectives are met.

Youths with strong convictions about and ownership of their roles and

obligations towards the community, and the courage and commitment to

act on those convictions

Besides focusing on the ecotourism project, members identified other needs in the community. For

example, there is a need for proper toilets at the local school and a bridge that will connect the village to

Picture: Initial interaction with the locals

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the local market which will not only bring about greater economic benefits but at the same time bring

about greater fuel efficiency and also friendly to the environment. Members are keen to embark on

future projects that will address these urgent needs and many have expressed their interest to lead in

the next few installments of the project. Members see their civic responsibilities to the community and

the need for collective effort for a common purpose, which is to learn from and serve those in need.

They have developed into individuals who take upon themselves to be more aware of community issues,

needs and problems and then source for various possible solutions to address these issues.

Youths who have a better appreciation of broader systems, policies and

way of life, thereby contributing to a strong Singaporean heartbeat

Through the home-stay programme,

members had the opportunity to

experience the way of life of Cambodian

villagers and living in harsh conditions as

compared to Singapore’s comfortable

environment. The lack of investment in

technology also manifested itself in the

inefficiency in construction work as well

as transportation in the country. With the

lack of proper education system and

facilities, it dawned upon the members

not to take the education and other

privileges that we have in Singapore for granted. Without education, members would experience a

major difference in their way of life, such as lack of forward-looking leaders within the community and

lack of investments in infrastructures. Members grew to better appreciate Singapore government’s

investments in education and infrastructures and also other interests with the intention to make

Singapore a better society for everyone to live in.

Picture: Basic First Aid Lesson with our local Partners

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Singaporeans as caring neighbors and global citizens through

sustainable and meaningful projects

Goodwill was built between the team and community during the trip. The trip has inspired many

members to want to participate in the next few installations of the project to continue helping the

community and to see the project turn into a sustainable one. The great disparity in quality of life

between Singapore and Cambodia has also raised awareness about the presence of people beyond our

shores but near us who are in great need of support from developed nations.

The impacts

To the local host community

As our country has been urbanized in a

very large scale, many may have

forgotten the need to put in effort to

care for our natural environment.

Through the local community service

project, N-Parks has spread the message

of the need to be more aware of our own

natural environment. On our part, we can

bring this awareness to our family and

friends. Members were helping N-Parks

to get rid of weeds along the Boardwalk

in MacRitchie Nature Park so that the

plants along the path are able to flourish. No doubt it was a simple and small effort but we believe that

even small steps such as weeding can create a positive impact for our forestation in the long term.

Imagine if every Singaporean volunteers at N-Parks over the weekends to remove weeds, there will be

lesser chance for the weeds to cover the young saplings and allow our forested areas to flourish even

further. According to the volunteers at N-Parks, it takes at least 200 to 300 years for an area to reforest.

Picture: SMU Team’s training sessions with the Eco Tourism Committee

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To the overseas host community

Having witness the low standard of living of the

people with our own eyes, members of the

team believe that any effort to help them

source for new channels of income generation

would have a significant impact on the

community. The lack of access to information

and little formal education among the villagers

meant that the trainings or transfer of

knowledge to the community would be a great

advancement and highly impactful. Equipped

with this new knowledge and skills, the local

community can further ensure the success of

the eco-tourism project. Also, spending more

than two weeks with the host family, great

friendship and understanding were fostered

that further helped to achieve our objectives.

The team was able to provide training for the

Eco-Tourism Home Stay committee members

and at the same time provided the villagers

with a different perspective on how the facility

should be operated. Our presence also injected some funds into their local village economy as we buy

products, such as food, from the villagers. Through this way, the team witnessed firsthand how tourism

actually helps the villager’s livelihood. Above all, members managed to inspire the future generation of

the village to contribute back to their own community when they grow up. It was great to know that the

children saw us as role models and they want to do the same thing for others when they are able to do

so as they grow older.

Picture: Cultural Interaction – Learning the art of

Bamboo leave weaving

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The challenges we faced…

As the number of days spent together increased, members of the team learnt to tolerate each others’

habits and way of working. This is important because we were not only working together but also living

together under one roof. There weren’t any major disputes and grievances were settled very amicably.

With a team of 17 members in different places at any one time, communication and dissemination of

information proved to be a minor problem at first. After a few days, the problem resolved on its own as

members took a mental note of informing those whom they are close to and at least 1 person who can

tell the others. This ensures that information such as meeting venues do reach everybody.

Enhancing the learning…

As the time schedule was very tight

during the expedition, the team

leaders were not able to conduct

many formal facilitation activities.

However, the leaders still took on a

very active role.

Firstly, being the team’s translator.

Secondly, always taking the lead

steps in any activities. Over the

duration of the project, members

were able to reflect on what they

have observed and think of ways in

which they could further assist the people. Members were able to get to know each other better and

were there to help each other to bridge the cultural and language differences.

The team also had an opportunity to have a discussion with different members of the community

whereby they learnt about many other issues the local community faced over in the past, present and

possibly future.

Picture: The ever popular “English Night Lessons” organized

by SMU Team.

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The leaders of the team made the members reflect on the changes and the effect of the changes that

the members may have made to the community as well as the process of change in us during the entire

experience. Through our leaders ad-hoc facilitation, members were able to learn more about the

community and themselves.

Understanding the issues faced by our host community…

The main issue faced by the host community was poverty as noted by most, if not all, members of the

team. This poverty can be attributed to the lack of many basic necessities that will help alleviate the

people out of their current predicament. Inadequate education, lack of infrastructure as well as mind set

of the locals have been identified as the main stumbling blocks to eradication poverty.

Education

Education is expensive and hence many

stop their education at a young age to

find work or work at farms. The cost of

school fees is not the only factor that

makes education expensive, the

opportunity cost of working in the farm

makes education beyond the reach of the

poor in Cambodia. Another member of

the team highlighted that: “Even if they

are capable and hope to study further,

they do not have the resources and

opportunity to do so. It is probably due to the fact that they have to help out in the family and take over

the responsibility of supporting the family.” Such is the financial burden on the children that many

usually give up education early in their life to provide for the family.

Lack of infrastructure

The government pays little attention to the rural areas, which ironically, is where the root poverty stems

Picture: Learning together with the local partners

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from. Missing are roads and even simple bridges to connect people of the rural village to the town in the

area. This lack of infrastructure has led to isolation of the village from trade activity, and reciprocally

unable to attract better source of income for the villagers themselves. A simple 3m bridge is beyond the

means of the village together, but it will go a long way to save fuel for their current mode of transport (2

litre to travel to the town by road while it takes 5 litres to travel by water)

Mind set of locals

It is arguably one of the greatest challenges to eradicating poverty. The poor, as one of the members has

noticed, “are always the one that indulge in bad habits like smoking and drinking.” Neither do they see

the benefits of completing education, hence the lack of determination in their pursuit of education.

Most of them carry out subsistence farming and their parents indulge in whatever excesses of their

income on cigarettes and alcohols instead of saving up for rainy days or investment in capital goods.

Relevance of learning gained and applied from:

The local pre-expedition service-learning engagement to the overseas

expedition

The local pre-expedition service-learning has

taught us about environment protection and

raised our awareness of environmental issues.

During the overseas expedition, we noticed the

great environment degradation that resulted from

lack of proper waste management system. And the

team identified poverty as the barrier to

environmental protection. Having to worry about

their very own survival, they had little time and

incentive to care about environmental issues.

Hence the team therefore made tackling of poverty the first step in the teams long term aim to protect

the environment.

Picture: Farewell Dinner with the Village Elders

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From the overseas expedition back into the post-expedition service learning

engagement

Having witnessed the lack of environmental protection in the host community and nation, the team had

become more wary about our impact on the environment no matter how small. Be it a litter strewn

carelessly on the floor, or the unethical disposal of wastes by corporations, we realised during our trip

that though our actions may be insignificant, the cumulative impact on the environment was a great one.

Hence were took more care to protect the environment during out post-expedition service learning

engagement such as looking out for litter as well as advising members of the public against damaging

actions done to the environment.

An experience we will never forget

The YEP experience had allowed us to appreciate the simpler things in life and also learn how to manage

expectations from our fellow peers. It had also made us feel to be privileged to be a Singaporean, with

all the opportunities to develop and pursue our dreams with the sophisticated and modern

infrastructures and technologies that are lacking in our host country. This YEP had made us more

concerned about our community (both local and overseas) and made us appreciate Singapore even

more.

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Project Aphireak 2009: Members

Kenny Teo We were able to provide training for the guesthouse committee members

and at the same time provided the villagers with a different perspective on

how the facility should be ran. Our presence also injected some funds into

their local village economy as we buy products from the villagers. Through

this way, we can see in firsthand how tourism actually helps the villager’s

livelihood. Above all, we managed to inspire the future generation of the

village to contribute back to their own community when they grow up. It was

great to know that the children saw us as role models and they want to do the

same thing for others when they are able to do so as they grow older.

Tha Sothun I have learnt another great thing – small little thing. I had given very little, if

any, value to small little thing until I worked through this project. I only

realised during the project just how much small little support from our

friends, family, and strangers on the road meant to us. This very small little

thing made up a huge impact, not only materially but also emotionally. In fact,

our workscope was also small and I needed to convince myself quite a lot as

to how much meaning or difference this project would bring about. But

seeing how much our host community believes in and values this project or at

least the work that we do with them really gives me the confidence to raise

up my voice and share to the world that we’re proud to have done this.

Chen Xuezheng This was my first overseas community service in my life. It impressed me a lot

and changed some of my life attitude. In Singapore, I felt so much pressure in

life and study because we Chinese always chase for future and money.

However, look at those rural farmers. Their life is happy and simple. They do

not have too much desire to materials. Also, I felt actually we could do more

and more things to help Cambodian people. Look at the land in Cambodia.

They have plains and rivers. Then, why economics cannot develop?

Government should do more things to change. And people like us should help

them to realize they could change their life using their own hands just like

farming. I will continue paying attention to that village.

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Heng Xiangle People are easily contented with what they have without a need for

materialistic wants. They make the most out of what they have in their

environment. Also, despite their circumstances, there are members of the

community who are passionate in helping those who are even less fortunate

and could go to the extent of spending their own limited resources in the

process. I was really inspired to see how in a developing country there were

people and NGOs who care so much for the poor and environment despite

the poor conditions (eg. Governance, standard of living.)

Lee Keunbin Through this overseas community service project that was funded by YEP, I

was able to realize how lucky I was until now, and the way to pay back this

graciousness to the community.

Lew Ching Sien This is the first time I had stayed away from home for so long, and also in a

place very different from my comfort zone.

This YEP journey has provided me with many different experiences (living

conditions, culture, way of life). Through this YEP experience, I’ve felt more

motivated to put in my effort to contribute back to the society in different

ways.

Margaret Lee We visited the office of Community Capacities for Development (CCD) in

Kampong Chhnang and was privileged to meet the director of CCD. She

shared some of her inspiring stories, most of which entailed the struggles to

establish CCD and also to convince the uneducated villagers to gain their

support. I felt very privileged to be an arm of CCD towards achieving their

aim. I learnt that we do not need to impose authority and set ground rules in

order to help these villagers, rather, it is through friendship and bonding that

establishes the common belief throughout the community. Soft power works

far better than hard power in this case.

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Phann Sopheaktra YEP has given me and my team an opportunity to contribute to Konleng Phe

Village in Cambodia and to learn from the community. Within the time spent

in the community, I was able to build lasting friendships with the villagers

who were totally friendly and welcoming towards me and my team. This trip

has indeed been one enriching experience for my personal growth. I am also

proud for being able to contribute to the society in my own way.

Stefanie Chua Through this experience, I have learnt that simplicity is the key to happiness.

Looking at the villager’s living conditions, I have come to realize how

fortunate I have been.

Instead of blabbering constant complains regarding school workload, I should

be grateful that I am given the opportunity to study. Having to know kids are

not given the chance to study just because their family cannot afford is

heartache. Living in the village reminded me that happiness can be achieved

without the need of expensive IT gadget, cool stationeries, nice furniture etc.

Giving is a form of happiness. Even though the host family was not wealthy,

they were willing to give us anything we wanted. Simple things they did such

as making laundry lines, providing us with mosquito nets and ensuring that all

of us were well taken care of, made our stay a lot more comfortable.

Tan Elvin Previously I have followed my JC to do OCIP for NYAA gold. Since we stayed at

a separate accommodation from the villagers, the only time we actually

interacted with them was when I went to the school to give it a paint job. Just

the activity and time spent there made it feel like being a simple labourer with

little impact to the community. However, this time round we stayed at a

villager’s home. This coupled with the fact that we had Cambodians in the

group to assist breaking the communication barrier meant that the villagers

could come and visit us whenever they needed to. Eating the same food living

in the same conditions as them meant that now we could better understand

what they need or don’t need, it also further enabled us to foster close ties

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with them. It was really a 1st for me and I would say that this is the

benchmark I would expect of future expeditions.

Toh Yi Fan I learned humility. People who do not have much to give end up offering us

the most. It shames me to know that people like me who are much more well

off give up the least while those who have the least give up the most.

Vitya Mieko Through YEP i have learnt a great deal about the kind of poverty villages’ face,

the actions they take to improve their lifestyle, their willingness to learn and

their undying spirit. These are qualities that many Singaporeans lack due to

the comfortable lifestyle we were born in and used to.

Nicholas Wee I’ve learnt how to appreciate the value of water, from the inconvenience that

the family has to go through to get their drinking and bathing water.

And also how to be content with what you have. The host family are not very

well to do, but they get by and are extremely content.

Denise Loh It allowed me to experience the harshness and simplicity of rural life as well

as form bonds which transcend language and cultural barriers.

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Sheena Ng Yep made me learn more about myself in terms of my values, perspective of

life in general and a whole new experience of living in a environment that is

totally different from what I am use to.

Han LiYing Contentment and the ability to make the most of what you have.

Not to waste resources nor take things for granted.

Kindness and openness to love and care for us as strangers.