The CWC team had been introduced to Oudong village and Bright Futures school during last year’s trip and we were all excited and keen to meet Sim the principle again. The drive to Oudong was filled with anticipation as the ‘old’ team relayed stories of the beautiful village and how Sim and his team were committed to providing education to as many children as possible. Caz was particularly excited as she had been gifted with old school stationery supplies from one of her gym buddies (27kg in total) and the team was looking forward to these making a big difference to the school and students.
The road to the school meandered through the bustling market stalls and temples of Oudong, which was once the capital city of Cambodia (Phnom Penh became the capital after a war with Thailand approximately 300 years ago and has been the capital ever since). Our interpreters explained during the drive that is was so busy in Oudong as a Buddhist Celebration day was underway. This was evidenced by the colourful stalls and throngs of people swarming in and around the area.
The clinic commenced quickly when we arrived, and the village chief attended for some health care from Caz and Nicole. He appeared to be a generous and kind man who wanted the best for the families in his village. On chatting with him, we discovered the village consists of 129 families, many of whom are very poor; a common theme on our travels. The main source of income for the families is farming, followed by construction work and fishing. All the teams were visited by many grandparents who care for their grandchildren in the village; their parents live and work in Phnom Penh where there are more opportunities available for employment. The grandparents (many very, very old), remaining in the village and looking after their grandchildren (some caring for up to 8 at once).
Heidi worked solo for the day and managed to care for a hefty total of patients. Rachael and Bryony were tag teaming under the school balcony, also busily assessing and treating a steady flow of locals. We can’t tell you of all the wonderful people we treat but some that stuck with us from Oudong include a lady who is HIV positive. Her husband had left her when he discovered her diagnosis. She was particularly upset, but Rachael and Bryony were able to provide her with some TLC, hugs and basic treatment not related to her HIV status. The team have noticed that HIV appears to be more prevalent across more provinces this year. Those affected can access free treatment through the government hospitals and we always encourage this.
Caz and Nicole saw a 73-year-old lady with sore on her hands from basket weaving. After treating her she returned to the team with her baskets which we were able to purchase at a bargain price. A favourite of the day was the 84-year-old lady who attended with her large Kroma swept over her shoulder, with her handbag in tow; tres chic! When we told her that she resembled a model from France, she was so excited and informed the team she was attending her great-granddaughters wedding that day. Due to the holiday, there was no school happening and the team thought this was the reason for lack of hustle and bustle at the site.
The support squad were again on point rotating through the teams, topping up table supplies and assisting when the teams needed time out. Troy has made sure we have lots of video footage this year and recorded a time lapse of not only the clinic, but the journey there. The whole team is keen to see the final results, which will form profound and special memories for us all.
Lunch was prepared by Sim’s wife and again we were truly spoiled with delicious fried chicken, fish soup and veggies. Lunch, however, took a more sombre and sad turn as Sim informed us that the school has lost its main overseas sponsor. What does this mean? The school has been charging for their 60 students, $5 per month for children to attend all day (lunch included) and they can stay until their parents/grandparent’s finish work (effectively being a safe option for after school care). For the poorer families the cost is $3, and the orphans can attend for free.
As principle, Sim earns $200 per month, other teachers earn $180 per month and the cook and cleaners paid $100 per month. Unfortunately, the loss of the main sponsor has resulted in a big reshuffle and restructure for the school. Sim has had to raise the cost of schooling to $10 per month with families also required to send a lunch for their children. This is not achievable for many of the Oudong families and has resulted in many of the children being withdrawn from school. There is currently only one teacher, Sim has not received a salary for a month and the cook and cleaners have lost their jobs. Until other sponsors can be sourced which can offer sustained financial support to the school, Sim and his team are restricted as to what they can provide to their students.
This news has hit the team hard. Sim is a genuine man and his family are committed to offering the Khmer children in and around Oudong a safe schooling environment. We believe he can revive the school and we want to share his story in the hope that one of our readers may have a contact that can offer a lifeline to the school.
