Ever thought about combining your OE and volunteer work? nzgirl Lauren spent three months in Cambodia, exploring and helping to give young children a better start in life! Check out her gorgeous and inspiring postcard here...
Dear nzgirl,
I'm sending you this postcard from...
Cambodia where I went to volunteer for three months at a place called The Green Gecko Project. Green Gecko is an NGO set up by an amazing Australian lady called Tania and her husband Rem. It is a safe place for kids to eat, wash, learn and play and is now home to more than 70 kids - giving them a massive step up after their lives began on the streets of Siem Reap.
My first thought when I stepped off the plane was...
It's not that hot!! Talk about wrong first impressions! I spent the rest of my time in Cambodia sweating like I'd never sweat before!
My craziest day was...
When we took all 70-odd kids up Phnom Kulen - a mountain with a waterfall and swimming hole, we went up on the back of trucks with as many kids as could fit. The roads were incredibly dusty and really rough giving us bruised bums and forcing our eyes closed for most of the hour and a half long trip. One of the Khmer men wore a helmet all day because he was afraid of a star falling on his head! We got off at the mountain and someone counted the kids, someone else asked, are you sure? So he counted again. It was a different number but they must have got tired of the counting so they were just satisfied with that and off we went for a day of swimming... Everyone fell asleep on the way home...beautiful.
The coolest thing I saw was...
Seventy-three kids from the Green Gecko Project (where I was volunteering) trying on shoes with shoelaces for the first time! That and Ta Prohm, a temple built in Angkor, Cambodia - built in the late 12th, early 13th century - where massive tree roots have overgrown the temple after it was abandoned. Amazing! You might have seen it too... With Angelina Jolie in Tomb Raider! The hottest bargain I found was…
My handmade PEACE earrings that are made from recycled bomb shells.
It's so different from home because...
Of the people, the history and the culture. Absolutely amazing and beautiful.
I'd like to come back next time and...
Learn much more of the Khmer language! I could hardly say anything but they were so impressed I was making an effort. I'd love to go back and be able to have a (simple) conversation and/or just listen to what they were saying about me!
I'd recommend this place to you...
Firstly, if you’re keen to do some volunteer work - as long or as short as you can! Or if you want to go somewhere and meet some truly unforgettable people. The Green Gecko Project is doing an amazing job empowering some 70 kids with the skills, education, care and support to break the begging cycle and make themselves valuable members of their community. If you want to get involved in any way please go to their website www.greengeckoproject.org
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