Aoife Mc Granaghan English teacher at VBCCC

12/20/2022 |

“I knew leaving VBCCC and Siem Reap in 2018 that it wasn't a goodbye, it was a see you later.” 

In 2018, I volunteered for 12 weeks with the organisation Volunteer Building Cambodia in their Community Centre VBCCC as a student teacher from Ireland. The Community Centre had recently opened and it was highly recommended to me by a family friend.

My parents and I contacted the founder Mr Sinn Meang who was to play a significant role in my life of volunteering. He reassured us that as a young Irish girl I would be staying and teaching in a safe area and he would be on call 24/7. I took the leap of faith and embarked on an adventure of a lifetime across the world, three flights and 25 hours later I arrived in Siem Reap International airport where I was welcomed by Dalin. She was the volunteer coordinator, who brought me to my accommodation which very quickly became my second home. 

The following morning at 7am, the VBC truck  picked me up from my accommodation. I was accompanied by long- and short-term volunteers and staff, builders, teachers, volunteer coordinators, office workers of all ages and backgrounds as we headed to the community centre situated an hour away from Siem Reap. We gelled together on the truck journey which lent itself to much laughter and fun, many interesting conversations on life, building projects, teaching, different traditions and cultures. I had great enjoyment learning basic phrases in Khmer, playing some traditional games and of course no journey was complete without a sing song. As we approached the community centre, I was mesmerised by the breathtaking scenery of rice fields, palm trees and one roomed wooden houses on stilts built by VBC.   

I will always remember the warm welcome I received from the students when I arrived at the community centre. I was greeted by big smiles, happy faces from the children who bowed to me as I walked by and when I entered and left their classrooms. The local teachers, Som, La, Likik, Lyhong, Lida were also so friendly and welcoming, instantly making me feel part of their team and school community. 

In my first month volunteering with VBCCC, I worked closely with the kindergarten and beginner class teachers, Likik and Lyhong, teaching three classes a day, one and a half hours each. Using various themes, including birds and nature, I taught the children the relevant vocabulary with flashcards and puppets. I engaged them in active learning activities, role play, group work, art, music to support their reading, writing and oral language skills. 

I fondly remember the excitement and joy which the art materials I brought from Ireland gave the children. They included feathers, coloured card, buttons, glitter and glue sticks which the children used to make their very own birds. The children taught me to find joy in the simple things in life. 

Every week, I engaged the children in big books in their library, drawing the vocabulary from the pictures, characters and settings. I also supported them in learning basic computer skills i.e. turning on and off computers, making and saving a document and learning to type in their newly opened computer room. 

Each month, I moved on to the next teacher, sharing various teaching methodologies and continuing to build my teaching experience at the same time.

VBCCC valued my teaching experience to date and trusted me with a great deal of responsibility, including acting head teacher at one stage! 

I was in regular contact with friends and family back home sharing photos, videos and stories of my amazing experiences teaching in Cambodia. My friend Niamh from College decided to join me for my final month volunteering with VBCCC, an experience we still fondly talk about. 

My time volunteering with VBCCC flew by and before long I was packing suitcases to return home. I knew when leaving VBCCC and Siem Reap that it wasn't a goodbye, it was a see you later. 

Over the next couple of years, I kept in touch with my new friends, Mr Sinn and the teachers. We sent each other messages on a regular basis to acknowledge special occasions, birthdays, Christmas, Khmer New Year, Graduations or to simply say hello! 

In June 2022, after two years of restrictions and lockdowns as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic, I returned to VBCCC for two months.   Cambodia had just opened its borders to tourists and I took this as an omen to go back to Siem Reap and VBCCC on my first summer holidays as a qualified primary school teacher. I owe so much to VBCCC. They provided me with the platform on which to build my teaching career. I commenced my journey to Siem Reap on the day of my summer holidays. 

I once again got a warm welcome on my arrival to Siem Reap from Mr Sinn, who collected me from the airport. He later treated me to a ‘meet and greet’ evening and welcoming meal as he did with every new volunteer.

It was a special feeling going back to the community centre, meeting new and familiar faces and seeing VBCCC’s progression and development. 

My day to day teaching experience was very similar to 2018 with lots of fun and enjoyment. I was fortunate to teach English to 150 inspirational and highly motivated students, ranging from 7 to 18 years, across 4 levels in 9 class groups. I worked closely with the beginner class teachers Som and Sokvoeun focusing on phonics and reading, sharing various methodologies and activities with them to support their teaching of this strand. 

It was a proud moment for me to teach Class A, elementary students whom I first taught in 2018 at the beginning of their English language journey. In 2018, I communicated with these students through puppets, pictures, flashcards, and simple words and phrases.  This year they were having advanced conversations with me on many topics and we even shared jokes with one another.

I also got an opportunity to experience some of VBCs building projects during my time volunteering with the organisation. I observed the positive difference and contribution which VBC and volunteers were making to the lives of local people, providing them with clean drinking water and safer living conditions. 

My school Dromore N.S. Donegal, in Ireland kindly donated funds to build a water well this year which benefitted a number of families. It was a memorable and special privilege for me to visit the family home and hand over a well sponsored by my school community. I realised how this kind gesture would greatly enrich their lives and living conditions. 

In 2018 I was also involved in building house 208. I was responsible for hammering nails into wooden panels.  I'm sure the VBC builders Bunthorn, Det and Bunthourn were behind me, correcting some bent nails, hoping I wouldn't swap the classroom for a building site!  

By volunteering with this organisation I learned so much about Khmer culture. I experienced their religious celebrations, Pchum Ben and the water festival. I was also fortunate to meet with like minded VBC volunteers, where we explored Siem Reap,  Temples, Floating villages,  and various regions of Cambodia during the weekends.

VBCCC gave me a very special send off on my last day volunteering with them. The day consisted of fun activities where we played Khmer traditional games. The students taught me Khmer traditional dancing in exchange for Irish dancing. The teachers, Emey, Lada, Som and Sokvoeun, presented me with a video of my time teaching with VBCCC. I was given many bouquets of flowers and a scrapbook containing drawings, photos and  special messages of thanks and best wishes from the teachers and students. I will treasure them  forever. 

Some students gave speeches thanking me for making a positive difference to their lives. Little did they realise they also made a positive difference to mine.

I may have taught the students phonics, reading, writing, yet they taught me the true meaning of life. 

I love their attitude of living life in the moment, finding joy in the simplest of things, being grateful, trusting life and not worrying. But most of all the Cambodian ‘Why not’ thinking. 

I am looking forward to returning again in 2023!