Our latest trip to see the teachers and children at the Goodwill Center was tinged with a little sadness and left us a little melancholy. The sleepy little seaside town of Sihanoukville has gone the way of many small tourist towns and become a concrete jungle of highrises and casinos for wealthy holiday makers.
It's controversially part of China's 'One Belt One Road' initiative and the scale of development is staggering by any standard, anywhere. More here for those interested in that aspect.
Many of our friends have already moved on because of this and the latest will be Henrik, who started the Goodwill Center and was the first manager.
However, most of the trip was awesome. We went along on a beach trip with all of the staff and forty of the kids.
Some of them had never seen the ocean before, so it was a real treat. These outings always start with a clean up of the beach to teach the kids about looking after their environment and as with most beaches on the planet these days they didn't have to look too far for the rubbish.
Dinner
As usual, we had a lovely dinner with Sok Mong and his family, he was one of the first young Khmer we'd sponsored through University with the help of all the donors. This time we were joined by Sabine, who was the second manager of the center.
Sabines Blog (in German)
https://kambodschaimpressionen.wordpress.com/
We could tell that she really enjoyed catching up with everyone.
Mong had some big news to share with us. He has found a beautiful young lady Mey, to share his life with but first he must save a dowry for her family.
Food Drops
We were again lucky enough to time our visit with the monthly food drops. We started these many years ago as a way to encourage village parents to bring their children to the Goodwill Centre where they would benefit from free education. These families could not afford to send their children to the government schools so this alternative works well and benefits so many local families.
I always like to do some craft with the students and we need two sessions as some of the children only attend in the mornings and some only in the afternoon. Its sometimes difficult to find a craft that's suitable for most age groups but after researching I found some spinners made from cardboard
and string. The kids had never made them before and they seemed to enjoy it.
Phnom Penh
We headed to the Capitol city, Phnom Penh next to see Somnang. He is in his third year of university studying engineering and doing really well, so well in fact that he has been offered a job. He now works full time and continues his studies. We are really proud of him and the dedicated young man he has become.
We shouted him to a special meal at an exclusive buffet restaurant where he ate his fill of crab and giant prawns. He's hopeful he'll finish his Civil Engineering studies at University within 18 months
With all of the changes going on in Sihanoukville and the fact that we hadn't been back there for two years, this was one of the most interesting trips to Cambodia that we can remember.
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| View across the city |
It's controversially part of China's 'One Belt One Road' initiative and the scale of development is staggering by any standard, anywhere. More here for those interested in that aspect.
The demand for land has pushed Sihanoukville beachfront prices higher than those in Australia’s Byron Bay.
Many of our friends have already moved on because of this and the latest will be Henrik, who started the Goodwill Center and was the first manager.
 |
| (L to R): Sabine, Henrik and Toni |
However, most of the trip was awesome. We went along on a beach trip with all of the staff and forty of the kids.
 |
| Toni with some of the kids in a Tuk Tuk |
Some of them had never seen the ocean before, so it was a real treat. These outings always start with a clean up of the beach to teach the kids about looking after their environment and as with most beaches on the planet these days they didn't have to look too far for the rubbish.
 |
| Gloves on at the beach, collecting rubbish |
Dinner
As usual, we had a lovely dinner with Sok Mong and his family, he was one of the first young Khmer we'd sponsored through University with the help of all the donors. This time we were joined by Sabine, who was the second manager of the center.
Sabines Blog (in German)
https://kambodschaimpressionen.wordpress.com/
We could tell that she really enjoyed catching up with everyone.
Mong had some big news to share with us. He has found a beautiful young lady Mey, to share his life with but first he must save a dowry for her family.
 |
| Mey (with her birthday cake) and Sok Mong |
We were again lucky enough to time our visit with the monthly food drops. We started these many years ago as a way to encourage village parents to bring their children to the Goodwill Centre where they would benefit from free education. These families could not afford to send their children to the government schools so this alternative works well and benefits so many local families.
I always like to do some craft with the students and we need two sessions as some of the children only attend in the mornings and some only in the afternoon. Its sometimes difficult to find a craft that's suitable for most age groups but after researching I found some spinners made from cardboard
and string. The kids had never made them before and they seemed to enjoy it.
 |
| Making spinners with the students |
We headed to the Capitol city, Phnom Penh next to see Somnang. He is in his third year of university studying engineering and doing really well, so well in fact that he has been offered a job. He now works full time and continues his studies. We are really proud of him and the dedicated young man he has become.
We shouted him to a special meal at an exclusive buffet restaurant where he ate his fill of crab and giant prawns. He's hopeful he'll finish his Civil Engineering studies at University within 18 months
 |
| Nom Nom Somnang |
With all of the changes going on in Sihanoukville and the fact that we hadn't been back there for two years, this was one of the most interesting trips to Cambodia that we can remember.