Volunteering at Cambodia Children’s Painting Project Up date
It is another wet, windy and stormy day here in Sihanoukville. There is the constant crashing of waves on the beach and one could even take advantage of the waves for a little surfing if so inclined. Me, well I’m content to sit back from my roof top and over look the scene. The islands are barely in view as the squalls come over and sweep a blanket of mist and rain across the water towards me. It is very pleasant temperature for a change so I’m enjoying the cool. Everything feels damp and mold is beginning to grow. It’s not even the wet season yet!
Being back at the project after being away for a month is a whole different experience from being on the road and from when I was here a month ago. This year I have met many people who have been doing a week or two volunteering in orphanages or the like. The volunteer/tourist industry is a big thing in Asia and seems like a very popular experience to have here amongst foreigners. I wonder though, how good it is for the children as many are not well run (not all of course) and profiteering seems to be a focus rather than the well being and long term outcomes for the children.
I see many volunteers being satisfied and emotionally connected to these projects/children. The children lap it up. I also see how much people come and go for these children.. The relationships and trust are built up, children soak up the attention and affection, and then the people leave. There is a constant flow of people leaving in their lives.
Early childhood theory supports that it is paramount for the developing child, and their future relationships to provide at least one primary carer who can provide security, trust and guidance. Most of the children who come to our centre come from dysfunctional and vulnerable families, and are often exposed to abuse and neglect. It is the organizations responsibility to provide security, guidance and support for these children. For this reason I feel there is a need for volunteer programs to focus on stability, information exchange between volunteers and management, and ongoing training for staff and volunteers to provide quality environments for these children.
Achieving some sort of consistency in boundaries, behaviour management and guidance has been a (from my point of view) a problem for these children (and volunteers), and so it has been a focus since if been back at CCPP to address these issues. Communication boards, weekly meeting, agreed “rules” for children, and a behaviour management approach have been addressed.
Although the project is focused around painting, the aim is to keep the children safe and away from direct selling on the beach and the sex trade, potentially earn an income from the sale of their paintings to support their families needs, and to ensure that they attend school. We take care of basic health needs, education and provide fresh water and nutritious food each day. We provide positive role models and relationships and most of all provide an atmosphere filled with fun, laughter and stimulation. Children love to come to the centre where they get love and support and friendship. Fortunately we have three people on staff and are now looking at only taking people who can stay for at least two months.
As there is sometimes at least 30 to 60 children attending through out the day, with most never having had any parental guidance or support, the behaviour at the centre is sometimes like chaos….particularly when we have a language barrier and many volunteers with their own ways of doing things. Many volunteers are often driven to tears. Creating an effective team and atmosphere is certainly worthwhile for these kids, the volunteers and the project in general.
Over the passed three months I have seen so many changes. It is a constant work in progress, so it is exciting to see and be involved with it’s evolution. Our project manager is dedicated to the project and sees the potential of where it can go. He also loves his role and the kids so it is great to have such a committed young man for CCPP. There is a wonderful resource of skill and interests that the volunteers bring to the project and we are now working at utilizing them as much as possible. For example at present we have someone from an IT background completing a register of children and helping with the web site. We have a social worker who will be helping to train our Cambodian social out reach worker. We have an illustrator, a sociologist/English teacher, another artist and a journalist…just to name a few. …all these wonderful people…but again they/we come and go. I have been keen to set up systems so we can have a flow of communication and information between volunteers, staff and the children creating consistency and understanding of acceptable behaviour and some rules. Eg, using bins, washing hands, no kicking balls inside, fighting…basic stuff for our kids in the west, but a whole new way for these ones. I can see progress already, but slowly slowly.
Since being back I have implemented the “ artist mentoring program” and the painting tuition at my studio is going well, although the weather is a bit difficult when the wind blows through. Two children at a time come to paint on larger canvas and with proper oil paints. Some can listen, others not. The attention span is short, and I work with them as best I can, depending on the age and English language skills…. Slowly slowly! They come up with some wonderful work.. Mostly I just let them go for it.
I tried to talk about the theme ”dreams “ for example which is the theme for the exhibition we are working towards in Sweden. Some get it…others just do there usual subjects….sunsets, palm trees fish and water.
My most enthusiastic and talented girl came in (15yrs) the other day and said she thought she would paint a ‘bad’ dream. She is good with figures and proceeded to draw up her subjects. There were four female figures, all with limbs or heads missing, dripping blood. (beautifully painted I might add). When I inquired she told me that it was about the Khmer Rouge and the stories she had been told by her mother. A very powerful painting!
Another boy (12yrs) had tried drawing me while we sat the day before. The next day he wanted to do it again (as he had been acknowledged for his efforts the day before). He drew me in the rocking chair but I was a spec in the middle of the canvas… after we looked at the space he decided to fill it with four butterflies, put wings on me to match, and changed me into a flying position…nice!!!! (my dream ?)
I hope this program will continue as it is obvious the children benefit in many ways ie. skill development, self esteem, concentration etc etc.
We plan to be able to take a few kids at a time out into the environment to expand their subject matter. The first trip will be to the boat harbour and to visit a Cambodian artist’s professional studio (once a month we take the children on a special outing; the water fall, the snake house, out for dinner, or throw a party). The kids love the excitement of it all and have a wonderful time. The delight on the children’s faces says it all!!!
We now have balls, skipping ropes, bat mitten, a few board games, some shabby books, puzzles and of course the very popular lego blocks that I brought with me.(diminishing rapidly unfortunately)
Every thing is given a beating. They don’t know how to respect equipment (they have never had the opportunity to learn) or how to be responsible for it. But we now have places it can all be stored safely and a few mats and tables to set up an interesting environment for them. Sounds simple….but believe me it’s a slow process, but little by little with a cohesive team we are achieving wonderful progress with these kids and the project in general. They love coming to CCPP and some children are there waiting at 8am and leave at five.
So…that’s a bit of what I am doing over here. The rest of the time I am either sitting down at the bar /restaurant at Cloud nine bungalows (next door to my studio/apartment) with my friends who work/own it, or at home on the computer, practicing my ukulele, or drawing and reading. Life is simple and the pace very slow, the heat and humidity debilitating at times. I have never had so much “self time” but am accepting it as part of the challenge. It will be a shock to go back to the pace of a rigid work routine again…but then again quite comforting. I have no idea what the next year will look like at this point, but I hope I will be able to integrate some of what I am experiencing and learning into the future.
