Diary

2008-06-23 - Little miracles and helping hands in the Orphanage – and farewell

In the beginning of the past month our daily schedule was altered considerably as we were told to teach English to children, including three and four years old, four days a week. Regrettably this meant that there was less time for playing and individual care. The reason for this was, we were told, that rich people can send their children to private schools to learn English but the children in the Orphanage do not have the same privilege, although to learn English is as important to them, too. This all is very understandable, but we also strongly believe that the play and “TLC” (tender loving care) are the vital part of childhood , and luckily after one month we were able to balance play and study as we had done before.

As it has been already said, the environment and settings in the orphanage where the staff and children are used to live, work and play, are very inadequate and unhygienic. But somehow it is not easy to estimate their standards according to our values, especially knowing their restricted resources and cultural factors. Anyhow, it is like a miracle how the children cope under these circumstances . A real joy and miracle has been a tiny little premature baby, who was brought to the orphanage only five days old and weighing hardly two kilogrammes. He sleeps on a wooden bench, under a small cover and looks so tiny in his over sized hat and mittens. This premature baby care here is not what we are used to, but the little one looks healthy and happy and is getting on well.

The rain season has started this month and we have seen with our own eyes how easily it disturbs the every day life in the orphanage. When it rains heavily there is always water on the floor, but then it also quickly drains off. It was different some time ago when the floor was flooded by the water which rose from the boggy area just behind the building. It was a very sad sight; not only the class room room was flooded, but also the water was under the boys’ beds and in the kitchen. A quick decision was made to lift the floor tiles and sand to be brought in to cover the water and rise the the floor level. All this work was done by the staff, we volunteers and above all, special thanks are due to the children, who tirelessly worked the whole week in the hot sun carrying the sand in with wicker baskets . Also the smallest ones wanted to do their part using little plastic bags and coconut shells. The work was done in one week and the English lessons continued as before and, the boys were able to go to bed with dry feet.

In the end of May we were happy to have a new member to our volunteer family, as Jonna came from Finland to replace us, Camilla and I, as we are leaving soon. Also a globe-trotter Sami had offered his help in doing painting and all kinds of fixing and he, too, was scheduled to arrive soon after Jonna. In a couple of days the the front wall of Orphanage was like magically transformed from unpainted dull looking wall into a beautiful, harmonious blue wall and doing that the bigger boys and also I were happy to help. The children have also conquered Sami to themselves and the affection seems mutual, as Sami is staying three weeks now instead of one, which had planed.

Although I am already thinking very much to be with my family again and the strawberry season in Finland, it seems very unreal that soon the wonderful children and the colourful life in the Orphanage are not part of my every day life anymore, but I will always cherish these fond memories of them in my heart, as also the memory of Cambodia and its resilient ad sincere people, and of courses the time together with my volunteer friends Camilla, Anna Mari and Jonna.

Oili Sprinkel