PHNOM PENH
(CAMBODIA) 16
July 2013 -- Thirteen Australian youth and young
professionals together with their leader and animator, Lauren
Hichaaba, from Cagliero Project arrived at noon time last July
3rd, 2013 at Don Bosco Technical School Phnom Penh for their
10-day immersion program. Their objectives were to get
immersed into a different culture overseas, experience a
Salesian environment, interact and relate with Salesian youth
from a different culture, share their skills and talents and
form bonds that last.
The Salesian community, boarders, students and staff gave the
group a simple and warm welcome. The following day the group
immediately set out organizing a fun-filled day of activities
of music, art, dance, drama, language and sports in the
Salesian way. They lived and stayed with the boarders for two
days while giving formation to the oratory leaders and
animating the Sunday oratory activities. In the afternoons of
Saturday and Sunday they got acquainted with Cambodian history
and places by visiting Toul Sleng, the Killing Fields, famous
markets in Phnom Penh, and finally, a boat tour with supper
along the Mekong River in the evening.
In the succeeding three days they lived with the families of
some of our staff and experienced their life. During the day
they gave professional development to the management team with
some teacher representatives from each department, did
painting projects in the school farm house and Don Bosco
Children Fund Center in Toul Kork, and plumbing instructions
and works in the school with the maintenance staff and some
students.
The immersion program was so short, but intense. It was
simple, but meaningful. There was intense giving,
sharing and interaction while there was openness to receive,
learn and relate with one another as brothers and sisters in
one big family of Don Bosco. At the end of the immersion
program at Don Bosco Technical School, the group proceeded to
Siem Reap for a 3-day rest, bonding and enriching tour in the
ancient remains of the Khmer Empire before flying back to
Australia on July 16th, 2013.