Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) of Rochester, MN made its first effort towards an effective, service learning based, study abroad program by leading a group of 14 students to Cambodia over Christmas break. The purpose of the course was to study Intercultural Communication Through their course and project (s), RCTC students primarily experienced Through their course and help (Cambodian orphanages and schools while increasing awareness and Cambodians. first-hand the many facets of international education and communication, and with a cheerful willingness, in their own small way helped further integrated, educated global community.
RCTC students were challenged to develop and implement sustainable service learning projects for Cambodia. RCTC contingent, as guests of the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), traveled through Cambodia, interviewing teachers, village leaders, and students as to what was needed - how RCTC could contribute to sustainable development, while helping create sustainable development, while helping the work from a dynamic NGO, Youth Services of Cambodia. Youth Services of Cambodia is an NGO created entirely by students of RUPP, and led by their President, Roeun Ran (ysc_ran@yahoo.com (855) -012-577-331). Ran said that the first task of the NGO (around 50 students), which received a grant From the Ford Foundation of $ 2,400, is an "elementary enhancement of six primary schools." As Ran mentioned, "We try to raise students of RUPP may be to initiate and further sustainable projects of improvement in the villages. "
Youth Services of Cambodia helps villages by picking up trash, installing water purifiers, helpful garbage bins, marching down the streets of Phnom Penh and villages encouraging citizens not to litter, and providing charity projects for children in Phnom Penh & # 39; s garbage dumps.
Individual RCTC student projects included one young woman who raised money for modern toilets and a well (many girls quit school, embarrassed from lacking privacy when they begin menstruating); another student worked to connect Cambodian school children with an a book of another student project investigated the sex trade in Cambodia.
RCTC found that international education begins in the classroom with ideas and grant proposals in the classroom to help connect and improve societies for the better in a diplomatic, sustainable way through intimate intercultural communication and a good deal of sweat. Carefully nurtured service learning About relationships with serve, listening and learning about their needs, wants, and dreams, then lending one & # 39; s expertise. The relationship must be long term for any project to be sustainable and fruitful. is one avenue of international education which furthers this goal. RCTC will certainly continue to build its program.
Students were able to walk (RCTC students were able to to travel through Cambodia and see close the most wonders this land and culture holds. and climb the ruins of the wondrous temple, the largest religious structure in the world, Angkor Wat, where Buddhist mystics sit in enclaves and will tell you your life & # 39; s fortune and direction for a small fee. It was was interesting to notice, And seeing the sun rise over Angkor Wat at 6:00 am is a spiritual calming or challenging experience - one of breathtaking beauty.
From breathtaking beauty to horror horror, one can visit Tueol Sleng (a former high school converted into a prison and torture chamber by the khmer Rouge from 1975-79), or visit the "Killing Fields" themselves and see the seven story monument of skulls As you can gather, Cambodia is a land of contrasts. And walk along paths where human bones and clothes of those buried by the Khmer Rouge butchers (1975-79) are beginning to surface due to natural erosion and tourists walking.
A very comfortable and accommodating hotel will cost somewhere 15-20 dollars a night. During the day, shops of all varieties - garments, trinkets, exquisite handmade items (swords of teak - wood, etc.) , a night life of Phnom Penh is relaxed - take a tuk - tuk ride (a motorcycle pulling a cart) with your sweetheart or friend along the Mekong river, explore the many nightclubs, or, if you have had a hard day opt for an hour, full-body massage for five dollars.
Certainly our students' learning a great deal about Cambodia, its culture, and its history. Service vision a foreign land and truly learning intercultural communication means jumping in the water (or rice paddy) feet first, and having fun. study abroad trips offer an affordable means to do so.
