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Day 2: Learning Beyond the Classroom Walls
Today, we arrived at Prolet Primary School — our main service learning site — and were greeted with the warmest welcome. Little children lined the entrance, waving and smiling, setting the tone for a day full of joy, discovery, and connection.
Stepping into the school grounds, we were struck by the simplicity of the classrooms—bare essentials, two small ceiling fans hanging from makeshift beams, no lights, just natural sunlight streaming in. Some children were even learning under the trees. The heat was intense, but nothing seemed to dampen their eagerness to learn.
Our students came prepared with activities—from simple dances and worksheets, to an adapted version of Squid Game and folding paper aeroplanes. But they quickly realised that, just like themselves back home, these children had ideas of their own. Before any instructions were given, the sky was filled with colourful aeroplanes and the courtyard rang with laughter. Plans gave way to spontaneity, and what followed was pure, shared joy.
Our students also picked up rollers and brushes to repaint parts of the school. It wasn’t always straightforward—How do you keep a roller steady? How much paint is enough? How do you handle such a long bamboo pole? Do we need another coat?
They didn’t arrive with all the answers, but they are slowly but surely finding them — through communicating with one another, adapting to unfamiliar situations, and inventing solutions on the spot. It is a powerful reminder that the most valuable lessons often come not from what we teach, but from how we respond when things don’t go according to plan.
To wrap up the night, we enjoyed a cultural performance over dinner at Morakot Angkor restaurant. From traditional music to graceful Apsara dancing, it was a vibrant display of Cambodian heritage
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