The Three Wise Men

When I set foot in Battambang after three weeks of relentless travelling, I was breathless. Literally. April is meant to be the hottest month of the year, but this time it came hand in hand with a heat wave, making temperatures rise to a hellish maximum. As I got out of the mini-van I felt the stifling air slapping my face -and it was 10.30pm. I couldn't sleep properly that night (or any of the subsequent ones for that matter). Not even with the fan on. An unbearable heat stroke Cambodians and foreigners alike, depriving everyone from sleeping, working and thinking straight.  

But the show must go on and I was determined to spend my last week as productively as possible. As part of the recycling and reusing programme, we held a compost-making workshop at one of the local schools. Vanna did a great job of teaching the basics. And the kids had a blast getting down and dirty with the dung and the ashes.

Social educator Vanna spreading her compost-making wisdom

All set!

A truly hands-on approach to compost-making

That week we also had a really special visit: primary school teacher Auxi, her boyfriend, and her colleague Elena came to Battambang with huge suitcases full of school material. Chatty, determined and energetic, Auxi organised a fundraising event at her school, in the town of Osuna, Seville. With the donations, they purchased school material for our schools. It goes without saying how truly amazing it is to find people like her and her mates. Of course, when offered, I was delighted to join them at the local school for an epic handover.

Social educators Kosal and Seyha inspecting the material

When the tuk-tuk arrived at the school, the children were waiting for us expectantly. The Three Wise Men white as the moonlight, alighted escorted by their pages. Then we all started batching up thousands of pens, colour pencils, notebooks, rubbers and sharpeners into individual bundles. We gave one to each child. The ones from the poorest families also received school-bags and shoes.

Sorting out colour pencils

Auxi and Thearout hand over bags containing school material

The expression on the children's faces when receiving the gifts was of utter awe; it took them a few minutes to take it all in until they could actually smile and sampeah*. I reckon that for them it was just difficult to digest what was happening. But then seeing them smile was the best feeling ever!

Page helping the Wise Men with the handover

*The way of thanking or showing respect by putting your palms together.