PSE BLOG – SUMMER 2018

Adolescence – that strange phase where we pretend to be adults, although we lack the maturity to act as such – is even harder to deal with for many the youth in Cambodia. For this School Continuity Programme, PSE know that these teenagers require special attention and specific activities, which is why the teenagers programme only attends to those who are between the age of 14 and 19.  Continue reading “TEENAGERS, A DECISIVE TIME – Sponsored by Banco Santander”

It may not be the children’s favorite team during the School Continuity Programme. Let’s be honest, who doesn’t fear the dentist’s office? However, Dental members are able to gain the trust and affection of their children, thanks to the well-being they provide them with. Their medical and educational work is vital during the summer program, although PSE has two dentists on staff throughout the year. That way, their students do not usually need urgent assistance in August, it is mainly children who do not attend PSE centres during the school year who are most in need.
Continue reading “DENTAL, EXPERTS AT MAKING SMILES – Sponsored by Jamming and Jamms”

The School Continuity Programme has a medical team of volunteers, essential for the children and the monitors to be safe, healthy, and fully functioning throughout the month. The doctors and nursing students dedicate time and effort to give the best care and visit each camp to reach as many children as possible.

Continue reading “MEDICAL: HEALTH COMES FIRST – Sponsored by Jamming and Jamms”

Not too far from the PSE headquarters in Phnom Penh, about 15 minutes by car, is one of the NGO’s community service centres, located in the Phum Rumsey neighbourhood.  This is one of PSE’s oldest schools and continuity programmes, marking a special place in the heart of this NGO. Phum Russey works as a kindergarten during the year, reflecting its youthful and fun energy. The walls are brightly coloured and the space small but spacious enough; Phum Russey is a charming little gem.
Continue reading “PHUM RUMSEY, A LITTLE GEM – Sponsored by Banco Santander”

The OBK Community Service Centre is known as PSE’s smallest programme. Although this camp may be too small to find, it isn’t too silent to hear. The roaring energy of the monitors, singing and dancing with such passion puts the biggest smile on the children’s faces. Just a five minute walk from PSE Central, in the neighbourhood of Oberk Ka Orm, this centre also serves as a nursery throughout the year.
Continue reading “OBK – MAGARIÑOS, CONCENTRATED VITALITY”

Sen Sok is a district in the north of Phnom Penh. Driving from the NGO’s Centre can take about 45 minutes. Throughout the year, Sen Sok centre is a day-care centre and in August, it turns into a fairytale land for kids of all ages!  They also get help from some of the teachers at the nursery to achieve this.
Continue reading “SEN SOK: ORDER, COLOUR AND TENDERNESS – Sponsored by Fundación Felipe Segovia – Colegio SEK”

“Beach day everyday – beach day everyday!”, an ironic shout sung daily by all the monitors in Sihanoukville! Ironic as it tends to rain a lot in this region, but still chanted because when the pooring stops, beach day every day with the children becomes a reality!  Sihanoukville province, situated in Cambodia’s south-west coast, is home to two PSE programmes run by around 40 monitors, half European and the other half Khmer.

Continue reading “SIHANOUKVILLE, “BEACH DAY EVERYDAY – BEACH DAY EVERYDAY!” – Sponsored by Fundación Telefónica”

Central, being the biggest and busiest programme of all, is run with impressive organisation. An organization that inspires the other camps. Around one thousand children enter the main gates each day, split in half day shifts, although this number has exceeded one thousand three hundred children on the same day. Good news no doubt, because more children have the opportunity to enjoy the summer programme and, hopefully, that will motivate them to attend school during the school year.
Continue reading “CENTRAL, THE ESSENCE OF PSE – Sponsored by Fundación Pelayo”

Every year, PSE carries out a construction project aimed at repairing or rebuilding houses in the most remote or poor areas around Phnom Penh. Different volunteers come to work for a week at a time – a week away from their initial sub-programme – and help Cambodian families have one of the most basic human needs: a roof over their head.  Although, like other sub-programmes, the ultimate goal is to help the families and their children to have a better life, the running, structure and outcome of this camp is completely different from the rest.

Continue reading “CONSTRUCTION – A NEW DAY, A NEW CHALLENGE”

One of the most special sub-programmes at PSE is undoubtedly the Handicapped summer continuity programme . At the NGO’s headquarters in Phnom Penh, children with different degrees of mental and motor disabilities are treated the same way as anyone else. In Cambodia, however, their personal growth tends to come with a lot of social rejection, and at times, physical abuse. This is in part due to a  lack of information and mistaken beliefs towards the cause of  disability.

Continue reading “HANDICAPPED, TO KNOW THEM IS TO LOVE THEM – Sponsored by Banco Santander”