LETTER OF MARIA, ITALIAN VOLUNTEER

Letter of Maria, italianan volunteer

I'm Maria and I’ve been teaching Italian as a volunteer at the Restaurant des Enfants since August 2013. I work as English teacher here in Phnom Penh and for a long time I had been looking for an association at which I could volunteer , but I didn’t know exactly which one to choose (there are so many NGO ) and how to use my skills . Then I got in contact with LRDE and I found out that they were looking for someone to teach Italian to the staff and so I began this wonderful adventure! I must admit that teaching Italian was exactly the last thing I expected to do in Cambodia ... now I understand why this country is called the Kingdom of Wonders!

The Italian course, that we hold during the weekends, is divided into 3 lessons for the initial level and 3 and a half hours for the advanced level. The objective is to provide students - the wonderful LRDE’s staff – with the language skills for basic conversations in Italian, communications with Italian donors and stakeholders and knowledge of Italian for travel and tourism, to train touristic guides and travel agents.

Italian is not an easy language, it’s completely different from Khmer, but with commitment and dedication, the students are making progress and this is what makes this adventure a wonderful experience.

I found new friends at LRDE –, the team that, despite many challenges and difficulties, is running the Association under the careful guidance of Mr. Chhiv, a man of great and inestimable human value - and many little angels – the street children to whom LRDE provides daily and free of charge a hot meal and the minimum hygiene, giving them the opportunity to take a shower, trim their nails and hair.

These little children are those who shall ensure the livelihood of their families, if they have one, begging on the roadside, selling small items or rummaging through garbage looking for something that can be resold. Sometimes these working children are forced to give up their right to education in order to help their families, a grave injustice that prevents them to create the foundations for a better future.

Thanks to the sponsorships, children can go to school and get an education as their more fortunate peers. LRDE updates regularly sponsors and donors about the children’s school attendance and performance, thus ensuring that the funds are used only for the purpose for which they were intended.

The Restaurant des Enfants immediately welcomed me with great warmth, making me feel part of a second family. I hope to continue this journey for a long time!