Growing up in Auckland, New Zealand has given me a very privileged view of life. I am accustomed to the convenience of living in a first world country, with everything that I need available to me when I need it. Volunteering as a teaching assistant for Flame gave me a deep insight into how the majority of the world live and that is something that will remain with me.

I LOVE CAMBODIA

Two words come to mind: utter chaos. I LOVED IT! Cars and motorbikes and tuk-tuks randomly weaving in and out across the road. The heat and noise and smells of the city were overwhelming but somehow I felt so at home in the craziness of it all.

As a teaching assistant at one of Flame’s four After School Centres, I was busy each morning and afternoon doing classes with small groups from within the 20-25 primary aged kids. We did songs, coloring, letters and numbers. Playing games and doing activities basically using a lot of sign language and pointing to reinforce the English they are learning at school and help them practice listening and speaking in English. It was hard work to be honest, but really fun.

One of the kids who really grabbed my attention was a girl about seven or eight years old. I have never seen such a natural leader. She somehow commanded the attention and respect of the other kids. She was bright and confident, and even though we often couldn’t understand each other, she would try and try to figure out what I meant, and then explain it to the other kids looking on. I have been in a lot of leadership roles in NZ, the Model United Nations, Student Counsel as well as participating in a student led trip to India… so despite being fairly young, I do know leadership when I see it, and this girl had it. The other children and they all looked to her. Amazing.

The other thing that really struck me about the kids at the Flame centres was that it was so clear they they all really wanted to be there. They were keen and wanted to put in the effort.

My time with Flame was awesome. It’s definitely something I would recommend and would like to do again. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be right there in the community, teaching the Flame kids. I loved it.