Same Same But Different « Compassion in Action

We’ve made it through the last of our training with, wait for it…
much success and laughter.

Friday began with the welcome of 200 -odd M’Lop Tapang children being taught PACE by their teachers, who were our students on Thursday.

M'Lop Tapang kids doing PACE

Shortly after this, we had our largest group of students with 16 people, including a number from other NGO’s as well as M’Lop Tapang.
All our students appeared to find the workshops a great deal of fun and we got much feedback that what we were teaching was great for its simplicity and user friendliness. They could see themselves using what we taught them with the kids that they work with, which makes us feel happy and fulfilled.

After completing the introductory workshop for the sixth time, and other workshops at least multiple times, it’s started to feel a little ’same same but different’.

Same in the laughter, fun, positive feedback and sucessful outcomes that we’ve had each time; and also with the materials that we’ve been teaching.

Different in the personalites, backgrounds, culture, English skills, roles, and group dynamics of our students. Also different in the type of organisation (whether an orphanage, school, shelter or outreach program), the sizes the groups, and the logistics of how we were teaching (with or without a translator, kids running in and out and around, and the level of heat, dust and noise at the various locations).

We can say with confidence that our time in Cambodia has been incredibly rewarding, joyous, at times strenuous, and somewhat sweaty!

M'Lop Tapang

Tomorrow marks the official end of our Compassion in Action March 2009 Cambodian adventure. Renska will be returning to Melbourne for some much desired coolness, and some less desired paperwork that has arisen during our trip. Susan will be heading off on a further research expedition to see what needs can be met by Compassion in Action. After many hours of deliberation and discussion, we settled on the perfect place for this. Bali.

Thanks to everyone who has been following our travels and the actioning of our compassion. It’s meant a lot to know that people have been interested in what we’ve been doing.

Special thanks to Megan for all her time on the technicalities of getting these updates published.

Until our next adventure…

Love and compassion,
Renska & Susan

*PACE stands for Positive, Active, Clear and Energetic and comprises four exercises that are part of Brain Gym®.

We invite you to become involved!

If you would like to get involved and support Compassion in Action Inc. in any way (even if you’re not quite sure how…), please contact megan@compassioninaction.org.au or on mobile: 0411 104 503. If you’d like to help support our work financially, donations of any amount are invaluable and are most gratefully accepted.

Bank Account for deposits:
Bendigo Bank
Account Name: Compassion in Action Inc
Account BSB: 633000
Account Number: 135789451
Please email susan@compassioninaction.org.au with details of any donation, or if you’d like to donate via another method. Thanks!