I joined a social service trip to Cambodia in the beginning of year 2016. I am a person who once didn't really support doing short-term social services which are usually a few days or months long. I, myself, deemed them unsustainable in the long term especially those going overseas that are rather cost ineffective and infeasible. This service opportunity has given me a chance to put myself in a different perspective seeing how social services take part in bringing about crucial changes – either directly or indirectly. It turned out that I was the one who restricted his own horizon.
The trampled dignity.I was still thinking about the true intention of this social service strip once I got there in Cambodia. Shortly after we had arrived in Phnom Penh and had lunch, we were brought to the Tuol Sleng Genocidal Museum. Probably owing to my aspiration of being a humanitarian doctor, this visit left me with a strong hit and a long-lasting reflection. The histories I got to know beforehand kept rewinding in my mind. We went to the Killing Field few days after that. Walking through the prisons and the torturing sites, you can see how the dignity and esteem of the people were trampled like the worthless, and the inhumane cruelties that humans can do to one another under certain circumstances. Being there onsite in person to see the evidences, I was enlightened on the cause that I might be working for in the far future. Many similar happenings are still taking place in some isolated parts of the world which most of us do not know. Every person indeed deserves the right and the dignity to live. But, it is always easier said than done.
It didn’t work.On the very first day of social service, in the morning, we went to visit the families who were living nearby the rubbish dump in the outskirt of Phnom Penh, showing them our concerns and also offering them some daily necessities which were prepared the night before. I began to doubt the feasibility of this particular service when I was helping to prepare packs of necessities with my peers. What we were doing couldn’t really improve their living conditions even at small. These people are indeed underprivileged and living a tough life. We were just like sprinkling a pinch of salt into the sea. It didn’t work in my perspective. I started pondering over what we can actually do so as to have a more effective and feasible service.
On the other day, we also went to visit the homeless people living in the bustling region of the city. There are many people suffering from poverty out there in all parts of the world. The more I see, the stronger the desire I have to at least do something although I don’t know what I can do. I am not sure if it is right to say such destiny has chosen them to be like that; I am uncertain if they do deserve to suffer like that. At that moment, I firmly held the standpoint that only policy making could possibly make a turnover for all of these. If not, what we had done were basically nothing – yes, nothing at all.
I saw possibilities.On the same day as we went to the landfill, we paid our first visit to Happy Land in the afternoon, an ordinary orphanage which is managed under Happy Tree’s guidance. The kids there were much more self-disciplined than what I had expected. We led the drawing activities which intended to nurture their creativity. I saw the possibilities and potentials within the kids, including but not limited to, during the drawing activities. Before the visit, I was quite worried that we would leave them with a sense of emptiness after the service yet apparently they didn't experience that. They were a bunch of young souls with uplifting spirits which were absolutely contagious. Indirectly, they helped put down the burdens and the doubts I had been carrying along to this social service trip. That was a pleasant afternoon.
During the services, we also managed to interact with the Cambodian students who had been our great help in communicating with the local people. Through the conversations with them, I was told that most of the students there had gone through a lot just to have the chance to study at universities. One of the ambitious Cambodian university students I met there said, “The government hasn’t been doing well since then. Amidst the hardship, the young generation has become more and more aware of the country’s current situation and future. We need a change.” I saw the possibilities, for the hard-work they dedicate and the visions they hold. We will see.
The unavoidable implicit labelling.The publics tend to label the HIV children and this is pretty serious in Cambodia as told. Even so, the children we saw at Rainbow Bridge were just like normal kids. They were as energetic and uplifting like the kids at Happy Land. If we weren’t told, we didn’t even know they are HIV carriers. The implicit labelling is there because of misunderstanding toward HIV which in turn leads to public fear.
I could also remember that we made judgements to differentiate and decide who would get the necessities when we were visiting the homeless people. I didn’t know if we really managed to help those who were immediately and really in needs. We labelled the people implicitly while doing this social service. It was hard not to do so.
The dignity and eagerness to live.A section of the service trip was to visit the Home of Toughness and the government-owned centre of care for the special children. This visit wasn’t an emotionally upheaving one yet the atmosphere was rather gloomy. I pondered over why these children have to suffer from the diseases or disorders which came along when they were born. It is very hard and controversial to say whether they deserve to not live their life like that or whether death is the better solution to end their sufferings.
When I saw the premature babies, they weren’t being taken care of in incubation boxes which are crucial for their normal development and healthy growth. I questioned about this but the reply I got was a letdown. I felt heartbroken when I knew the reason. “An improved public health could effectively help allay the issues,” I thought. Looking at those tough lives, they are trying hard to survive and I could see the eagerness to live. The little hearts are still pumping – indeed, this is already a good news.
I could still remember that some of my peers helped a children to stand and walk. It was really encouraging and uplifting to see him walking with aids from my peers. But we anyhow have to leave and get him lie down again on the mattress. I could see that his bright smile immediately disappeared once my peers put him down. He even tried to sit up at occasional times after that. The children was obviously happy to have the chance to stay upright rather than lying down on the mattress the whole day. But the centre doesn't have enough professional workers to be with the children which is the disappointing reality. Until now, today, I still can't forget the expression in that children’s eyes. He looked into my eyes for a long time without a blink which made me almost teared up. I told myself at that very moment, “Being a humanitarian doctor is exactly my aspiration. I should be courageous enough to fulfil it. I'll pick up that backpack and continue my journey again.”
If you asked me if this country deserves to suffer like that, I couldn’t give you a certain answer. This social service trip has brought a group of aspiring students from diverse backgrounds together who probably wish to transform the world into a better place. We also got to understand that our strength is very limited. Such social service trip is not totally an unsustainable one. Even though we social service volunteers are in fact those who were benefited the most, we could be like dominos and bring about a bigger influence to make this world a better place where humanity, right, and justice always prevails. Throughout this trip, the things I saw and the insights I gained have reaffirmed my aspiration of being a humanitarian doctor. I am convinced that the hearts of the volunteers for improving the conditions of the underprivileged countries have also been cultivated which can be very powerful. The insights and experiences gained in this service are more like the implicit primers that drive the domino effects. Changes starting from us could indeed be like dominos.
Dated 04-10 January 2016
