Making a Difference, One Cruise at a Time

Every once in awhile, we hear about something so heartwarming we just have to share it with you. That was the case when we learned of the ODA (Opportunities & Development through Art) Free English School in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Generously built and supported by Hideaways partner AmaWaterways, the school has an interesting story behind it. And who better to tell that story than Jake Schreiner, the son of AmaWaterways President Rudi Schreiner and the cruise line's Africa Product Manager.

Hideaways International: How did AmaWaterways become aware of this opportunity to partner with the ODA Orphanage?

Jake Schreiner: Fortunately for us, we were put in touch with an Australian volunteer named Shirley Hawe. For the past three years, Shirley has dedicated her life to assisting in the startup of several ODA Free English Schools throughout Siem Reap, as well as providing daily support to the orphanage. We felt she was a very reliable source for us to become involved with.

In October of last year, my father and I had the chance to meet with Shirley and Leng and Sry On, the young married couple that founded ODA. As we drove on the dirt path that leads up to the orphanage, we watched a crowd of young faces light up, and everyone came running to the car. With those smiling faces surrounding our vehicle on all sides, the two of us knew we were in the right place.

Leng and his wife are not only the founders of ODA but also its backbone. At a very young age, he was tragically orphaned after witnessing his father's murder under the rule of the Khmer Rouge. He used this past adversity as fuel to change the lives of young children who, like him, were in need of an outlet. Leng and Sry On live with their two children and more than 20 young boys and girls they have taken in and raised on their own.

Another vital member of Leng's team is Sophan, head teacher for the English schools. He's an extremely bright young man who, in addition to teaching his own classes and helping Leng run ODA, also gives the other teachers daily English lessons to keep them sharp. And he does all this as he is simultaneously studying for his Master's in English!

What's AmaWaterways
All About?

Known for its European river cruises, this award-winning—and socially altruistic—cruise line celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2012. While the majority of its 14 vessels meander along the major rivers of Europe, AmaWaterways also cruises through Russia, Africa, and Cambodia/Vietnam.

The 92-passenger La Marguerite was introduced in 2009 specifically to cruise the waters of the Mekong. Most of the vessel's staterooms and suites have balconies, and all are designed with a sleek, contemporary Asian flair. There's also a spa, the Sun Deck with an outdoor pool, and a lovely restaurant serving both Asian and Western specialties.

Have we piqued your interest in a Mekong voyage? View the entire 16-day overland/river-cruise itinerary—which includes 3 nights at Siem Reap and a 7-night Mekong cruise.

Get more information on AmaWaterways, or call your Travel Consultant at 800-843-4433 to book any of their outstanding river cruises. Hideaways members receive their perk of a $100 shipboard credit per stateroom.

HI: Have you had a chance to visit the school?

JS: Unfortunately I haven't, since it only opened about six months ago. But I was in Cambodia last October and had the opportunity to visit the small schools Leng was already running. That was something I'll never forget. I had never come in such close contact with such poverty. Yet, as you watch these kids in class, you would never know they were struggling to get by each and every day. Their enthusiasm was overwhelming as they took turns repeating simple English sentences written on the whiteboard.

During my visit to the third school, there was a large tropical downpour, so we all tucked ourselves underneath the small raised house to avoid the rain. Right then, I realized more than ever how crucial it was for them to have a real classroom building. The following day, we set off in search of the right piece of land to build our own school on.

HI: What classes are taught at the school?

JS: We have two separate programs set up for the different age groups of village children. The kindergarten classes are the first ones held each day for the youngest kids in the community, usually ages 5 and under. We get about 16-20 of the little ones per class, rain or shine. In addition to getting started with English, the kindergarten offers a fun place for the kids to come together and play in a safe environment. They really love it.

The second program is for the older kids who are over the age of 6. These classes focus solely on the study of the English language. A few hours after the kids get out of their primary school classes, they have the option to attend one of the two hour-long classes. We currently have about 40-50 students attending each of these classes daily.

HI: How does AmaWaterways support the school?

JS: Our primary support is financial. Through our sponsorship, we began with the land purchase and the complete construction of the school. In addition to helping with the start-up, we provide them with ongoing funds they need for everything from teachers' salaries to school supplies and other necessities.

HI: It must be exciting for your cruise guests to be able to visit the school.

JS: You're right, it definitely is exciting to be able to visit such a unique, unfamiliar learning environment. We receive emails from past passengers about how inspiring it was to be in such a poverty-stricken place, yet surrounded by children whose smiles made it seem like they had everything in the world.

In order to give the children their space to learn, passengers only stop by the school once a week. They come into the classroom and watch as the teachers take the children through their lessons. For the first part of the class, the children start by taking turns going to the board and reciting different sentences in English. Passengers love to watch the littlest ones walk up to the front with their big pointer and speak aloud with the confidence of someone twice their size.

Toward the end of the class, our guests are given the chance to walk around the room and interact with the kids through very basic conversation, giving students a chance to test out their most recently added vocabulary. Prior to the school being built, the majority of these children had never seen a Westerner before, so you can imagine how shocking it was for them the first time a group of 30?40 passengers came in. Yet, as the weeks have gone by, they've stepped out of their comfort zones and gotten much more confident speaking English.

HI: Can passengers bring the children small gifts?

JS: Definitely. We encourage them to do this, especially school supplies. With an increasing number of students hoping to attend classes each week, every bit of support makes a difference. We actually provide our passengers with a short "wish list" which Shirley and Leng update, so they have an idea of the school's current needs. We get a lot of great feedback from our guests about how incredible it is to see the kids' faces light up over the most basic gifts, from pencils and crayons to coloring books and building blocks. Even the smallest things have significant value for children who have next to nothing.

HI: Are there any long-term opportunities for cruise guests to support the school?

JS: We haven't set up any official long-term support system yet, but our passengers can contact us to send things like gifts, supplies, or money. It's not always easy to get packages out to small villages in Cambodia, but we manage it. Just today, I actually received an email from a Canadian group that recently returned from their Mekong River cruise on La Marguerite. They wanted to let me know their office recently started a special Christmas collection for the kids. They're gathering textbooks, stationery, toys, and other basic items to send over to Siem Reap.

In hopes of making donations easier in the future, we'll be connecting the charity to our Facebook page, giving passengers the ability to donate online. We also hope to use social media as a way of keeping our passengers connected with the kids' progress in school, through pictures and monthly updates from Cambodia.

This is all part of the philosophy that AmaWaterways ODA Free English School is built on—making a difference one child at a time. With Leng at our side, we are completely optimistic about the future of the children attending our school.