Bringing more smiles with toys

In January 2019, we attended an overseas wedding in Cambodia, where our Canadian friend Nick was marrying Thida, a local Cambodian woman. Along with a few other friends from Canada, we were honoured to be part of the celebration. One of those friends, Dwayne, who is a teacher at General Crerar Public School in Scarborough, was aware of the English program we were running in Cambodia. He invited us to present at this school, offering a wonderful opportunity to share a cultural learning experience with both the students and teachers in Canada.

After our presentation, he and his class, along with other students, graciously donated toys to bring to Cambodia. We were touched by their thoughtfulness. 

In addition, Dwayne spearheaded a pen-pal exchange pilot, encouraging his students to write letters to their counterparts in Cambodia. We carefully selected students from the advanced class to participate, using this as an opportunity to teach them the basics of letter writing. The result was a heartwarming exchange: the first two letters were written by students in Canada, and the last letter, a beautiful three-page letter, was written by one of the advanced students in Cambodia.

We were so grateful for Dwayne’s support and for the meaningful connections made between students in both countries. It was a beautiful example of collaboration and cultural exchange, and we truly appreciate the kindness that made it all possible.