A Volunteer’s Perspective: William Srong

24-year-old French Cambodian volunteer William Srong reflects on his year-long immersive experience working with EYC in 2024.

What were your initial expectations before you arrived, and how did they compare to your actual experience? 

At the end of the interview, after I got a quick overview of the mission, I was actually scared about whether my skill set would be sufficient to help EYC. After arriving here, the previous volunteer as well as the STEM department manager reassured me by helping me to get accustomed to the tools and curriculum they were working with, so the transition went pretty smoothly in the end.

What was your biggest challenge?  What are you most proud of?

I am torn between multiple answers. Learning the names of all the students I worked with was pretty tedious. Also, adopting the proper tone to address the students was a bit challenging: not being too authoritarian but still creating an atmosphere suitable for learning while keeping a friendly attitude. Thankfully, most students coming to EYC are eager to learn, making the process easier. If I had to choose, I would say adapting the level of my classes to the students was my biggest challenge. Although a curriculum was previously created, my work this year was to implement it and ensure it was achievable for the students. This implies a lot of trial and error on the way to approach specific projects and principles and a constant need for modifications, but also an improvement on our end to make sure the students grasp the essence of the teachings, the goal not being the completion of the curriculum, but the students’ learning and enjoyment.

In that regard, I am proud of the improvement and growth the students have shown in technical skills, of course, but most importantly in critical thinking and problem-solving. Being their age and having the ability to write codes, even if block-based, really is impressive, and I am proud to have been part of it.

Can you share a particularly memorable interaction or experience you had with students or community members? What was your best memory of your time with EYC?

I don’t have any particular memory that comes to my mind, but overall, all gatherings outside of classes, whether for national holidays, such as the Khmer New Year or end-of-year festivities, activities organized by EYC, or simply going to eat with both staff and students. Plain interactions were the best memories for me, showcasing the proximity of every person involved and how little is required to create unforgettable moments.

What was one of the most rewarding moments for you during this time with EYC?

One moment that stuck with me, which happened in multiple instances, was how some students and even staff would spend their free time coming to the different schools and reuniting with one another. On weekends, but especially during long periods, for example, the Pchum Ben national holidays or the public school vacations, it would not be weird to see students at school, lending a hand to the staff, continuing their activities with EYC, or simply hanging out with one another. This, to me, is proof of creating a safe and attractive space for our students, one of the goals of our organization.

What will you miss the most about your time with EYC?

After working in different countries and fields, the work environment created within EYC is one in a million, and I will miss it dearly after I leave. The proximity and closeness, bonds almost like ones of a family, made the experience of working here truly special for me.

What best captures EYC and EYC students?

The drive for personal growth and the thirst for knowledge. While it might not be felt as strongly among some individuals, it is undisputable that EYC is creating a space for development in multiple ways. As an institution that never claimed to be a replacement for any school but is solely here to add to its students’ skill set, the environment EYC has created has resulted in attracting highly motivated students striving for a better future.

What will you take away from this experience that you think will impact your life moving forward?

Being a teacher made me realize how much trust the students have in every word I utter and how, more than ever, I needed to pay attention to the smallest details and be 100% prepared for everything I did for them. The same goes for the staff, who relied on me on multiple occasions, and it was my goal to satisfy their requests to the fullest, sometimes on short notice.

So to answer the question, I would probably say precision and adaptability in work, added to the management of time.