Marie, former volunteer still committed to PSE
A nice match with Pour Un Sourire d'Enfant (For a Child Smile)
While Marie was on an internship in Phnom Penh in 2016, she discovered Pour un Sourire d'Enfant. A year later, while she was back in Cambodia to write her thesis, she contacted the association to apply for a volunteer mission. She will then spend six months in PSE in 2018.
"I admire the work done by PSE and its teams and the way the association was conceived, which brings a genuine help" explains Marie. "The cause has touched me a lot, especially because I did an internship at the UN Tribunal judging the crimes of the Red Khmer. The historical links between these crimes and the socio-economic situation of the country are sadly intertwined."
Getting involved to share your skills
Between January and July 2018, Marie is volunteering at the PSE’s school (cf https://www.pse.ngo/high-quality-vocational-training-prepare-everyone-working-life)
She helps with administrative tasks and coordinates the development of a soft skills training (behavioural skills).
"My favorite part of my mission was the classes given to the teaching team. Each session had a theme and we discussed the cultural differences between Cambodia and France. I introduced them to the song Imagine by John Lennon, which opened up exciting discussions and we ended up singing it all together!" says Marie with a big smile.
The good memories are numerous for the young woman: "the soccer tournament where we had set up the first women's team, the karaoke in English with the students, watching the school waking up, the streets of the PSE area... difficult to choose!"
Continue your involvement upon your return
Marie's life has changed a lot since her return from the mission and she is now working in the equestrian field with plans to open her own business. "I don't have a lot of time to get involved, but it was important for me to make a link with my 'life before'," explains Marie. "I am a sports ambassador for PSE: during my riding competitions, I compete in the PSE colors and if I win, I will donate the funds to the association. It's my way of getting involved and making PSE known in the equestrian world" she concludes.