My time at HVC completely turned my life around, prepared me for uni and reminded me that as humans we are incredibly fortunate to be able to do something kind for each other and as Alice says in the video, this works both ways! The children’s kindness amazed me. They were so proud of their stunning art work but the reward for them seemed to be giving it to someone and seeing that person's reaction! They even tried to give us their toys! ​

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I am going to stay involved with the Colourful Cambodia art project from afar even if I can’t return to Siem Reap in the near future. I intend to translate the children’s art work into embroideries to sell for HVC and use as posters that I will display around uni with a link to this website.

Graduating uni is a scary time for everyone and I want to provide as many people as possible with information that could lead them to HVC, even if like me they can only help from a distance. I think many students will be keen to have an absolute change of scenery and life style after the stress of graduating.​

I think there may well be some potential successful artists amongst those children and I want to give them every chance I can to use their skills. This has already begun but can grow and grow. This year its cards and posters, Next year it might be sculptures and embroideries or book-making, telling stories of their life and culture. What is so brilliant is that they want people to have it, they want the reaction when someone is shown something they created and moved.

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Creativity costs nothing; all you need is a surface and a way of making marks. "A line is just a dot that went for a walk" Paul Klee. I'm so happy I could use my own personal area of interest and leave HVC a mural, watching the kids trace over the lines I had painted with their fingers and jump to reach the tips of the illustrated plants reassured me that there’s more to teaching than being competent in front of a class and that there really is something for everyone at HVC. I think the video demonstrates this superbly.

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Thanks again for everything, and all your effort, Sue, Chhunly everyone at HVC and everyone in our team. I’m not sure I’d be going back to uni if it hadn’t been for my time with you.

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Lots of love x

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Harriet Popham

Swansea Metropolitan University