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Beck Mitchell
Name: Beck Mitchell
Background: Primary teacher
VSO role: Teacher trainer adviser, Provincial Teacher Training Centre, Kampot
I work in a teacher-training college, and my job is to improve methodologies, making them more child-friendly.
One of the main challenges I've experienced is building up trust with the trainees. At first they were concerned about what I was doing here, and if me being here meant that they'd have to work a lot harder. Their wages are so low that many of them already have to juggle their training with other jobs. So they didn't want me coming along and saying, 'Right - this is how you're going to do things from now on!'
I've built up their trust over time. I'd say that time is the best thing anyone could ever have. It's my greatest tool. I've got time to sit and talk to the trainees, and ask them about their family, or what they did on their day off - it doesn't necessarily have to be about work. It's the most effective way to build trust, and it helps me with my Khmer too.
The trainees are really enthusiastic about learning. They're very responsive to my ideas, and they've got lots of their own too. I'm very much working alongside them - I'm not the person in charge at all. Rather, we work together to do my job. Over time, I've realised that even with all the struggles that they have, against all odds, they're passionate about improving things. They really want to push themselves and the schools to do better, and it's been wonderful to learn from them.
It's so rewarding to sit in on a class and watch the teacher using methods you've taught them, or to watch children reading in the library that you've set up. That's you doing that! And everything you do really is hugely appreciated.
If you're thinking about doing VSO, go for it! It's an incredible experience. It won't be easy - that's a promise. But it's made me a much stronger person, both in my job and personally. It's been a huge learning curve for me.
I feel as though I'm the one who's benefited the most from coming here. Helping others has of course been a big part of it, but really the greatest gain has been mine.
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