Davina Clay - Q & A

Davina volunteered at AP from February to June 2009. She taught our E3 class and was notorious for finding really interesting learning topics; extreme weather and the Titanic for example. She helped her students write their first autobiographies. Davina is currently helping establish The Aziza Foundation UK. Thank you for keeping connected to AP from home, Davina!

Davina's Fast Facts:
Volunteered: February - June 2009
Originally from: Bath, England
Living in: London, England
Occupation: sales representative
Fun Fact: Davina is glad she came in the dry season. She’s sick of rain (England).
 

What brings you here? What is you motivation to come?
I wanted to help children learn that if they want something and are willing to work for it, there are opportunities out there - no matter what your background. I also wanted to challenge myself and learn about different cultures.
I was working in London in quite a challenging role which was starting to take its toll. I watched a programme on television about young children who were branded as witches. It was the most harrowing programme I have ever watched. The next day I went into work and realised that I can do something different, I can help in my own small little way so I left my job and came to Cambodia.


What are you doing at AP?
I am teaching English - Grade 3 and I love it!


What preconceived ideas of Cambodia did you have before that have been changed since being here?
I didn't realise quite how western the city had become - not in the culture and values but in terms of local amenities. I didn't expect so many people to speak English.


What’s your favorite memory at AP?
There was a thunderstorm while I was teaching my lesson. I teach in an outside courtyard section of the building which was sheltered but still ‘at one’ with the elements! Suddenly there was the loudest thunder I have ever heard and it sounded as if it was a meter above our heads. I looked down to my class and four out of five of them had leapt from their seats and run inside screaming! It was by far the funniest thing I have seen here, they were so quick and then just started laughing. When they returned we saw frogs hopping across the water – that was a bit unexpected as well.


What advice would you give to new volunteers?
Plan your lessons well and always have back ups. Always start the lesson with something really fun, and make the rest as interactive as possible.


What is something unique about where you come from?
Where I come from many of the buildings are hundreds of years old. They are preserved well and look really pretty. Everything is very green and there are lots of cows, they are very different from the cows here though.


After AP, Davina is planning to move back to Bath, England with her parents before working again in London.She’s also hoping to help out the Aziza Foundation UK with fundraising events and other administrative tasks.



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