Ben and Maria Mays

Ben and Maria volunteered at Aziza's Place from January to July 2009. They lived in the volunteer apartment next door to AP and loved waking up to the smiles of our kids everyday. In December 2009 they returned for a visit. They are currently plotting how to return for a third time.






 

How did you find Aziza’s Place?
We came to Cambodia to work for two NGOs, Legal Support
 for Children and Women (Ben) and Bridges Across Borders (Maria). Our volunteer co-ordinator suggested we might want to rent the little apartment next to Aziza’s, and we found ourselves part of the Aziza’s community. The thump of a basketball at 6am (sometimes earlier!) has been our early morning alarm call for 6 months!

What brought you here? What was your motivation to come?
We came to Cambodia to offer our professional skills (Ben as a lawyer, Maria as a communications specialist) where they could be put to good use. Getting to know the Aziza’s kids was an unexpected and wonderful bonus.

What did you do at AP?
Hung out. Used the washing machine. Made the kids’ English worse. Sweated. Got beaten up on the basketball court. Made loads of little friends.

What preconceived ideas of Cambodia did you have before that were changed?
That everyone ate spiders.

What advice would you give to new volunteers?
Don’t eat spiders. Other than that – the kids will make you right at home, so get over here.

What did you do before coming to AP?
Worried about having to eat spiders. And worked for a law firm in the Cayman Islands.

What are your plans / have you done after AP?
We plan to be unemployed and win the lottery. We’re working on plan B.

Do you plan to return? If so when?
Yes – as soon as we win the lottery, and before the kids all grow up and forget us!

Do you have any hopes or wishes for AP?
That everyone who reads this will do the right thing, and open their hearts and (more importantly) their wallets. AP doesn’t run on love alone. Someone’s got to pay the bills. Having lived in Phnom Penh, and seen what the alternatives are for these children (for example sorting rubbish on the streets), it’s vital that AP keeps going and gives these great kids a future.

What is something unique about where you come from? How is it similar or different from Cambodia?
The Cayman Islands have EVEN nicer beaches than Cambodia! But not such good temples.

What’s your favorite memory at AP?
Two. One is a collection of bitter-sweet memories. After Nader Ebrahimi (Aziza’s Place director) died, the kids and staff pulled together and looked after one another wonderfully. Seeing the children come together to comfort Nader’s heartbroken parents was extremely moving. The second is just a little example of how much the kids care about one another. We were playing a game and picking teams. One of the older boys (whose name we’ll spare to avoid embarrassing him) picked the two newest, youngest girl residents for his team, ahead of all the older kids and volunteers who might have made the smartest team mates. It was really touching and just summed up everything that is great about AP.