An Incredible Week at Jombok Hoas

Before the start of the school year, PEPY’s SAS team was able to spend five days in Preah Vihear with the school directors, teachers, and school support committees from Prasat Knar and Chanleas Dai. The workshop took place at Jombok Hoas (“Flying Tree”), the amazing ropes course facility at which PEPY held a staff retreat several months ago.

The 30 participants spent the first few days doing team-building exercises, pushing themselves out of their comfort zones, and learning new ways of tackling problems and thinking creatively. The facilitators were wonderful, and within the first few activities, it was clear that this kind of experience was the perfect prelude to the important work of cranking out school development plans for the year.
From watching school principals fly through the air on the “Giant Swing” to seeing elderly village leaders scurry up obstacles with ease, the SAS team thought the crew was impressive. But once they witnessed the collaborative effort everyone put into the school development plans, they were blown away.
The SAS team was able to share the plans with the District Office of Education before the start of the school year on October 1, and projects are now under way with the strong support of the schools’ communities.