Send Your Students On A Learning Adventure

PEPY Tours has been partnering with junior and senior high schools and universities from around the world to offer educational travel experiences in Cambodia. Do you think that your Alma Mater or a school near you might be interested in sending its students to Cambodia for educational spring break, summer, or “J Term” trips? Our educational tours typically focus around development issues and a chance to learn about Cambodian history and culture. Here is a letter from one of the teachers who was a chaperon on a PEPY trip with junior high school students from an international school in Japan. Please spread the word to schools and teachers who might be interested in bringing educational groups to Cambodia by passing this along and sharing our email address: info@pepytours.com

Letter from Shauna Fitzmahan

To Whom It May Concern:

It is with great pleasure that I recommend your school join PEPY for a life changing educational tour. I decided to join a PEPY tour when I was a middle school teacher at Kyoto International School. Together with my 6th grade students, we went to Cambodia for ten days. I have organized several international service trips, but PEPY’s tour was by far the most professional, educational, and inspiring trip that I have ever attended.

From the beginning PEPY displayed professional excellence. They were extremely organized and ready to assist me during the organization of this trip. Parents, teachers, and students all had questions and concerns about traveling to a developing country. PEPY listened to our concerns and adapted our itinerary accordingly. At the same time they shared their knowledge of the region and aided us as we designed the itinerary to ensure our trip was safe and met our curriculum requirements.

As our departure date approached, PEPY supplied the teachers with educational preparation guides. There was a guide for both the teachers and students. These outstanding resources became a foundation for discussing what to expect in Cambodia and to prepare us for the excitement as well as the challenges of traveling in a developing country. It was clear early on that PEPY was no ordinary tour group; they were educators.

PEPY’s educational expertise became extremely apparent when we arrived. During our short ride from the airport to our hotel, we learned to count to ten in Khmer, the Cambodian language. Then at the hotel, we discussed what life was like in a developing country and how it was different than life in Japan. Using an interactive activity, students and teachers were able to discuss their different comfort levels. This exercise helped us to preempt possible problems we might encounter and develop a language to discuss these challenges. My fellow teachers and I were impressed with PEPY’s knowledge of educational strategies. As the days went by, I found I was learning not only about Cambodia, but about effective teaching as well.

During our ten days in Cambodia, the most inspiring activity was the student exchange at Chanleas Dai junior high school. During this time we slept in the village and worked and played with the local students. After only a few days we had made great friends.  Together we played games, learned about our home countries, painted their creative learning classroom, and made a book about the experience. This genuine and long-lasting service opportunity was made possible by PEPY’s experience in this community and their dedication to helping the Cambodian people.

PEPY is a professional, informed, and inspiring organization. I highly encourage you to consider touring with PEPY. They will change the way you think about travel, service, and education.

Sincerely,

Shauna Fitzmahan

Teacher College, Columbia University

New York City, New York