AISHK Teacher Supports Educators in Cambodia Through REECH
- 11 minutes ago
- 2 min read
At AISHK, our teachers' commitment to service extends far beyond the school gates.
Mikayla Barratt, Primary Learning Support Teacher, spent part of her summer break volunteering in Cambodia with REECH Cambodia, an Australian charity dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty through education. Through professional learning workshops, wellbeing initiatives and practical teaching support, Mikayla worked alongside local educators to strengthen educational opportunities for children and communities across the country. She shares her experience below.
“Over the summer break, I travelled to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, with a team of Australian educators and psychologists in partnership with REECH Cambodia."
"Together, we delivered professional development workshops in English and Khmer for more than 80 educators across Early Childhood, Primary, Secondary and school leadership streams. These teachers work in exceptionally high-need settings, including rural farming communities, informal community schools and local non-profit education centres. It was a powerful reminder of the important role education plays in creating opportunity, hope and long-term change."
"I facilitated professional learning sessions on literacy, numeracy and positive behaviour management, sharing practical, evidence-based strategies to support student learning and wellbeing."
"One of the most meaningful parts of the experience was supporting educators' wellbeing. Many of the teachers we worked with carry significant emotional and professional demands, often with limited resources. Creating space to discuss individual wellbeing and self-care reminded me that caring for educators is essential to caring for students."
"What stayed with me most was the extraordinary resilience, warmth and generosity of the Cambodian people. Their eagerness to learn, share and strengthen their practice was deeply humbling. I left Cambodia with a profound sense of gratitude, not only for the opportunity to contribute, but also for everything I learned from the educators we met. "
"It was an honour to represent our school community abroad, share pedagogical practice and support REECH's vision of building brighter futures through education.”
