The Green Room afternoon students taking a group photo at the Angkor Botanical Garden.
Poverty casts a long shadow, often depriving children of experiences many take for granted. For countless children living in urban poverty, the simple pleasure of an excursion or a fun outing can be unimaginable. This isn’t just about missing out on fun, it’s about the profound impact these missed opportunities have on their development, sense of normalcy, and overall well-being.
A significant contributing factor is the lack of awareness about free resources and community centers that could offer enriching experiences. Even when such opportunities exist, the harsh realities of daily life for children living in poverty often present barriers. They might be responsible for caring for younger siblings, contributing to household chores, or even working to supplement family income. These demands leave little room for leisure, making even a free trip to a local park or community event an unattainable luxury.
It’s crucial to recognise that for these children, something as seemingly small as a trip to a museum, a day at a playground, or even a visit to a local library can make an big difference. These experiences offer a crucial break from their challenging routines, expose them to new environments and ideas, and provide moments of unburdened joy that are vital for a healthy childhood. Without them, children are not only denied fun, but also opportunities for learning, social development, and simply being a child.
The Green Room on their first-ever excursion to the Angkor Botanical Garden.
In May, our Green Room students had the incredible opportunity to spend a day at the Angkor Botanical Garden. For many of our student, this wasn’t just a school outing – it was their very first adventure outside the classroom with their friends and their teacher, Sopheak.
For a lot of them it was their first time on a bus or even leaving their village for an adventure. This excursion for our young learners making this experience truly novel and exciting. It was a day filled with smiles, discoveries, and pure wonder.
This excursion was an integral part of their education program focused on their Garden course. In Semester 1, our students learned how to grow plants, the importance of composting, and the vital role insects play in a healthy garden. The simple goal of this field trip was to take everything they had learned in class and bring it to life in the garden.
At REACH, each class has its own garden box where students learn how to grow local vegetables like chilli, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Once harvested, the produce is cooked and served in the school canteen. It’s a hands-on way to help students understand where their food comes from and the effort it takes to grow it. Visiting the Angkor Botanical Garden gave the children a precious chance to connect what they’ve learned in class with the real world.
Their teacher, Sopheak, shared her observations, “The students have learned how to recognise plants, understand their environment, and appreciate how vital insects and compost are in a living garden.”
She also emphasised the profound importance of this kind of experiential learning, “Most children don’t have a garden at home, so giving them the chance to see, touch, and observe nature up close is so valuable for their understanding of the world around them.”
The students walking through the Gardens and admiring all the flora.
The Angkor Botanical Garden spans over 15 hectares and features a wide variety of local and tropical plant species organised in themed areas, including a rainforest garden, medicinal plants, orchids, and fruit trees. The students, filled with boundless curiosity and excitement, were able to recognise some of the plants they’d studied in class and eagerly discovered many new ones.
“I recognised the plants we have in our school garden. I was so happy to see so many colourful ones!” shared one enthusiastic student.
Another student shared, “I was really happy because it was our first trip with our classmates. I hope we can do another one soon!”
Throughout the day, the students took part in several fun and educational activities, guided by four members of the REACH team. They fed the fish in the garden ponds, observed the many animals that live there — including monkeys, peacocks, ducks, chickens, fish, and even ostriches — and ended the day with a drawing session in the garden library.
“I loved seeing the animals, especially the ostriches and the monkeys — they were so funny!” laughed one student.
Later, each child drew what they had observed. Drawing helped them process the day’s experiences and focus on what did they saw.
Taking a break from exploring, the students sat down and drew what they saw that day.
For the students in the Green Room, this outing will remain in their memories. More than just their first outing together, it’s an opportunity to get away from their everyday lives. Many of them don’t have the chance to live this kind of experience with their families. In many homes, children are expected to help around the house from an early age. As a result, they spend little time discovering or enjoying extracurricular activities. That’s why visiting the botanical garden aroused so many positive emotions and enthusiasm. At this age, every moment is felt more intensely, and emotions are stronger. During the visit, the children laughed and marveled, and their curiosity showed just how important this outing was to them. For them, this outing represents much more than just going to see plants, it’s above all a moment of freedom, where their curiosity can express itself.
The children also deepened their understanding of composting — a topic they’d already been introduced to in class. Some already knew how to make compost at home using organic waste like banana leaves or paper.
“Thanks to this class, I learned how important compost is and how it works. I even told my parents about it because we have a little garden at home,” said one student.
That’s exactly what we aim for — learning that doesn’t stop at the school gates but continues into students’ homes and families.
This special day wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of Geoff and Toni Hewitt, our Garden Program sponsors. Since extending our Garden program as an elective to our classes, our amazing program sponsors have been supporting enriching learning experiences like this memorable field trip.
As one student excitedly shared, “I was so excited. It was fun to take the bus with my friends. I really want to go again!” Another joyfully added, “It was the first time I went outside with my school. I loved it!”
Three students posing in the bus on the way to the Angkor Botanical Garden.
At REACH, we firmly believe that learning doesn’t just happen behind a desk. When children are given the chance to explore, observe, and interact with the world around them, they develop curiosity, creativity, and a deeper understanding of their environment. These are the foundational tools they need, not only for personal development, but to become change makers in their communities.
This day at the Angkor Botanical Garden showcased just how impactful one excursion can be, reinforcing classroom lessons and creating unforgettable memories for our students.
