raise funds for construction materials and volunteers work with them to build their new homes. Upon arrival, group participants are greeted by Tabitha representatives before going to the headquarters where Janne Ritskes, Tabitha founder, briefs them on local village customs, safety, expectations, and her real-life experiences during the Khmer Rouge conflict. Students enjoy Cambodian cuisine at local restaurants, including Friends Restaurant, which trains street children to become waiters, chefs and managers. The learning continues when they visit Tuol Sleng, a school turned into a prison during the genocide in the 1970s, and the Killing Fields at Choeung Ek. The highlight of the visit is the trip into the villages to finish the construction of ten houses. Students, teachers and parents work in the blazing heat to nail down bamboo flooring, saw timber frames, and hammer tin siding. During lunch and water breaks, SAS students play games with the local children, bringing smiles and laughter to the entire village with their hilarious antics. When the houses are complete, Tabitha and SAS hold a brief ceremony in which each new homeowner receives a Tabitha-made quilt. The families move into their new houses that very night. Students in grade 8 who are interested in more information about the Tabitha trips should see Mr. Peter Cuthbert, Mr. David Hevey, Mr. Kurt Johnson, or Mr. Dan Chassagne. For information about the Tabitha Foundation, visit www.tabithasingapore.com. SINGAPORE AMERICAN SCHOOL
October 2010
21