How time has flown past...

More than 8 years ago, when i first came to Cambodia, i had two lines of action that i was passionate about. One was starting the kindergarten known as Gems International School while the other was the Programme for the Spiritual Empowerment of Junior Youth. Both were equally dear to my heart because I have a special love for children and because i felt that education needed to be reformed. Both reasons are, of course, heavily influenced by my upbringing as a Bahá'í and countless accounts of divine confirmations. 

Today, as i was at the wedding of two of the longest-serving teachers at Gems, which was also attended by people from the bride's village whom i had gotten to know in the first year i was here but had lost touch with, i was moved by how time had changed so much. 

Gems International School is no longer mine. A board has been set up and I'd like to believe it belongs to the community of Battambang, as well as the worldwide community that has been supporting it all these years. I take pride in the efforts that were put in to ensure that the quality of education provided here is one that constantly improves as the teachers and administrators strive in action and reflection. 

The programme for junior youth, on the other hand, has come to the stage where the resource persons for the learning site are local Cambodians who are more capable than i will ever be in spear-heading the programme in this blessed country.

I believe it is time to move on... What exciting adventure awaits...? :)