On October 9th the kids got a real treat: they took part in The Great Khmer Quest, a thrilling event inspired by the popular reality TV show, The Amazing Race. The Quest was the latest instalment of Phnom Penh Unplugged, a series of events ideated by Tony and meant to familiarize the kids with Cambodia’s capital, which lies just across the Mekong River from our campus. But this time, Tony left the planning and development of the event entirely to the staff, so Roxanne, Teacher Zal, and Sarath, our admin officer, had to roll up their sleeves and brainstorm to create a memorable day for everyone.
The race took the kids on an exhilarating chase across Phnom Penh, stopping at several landmarks that are architectural symbols of Cambodia’s heritage. The event was designed to promote teamwork, exploration, and friendly competition. And it wasn’t just the kids who got to enjoy the day. Tony and his two visitors from Belgium (David and Tom, who are longtime friends and collaborators of Little Hearts) got to participate too!
First, the kids were divided into three teams, with one adult added to each team for extra flavor. The Khmer Kites, sporting red colors, were made up of Maya, Jamie, Naomi, and Dara, with Tony as the leader. The Cambodian Clan, in blue kits, consisted of Chrissy, Sammy, Vandeth, Charlie, and Lisa, with David as their leader. And the Mekong Masters, wearing green, were Jules, Ennio, Bunrath, Dina, and Jeff, with Tom as their adult member. Nine of our older kids acted as race marshals and were deployed in pairs or threes to each race stop.
All teams started the race at the ferry terminal (Phnom Penh side). At each of the stops, they received a sealed envelope from one of the race marshals. Inside the envelope, they found a riddle or a question. Working together, they had to solve the riddle in order to identify the next location and then travel there as quickly as possible, on foot or by cyclo or Tuktuk. Every stage of the race had a time limit, and teams were required to complete the entire course no later than 5.30 pm, having started at high noon.
The stage destinations included iconic venues like the great dome of the Central Market (Phsar Thmei), an Art Deco landmark completed during the French colonial period; Wat Phnom, a temple closely associated with the city’s foundation; and the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, which is located on the former site of the most notorious prison used by the Khmer Rouge.
The terminus was Wat Langka, a much-loved temple in central Phnom Penh that dates back to the fifteenth century. Here, the kids were rewarded for their efforts with a short meditation session led by one of the pagoda’s monks, followed by a coach tour of the whole city.
And who won the race? Well… it was all about teamwork, creativity, and cultural discovery, of course, not about speed, and certainly not about winning or losing. (For the record, though, Tony’s team did arrive first.) And our visitors, David and Tom, got to see Phnom Penh’s best sights in a way that was much more fun than a simple tourist excursion. Oh, and it was Tony’s birthday, too, so the event was also a celebration. Happy birthday, Tony.
What a great day for everyone! And what a great way to get to know our city! Thanks to all for making it such an exciting experience, especially the staff for developing the concept so creatively and for their meticulous organization.
A special shout to our high school and university kids (Dalin, Elizabeth, Malee, Micky, Olivia, Danny, Michael, Ben, and Daleine) who acted as marshals and did a fabulous job of it. They not only steered all the teams and kept the race on track, but they also had to think quickly when adjustments had to be made on the spur of the moment, to make each task either easier or more difficult, depending on how the teams were faring. Well done, big kids!