As you would have heard this afternoon, Mel is leaving us at the end of the term to work overseas. Mel will be taking on a volunteer position in Cambodia working for a Not For Profit in the area of education until the end of the year.
As you might understand this was a really difficult decision for Mel, leaving during a school year but after two trips to Cambodia, one in January, she knew there was a great need to help Cambodia with their education so when a position came up she knew it was the right thing to do.
In Cambodia only 40% of children finish primary school, less than 50% of children pass a standard maths test, 42% of primary schools don’t have a water supply and 51% of teachers have not completed high school. With an average of just 4.7 years of school you can see that this really pulled on Mel’s heart strings!
Mel will be working with SeeBeyondBorders, an organisation who aims to provide access to quality teaching and learning at school and will be based in Battambang.
She knows she will miss everyone very much but will leave her email address for everyone to keep her up to date on the happenings at Princes Hill Primary School. Make sure you drop in to see Mel in the next two weeks to wish her good luck.