Dedication Service - 10 Jun 2006

 

From the 9 to 11 June 2006, a group of invited guests and our Officers, led by our Brigade President, Mr Choo Gim Kang, traveled to Siem Reap, Cambodia to witness a new milestone for The Boys’ Brigade Learning Centre (BBLC).  The trip started early on the morning of 9 June, as we took a 6am flight up to Siem Reap, reaching there at 7 am, Cambodian time.
Having started our journey so early in the morning, it was only normal that the first order of the day was a hearty breakfast at Tonle Sap Restaurant.  After breakfast, we arrived at our hotel to check in and for a quick wash up.  After a much desired rest, the group made their way to the Angkor Wat to marvel at the high classical style of Khmer architecture. 

Meanwhile, Boys from the 18th Singapore Company Pipes and Drums Band donned their uniform to thrill Cambodians with some bagpipe music.  Our Bagpipe Band performed at the Puok District High School and the Royal Garden near the King’s Residence and Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor.  The music attracted much attention and curiosity among the Cambodian students.  It was indeed an enjoyable time for both the Boys and the students alike.

 It was another early day for the group on 10 June, as we make our way to the BB Learning Centre, located at Proyouth Village, Puok Commune, a 30 minutes drive from the Siem Reap City Centre for the Dedication Service.  Among the people attending the service were the BBLC students, their parents and local chiefs and pastors, as well as BB Officers and friends from Singapore, forming a gathering of almost 60 people.  The Dedication Service was officiated by Rev Canon Dr Louis Tay, our Brigade Chaplain, and the Bagpipe Band again treated the local Cambodians to rousing bagpipe music.  The Deputy Governor of Puok District and the Brigade President jointly declared the Learning Centre opened at the end of the Dedication Service.

During the dedication service, the students in BBLC presented two song items playing the recorder.  Boys and Officers from the 23rd Singapore Company had actually taught the students to play the recorders just two weeks prior to the Dedication Service.  Members of a local Khmer Church also presented a song item “How Great Thou Art”.  

Further contributing to the opening of the centre, the 12th Singapore Company and their sponsoring Church, Barker Road Methodist Church presented to BBLC a water filtration system to be installed at the centre.

Following the service, guests and Officers got to meet local villagers staying around BBLC through home visitation of the students studying at the BBLC.  The group was divided into 8 teams to visit 8 different homes accompanied by the students and interpreters.  The home visit certainly helped the guests and Officers understand and appreciate the objectives of the BB Learning Centre better.

It was a journey back home on 11 June, as we depart from Siem Reap, many of us took with us memorable and a deeper understanding of the work of BB Learning Centre and its impact on the students.