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The Piedmont Highlander

The Piedmont Highlander

Bastow shares experiences with Caring for Cambodia

Bastow+shares+experiences+with+Caring+for+Cambodia

The Chief Operating Officer of Caring for Cambodia Natalie Bastow spoke at PHS as a Voice Cooperative guest on March 4. Voice Cooperative is a student-run club that arranges for speakers to share their experiences and stories as a way to promote diversity and empathy in the school community.

In her presentation, Bastow discussed her involvement in bringing education and health care to children and families in Cambodia.

“Be bothered,” Bastow said.

IMG_1451But what does that mean, to be bothered? Bastow said for her, being bothered means remaining connected to the issues that need to be changed, such as the little access to education in Cambodia, and working to make a positive impact on these issues.

“Seeing the difference we make, seeing the first graduating class that we worked with that’s why I’m still bothering,” Bastow said.

In her speech, Bastow highlighted the mass genocide that occurred from 1975-79 under the Khmer Rouge, in which approximately two million people were killed. After visiting Cambodia, Bastow said she became aware of the vast and detrimental impacts of the genocide, as families were struggling to survive and send their children to school.

“Knowing that education is my passion, and seeing how the teachers could barely teach in Cambodia I knew I needed to get involved,” Bastow said.

Bastow said she has had an incredible experience with Caring for Cambodia and encourages others to get involved in making sustainable change.

“It doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you are passionate about it,” Bastow said. “For me, that passion was teaching.”

Senior Tess Olcott, who is co-president of the Caring for Cambodia club at PHS, said came to the event to show support for Bastow and for the organization.

“My fellow co-president Audrey Meyersieck and I were really excited for Mrs. Bastow to come and talk about the organization and her personal experiences,” Olcott said.

Olcott said she and Meyersieck got involved after hearing about a lack of youth involvement in the organization. Since then, Olcott said they have been promoting the cause and organizing drives for basic healthcare items and educational materials.

“I really liked hearing her sentiment that it’s much easier to make a difference and leave an impact than you might think,” Olcott said.

Junior Emily Rexrode said she decided to attend the event and learn more about Cambodia after seeing VoCo signs around campus.IMG_1483

“I am one of the founders of Culture Club on campus, where we try to make issues that don’t get as much attention more prevalent,” Rexrode said. “I thought, how cool is it that another group is trying to do the same thing both Voice Cooperative and Caring for Cambodia.”

Rexrode said she enjoyed how Bastow focused on the importance of Cambodian issues as well as the broader issue of why we should help other people.

“What I liked about this organization, Caring for Cambodia, is that they recognize that they can’t just contribute by building a school,” Rexrode said. “They know they need to sustain it by teaching the community.”

Bastow said she hoped to emphasize the importance of finding worthwhile and meaningful work.

“No matter what, find your passion, and make the world a better place through it,” Bastow said.

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