MARIE POLLOCK/AIRDRIE ECHO Kendal Bayda and Jeremy Long will be spending the next four weeks volunteering in Cambodia.
Airdrie couple set to embark on orphanage volunteer program
By Marie Pollock — Senior Reporter
Airdrieecho.com
For Airdrie residents Kendal Bayda and Jeremy Long, a simple trip is not enough.
This week, the couple will be trekking to Cambodia for four weeks as part of the International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ) orphanage/childcare program. The two will be teaching English to students in the country.
"We just wanted to give back to some individuals who aren't as privileged as we are here," Long said.
The couple have both completed one year of university, and are planning to return to school in the fall.
Bayda, 19, who plans to study medicine, said she hopes the experience will open her eyes to the way people live in other countries.
"I just really wanted to see how other people across the world can be so happy with so little," she said. "I wanted to experience that from my own eyes."
Long, 20, is working towards an education degree and said the trip will help him gain teaching experience.
"For your first ever teaching experience, why wouldn't you want to be in this position?" Long said.
Bayda said she eventually wants to specialize in naturopathic medicine and thinks teaching and being in a third world country will give her valuable life experience.
"I want to be able to help people with their own resources that they have in third world countries," she said. "I'd like to help them learn how to use their own backyard herbs to help them heal themselves and create healthier lifestyles for themselves.
"I think it's going to give me some real insight into their culture, so that when I'm studying, I can really incorporate what I've learned by living there and what I've learned in school so I can be multi-orientated and travel as a doctor," she added.
The couple has paid for their own travel, accommodation, food and administration costs for the trip. They will also be taking toothbrushes and toothpaste for the kids, donated by local dentist Dr. Scott Bell, and pencils that have been donated by the dollar store on Airdrie's east side.
Long and Bayda left for Cambodia this morning and will begin their volunteer teaching assignment on Jan. 16. They will be keeping up a blog about their experience. The blog can be viewed at pearldmoments.blogspot.com.
By Marie Pollock — Senior Reporter
Airdrieecho.com
For Airdrie residents Kendal Bayda and Jeremy Long, a simple trip is not enough.
This week, the couple will be trekking to Cambodia for four weeks as part of the International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ) orphanage/childcare program. The two will be teaching English to students in the country.
"We just wanted to give back to some individuals who aren't as privileged as we are here," Long said.
The couple have both completed one year of university, and are planning to return to school in the fall.
Bayda, 19, who plans to study medicine, said she hopes the experience will open her eyes to the way people live in other countries.
"I just really wanted to see how other people across the world can be so happy with so little," she said. "I wanted to experience that from my own eyes."
Long, 20, is working towards an education degree and said the trip will help him gain teaching experience.
"For your first ever teaching experience, why wouldn't you want to be in this position?" Long said.
Bayda said she eventually wants to specialize in naturopathic medicine and thinks teaching and being in a third world country will give her valuable life experience.
"I want to be able to help people with their own resources that they have in third world countries," she said. "I'd like to help them learn how to use their own backyard herbs to help them heal themselves and create healthier lifestyles for themselves.
"I think it's going to give me some real insight into their culture, so that when I'm studying, I can really incorporate what I've learned by living there and what I've learned in school so I can be multi-orientated and travel as a doctor," she added.
The couple has paid for their own travel, accommodation, food and administration costs for the trip. They will also be taking toothbrushes and toothpaste for the kids, donated by local dentist Dr. Scott Bell, and pencils that have been donated by the dollar store on Airdrie's east side.
Long and Bayda left for Cambodia this morning and will begin their volunteer teaching assignment on Jan. 16. They will be keeping up a blog about their experience. The blog can be viewed at pearldmoments.blogspot.com.
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