Page 172 - EMBRACE Book

Andy, Canada
“Hi everybody! My name is
Andy Tan and I am one of the
nine Agents of Change from
the EMBRACE Program
developed by Youth Challenge
International and ADRA
Canada. I am so happy to be
writing you from Sandan,
Kompong Thom in Cambodia
after a long and busy week of
activities, programs, and
ultimately… FUN! This
explains my goals, personal
and professional
development, and
observations on the field so I
hope this provides you insight
on what I have been able to
experience thus far. Let’s get
Photo: © 2019 ADRA | Frank Spangler started!
Prior to my departure in Toronto, I had two goals in mind: to
develop 1) personally and 2) professionally. It is safe to say
that after two weeks here in Cambodia, I have exceeded my
pre-departure expectations and grown tremendously from a
personal standpoint. This was my first international trip
outside of North America and doing so without family and
with “strangers” made it even more nerve-wracking.
However, these once “strangers” have now become my
family as we have fought for one another, supported each
other on our lows, but most importantly celebrated
wonderful successes together as a team.
Another huge personal goal of this trip was to find out more
about my culture and ultimately, who I am as a first-
generation Canadian of Chinese-Cambodian descent. Yes, in
my household there are existing Cambodian cultural
practices but I really wanted an emic perspective of all the
childhood stories my mother would tell me as she grew up as
a child in the Svay Rieng province. This trip has brought my
mother’s stories to life as they manifested in nearly all of our
daily activities in the project villages. I was certainly a
172 “momma’s boy” before but now I have developed an
unprecedented amount of respect for her and her abilities to
persevere through adversity, especially during the Khmer
Rouge era. I see the very same resilience and strength in her
as I do in so many other wonderful Cambodian mothers and
families I have met so far. If you are reading this mom, thank
you so much and I love you with all my heart!
My second objective of this experience was to develop
professionally. As a fourth-year nursing student from
Ryerson University, I have a passion for global health
nursing with a focused lens on health equity, health teaching
and education, and capacity building. Through my
observations of the current practices of the EMBRACE
project, there were many areas where I saw staff members
performing well beyond my expectations! Prior to the
implementation of the project, health access and education
were often challenges that mothers faced due to a lack of
existing resources and services in these remote areas. This
lead to high maternal and infant death rates that could be
easily prevented if their social and environmental conditions
were improved. Now, the project is currently implemented at
three districts (Rovieng, Sandan, and Choam Ksant districts),
which may sound quite insignificant in scope but in actuality
reaches out to more than 168 villages and 120 000+
Cambodians. As displayed, the issue of health equity is
significantly being improved upon as more mothers and
families in remote and disadvantaged villages are receiving
accessible health care.
Photo: © 2019 ADRA | Andy Tan
discussed in these forums addressed multiple nursing best In conclusion, if I had to describe my experience here in
practices such as maternal/newborn nutrition, breastfeeding, Cambodia in one word, it would be… life-changing. Life-
antenatal care, as well as other community nursing concepts changing because this was my first experience traveling
such as community development, advocacy, and outside of North America by myself. Life-changing because I
empowerment. Whether the activities were directly related am returning to the birthplace of my parents where I no
to nursing or not, I was able to see that they were all tailored longer have to listen to the vicarious experiences of my
towards increasing the capacities of mothers, fathers, and parents but rather, completely immerse myself into the very
children towards ultimately achieving health for all. core of the community to truly experience the “Cambodia”
Photo: © 2019 ADRA | Frank Spangler However, what amazed me the most about this trip was how way for myself. And lastly, it has been life-changing to be
dedicated, personable, and friendly the ADRA staff members
able to observe, learn, and absorb everything this beautiful
In terms of health teaching and capacity building, there were were in engaging the community members during the country and culture has to offer.” 173
a variety of methods implemented to teach and engage the activities. I was astonished at how they were able to deliver
community in order to develop their capacities. I witnessed rather boring and complex information to groups with When Andy and the other Agents of Change returned to
and participated in the various teaching methods that ADRA significantly low educational backgrounds in a fun, engaging, Canada they helped to raise public awareness of global
Cambodia employed including large group discussions, small and effective way. Whether it be women, men, or children maternal, newborn, and child health issues by organizing
group discussions, kinesthetic teaching, visual groups, each facilitator had a distinct ability to teach groups events and making presentations to groups of people.
demonstrations, and even large community engagements through true humanistic connection. I will definitely take
such as marches and rallies. Each technique was this with me back to Toronto and improve my own practice One of Andy’s events was the MMARC (Moving for Mothers
meticulously determined to maximize the group’s as a prospective nurse. and Resilient Children) Run which took place two years in a
participation and learning of the topic at hand. The topics row in Hyde Park, Toronto.