Page 173 - EMBRACE Book

Andy, Canada

“Hi everybody! My name is nursing with a focused lens on health equity, health teaching
Andy Tan and I am one of the and education, and capacity building. Through my
nine Agents of Change from observations of the current practices of the EMBRACE
the EMBRACE Program project, there were many areas where I saw staff members
developed by Youth Challenge performing well beyond my expectations! Prior to the
International and ADRA implementation of the project, health access and education
Canada. I am so happy to be were often challenges that mothers faced due to a lack of
writing you from Sandan, existing resources and services in these remote areas. This
Kompong Thom in Cambodia lead to high maternal and infant death rates that could be
after a long and busy week of easily prevented if their social and environmental conditions
activities, programs, and were improved. Now, the project is currently implemented at
ultimately… FUN! This three districts (Rovieng, Sandan, and Choam Ksant districts),
explains my goals, personal which may sound quite insignificant in scope but in actuality
and professional reaches out to more than 168 villages and 120 000+
development, and Cambodians. As displayed, the issue of health equity is
observations on the field so I significantly being improved upon as more mothers and
hope this provides you insight families in remote and disadvantaged villages are receiving
on what I have been able to accessible health care.
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.
Photo: © 2019 ADRA | Andy Tan
Another huge personal goal of this trip was to find out more discussed in these forums addressed multiple nursing best In conclusion, if I had to describe my experience here in
about my culture and ultimately, who I am as a first- practices such as maternal/newborn nutrition, breastfeeding, Cambodia in one word, it would be… life-changing. Life-
generation Canadian of Chinese-Cambodian descent. Yes, in antenatal care, as well as other community nursing concepts changing because this was my first experience traveling
my household there are existing Cambodian cultural such as community development, advocacy, and outside of North America by myself. Life-changing because I
practices but I really wanted an emic perspective of all the empowerment. Whether the activities were directly related am returning to the birthplace of my parents where I no
childhood stories my mother would tell me as she grew up as to nursing or not, I was able to see that they were all tailored longer have to listen to the vicarious experiences of my
a child in the Svay Rieng province. This trip has brought my towards increasing the capacities of mothers, fathers, and parents but rather, completely immerse myself into the very
mother’s stories to life as they manifested in nearly all of our children towards ultimately achieving health for all. core of the community to truly experience the “Cambodia”
daily activities in the project villages. I was certainly a 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
172 “momma’s boy” before but now I have developed an 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
unprecedented amount of respect for her and her abilities to
persevere through adversity, especially during the Khmer a variety of methods implemented to teach and engage the activities. I was astonished at how they were able to deliver
Rouge era. I see the very same resilience and strength in her 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
as I do in so many other wonderful Cambodian mothers and 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
families I have met so far. If you are reading this mom, thank 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
you so much and I love you with all my heart! 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
My second objective of this experience was to develop 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
professionally. As a fourth-year nursing student from meticulously determined to maximize the group’s as a prospective nurse. and Resilient Children) Run which took place two years in a
Ryerson University, I have a passion for global health participation and learning of the topic at hand. The topics row in Hyde Park, Toronto.