PEPY Testimonials

[PEPY Teamleader]

Tell us why YOU are here. What brought you to PEPY? Should others join? What do you have to say about PEPY that those looking to join might need to hear?

[Mandy Gatewood]

I decided to spend 6 months interning for PEPY because PEPY is such a dynamic, self-reflective NGO. I think that Daniela, Aline, Maryann, and all's commitment to working to help empower students and community members in Chanleas Dai is one of the most inspiring humanitarian acts I've ever had the good fortune of coming across. Furthermore, the PEPY trips are life-changers for those who come on them and lead them, and knowing that PEPY gives back to Cambodia while inspiring both Khmer kids and foreign travelers to give back -- while traveling, when they get back home, with every decision they make -- is the model of development that more tour agencies and NGOs need to work under. PEPY's commitment to partnering with other responsible NGOs such as RDI is yet ANOTHER reason that I knew I would learn tons about working in development while interning in Phnom Penh. As I left PEPY, I realized that I had learned more than I had ever anticipated due to Daniela's vast knowledge of Cambodia, the aid industry, and voluntourism. My time at PEPY allowed me to learn about and participate in all three of those things first-hand and the knowledge has already served me well in grad school.

Thanks so much to PEPY for being the organization that it is. I'm so thankful to be a part of it!

[Cara Lenz]

Hello all,
My name is Cara Lenz, and I went on PEPY tour in March 2007 for spring break. I basically was walking through the student union at Notre Dame, and saw a sign that said, "Want to go to Cambodia for Spring Break?" I just felt like I needed to add some adventure and spontaneity to my life, so I signed up! Honestly, it was one of the best experiences of my life. I feel I learned more in my week in Cambodia than I did in any academic classroom. As a side note, when I came back, I found myself applying much of what I learned in Cambodia to my classroom work. The world expanded right before my eyes as I experienced life in Cambodia. We rode in tuk-tuks, visited incredible NGOs, taught at PEPY elementary schools, climbed temples at Angkor Wat, and experienced the night life in Siem Riep. I'm pretty sure we did all of these things while drinking the delectable iced-coffees Cambodia has to offer! The trip truly altered my perspective on the world, and even inspired me to pursue a master's in elementary education, as I have encountered first-hand the importance education! I plan some day to return to Cambodia, but for now my computer desktop displays a photo
I took at Angkor Wat, as a daily reminder of the remarkable time I spent on the PEPYride tour.

[Kahori]

I wanted to know more the world after studying international relations in Norway and made many freinds from all over the world. My good freind told me about Pepy and decieded to donate littel money from my shop since I could not stop thiking it was do not fair that I could have afflent life but my freind from third contries could not. Why not do somthing for others who can't have enogh life?
In Combodia, I saw relality of life. This experience made me more stronger even I cried there!
I might be able to say you - if you want to open your eyes, go and feel. You would become parson who can undestand someone saffer. This is the international relations which is needed in this globalizeion era.

[Aileen Cameron]

During my first year on the JET programme I took part in a volunteer trip with Habitat for Humanity to the Philippines. That was my first ever volunteer trip and it made me realise that volunteering is a great way to travel, educate yourself, gain inspiration, and meet interesting and incredible people that you would never meet on a regular sightseeing tour. I hoped that I would have more opportunities to volunteer and travel during my time in Asia.

At the time of my Habitat trip, my friend Alison, a JET in Kyushu at the time, helped me out with my fundraising by buying a Habitat t-shirt from me. A few months later when Alison took part in a trip with PEPY, I returned the favour and helped her towards her target donation. About a year later, I heard that Alison was taking part in another PEPY trip. At this point I decided to check out what PEPY was all about for myself. Having travel plans that had fallen through that year, I decided to take part in a trip, since it had come so highly recommended among the JET community.

In Golden Week this year I took part in an experiential tour which, not surprisingly, was an amazing experience. In just one week we visited, met, worked with, played with, and stayed with some amazing people, not least the PEPY team themselves. I couldn't get my head around how Daniela knew SO much about Cambodia and how she kept so on top of every single thing that was going on in PEPY, other organisations, and the rest of the world at that very moment. During our evening discussions I was amazed and inspired by the passion and dedication of the PEPY team and the effect they had on the people around them. And I knew that in that one week we barely even scratched the surface of PEPY, Cambodia, education, and all the issues in between. I felt more enlightened and inspired by this trip than I had during my time in the Philippines and I know this is due to the enthusiasm of the people involved with PEPY and their commitment to educating others.

My friend Alison, the reason I became aware of PEPY in the first place, is now working as an intern in the PEPY Office. And I am trying to do my bit for PEPY on the JET side of things, so that others can have the same great experiences I did. Thank you PEPY for being a truly inspirational organisation!

[Alison]

So glad to hear how much you enjoyed your PEPY experience, and I know that everyone at PEPY is hugely grateful for all the fabulous work you do from Japan! Thanks Aileen, you rock lady! :)