I recently spent a super weekend with friends in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
As part of the trip, we took a day out to visit some schools built by the literacy charity Room To Read. Over the years, I’ve undertaken fundraising for the charity – and so I wanted to see their work in the field.
With approximately 50% of the population living on less than USD $2 per day, Cambodia is a very poor country. So, travelling through the rural landscape to visit the schools was a real eye opener. Cambodia also has a shocking problem with the trafficking of young girls.
So, learning to read and get an education provides the next generation of Cambodians with a passport out of poverty and the subsequent problems it creates.
Humility and Inspiration
As you can imagine, visiting the schools in this part of the world was humbling and inspiring. But also, a lot of fun.
We sat in the back of a class and observed some lessons and listened in on some group discussions (not that we understood what was being said!). We played some team building games with the students in the school fields – and even took part in a reading competition combined with a sack race (no joke!).
It was humbling seeing children taking huge pride in being able to attend school and learn.
Confidence
But what impressed us most was the confidence of the students in standing up in front of a class to present and share their ideas. We saw students ranging from the age of 11 through to 16, reading passages in books, presenting ideas on a flip chart, standing up to answer questions.
Hats off to the schools and team at Room To Read for providing the students with mentoring and life skills training to create more rounded students beyond the regular classes.
Apparently, the students were trained to present so that they then had the ability to present to their families and villagers about what they were learning at school. One of the biggest threats to the students not completing their education is the parents pulling them out of school to work on the farms and help the family earn a living and put food on the table.
So beyond reading and writing – the ability to influence and persuade was super important.
You Need To Present and Influence
Throughout the day, me and my friend kept saying “Many of the adults we work with can’t stand up and present – yet these kids are doing it without any hesitation!’
How very true.
Your ability to present yourself (formally or informally) will have a direct impact on your career and business success. Just like the Cambodian students.
Not everyone is going to be a platform speaker. I get that.
But every one of us needs to have the ability to present our ideas and influence others. Every one of us at some point will need to sell ourselves as part of a business pitch or job interview process.
Some Homework For You
1. Take every opportunity present and speak up
That’s the only way to improve. By “doing.”
Not reading books, not watching YouTube, not going on courses. Sure they help….but the improvement comes from doing the speaking.
2. Screw Up
Chefs sometimes burn food. Skiers sometimes fall over. Presenters sometimes screw up. That’s all part of the process. So expect it. Just learn the lessons and pick yourself back up when it happens.
3. Be courageous
There’s a 13-year-old girl in a Cambodian village whose parents are illiterate. She’s the first person in her family to be able read and attend school. By getting an education she has a chance of helping her family escape the poverty trap and build a brighter future.
When she’s asked to speak in front of a class….she has butterflies in her stomach and gets anxious. But she still pushes through because the fear of failure in front of the class is not a big as the fear and uncertainty that comes from not developing those critical skills of presenting and influences others.
So if you feel a little scared and nervous about presenting – just remember, its a small price to pay for a brighter future.
To see pictures of the Cambodian schools and the super students we met, click here
To learn more about ‘Room To Read’, click here
