The Pre-YEP activity was fun and an eye-opener for me. It was the first time that I had the opportunity to interact with so many PwDs. At first, I wasn't very sure how to strike a conversation because I was afraid that I would say something that is not sensitive. But, after trying to communicate with a few of them, I realised that they are people with similar interests despite the restrictions they may face. Everyone was very enthusiastic in participating in the activities. When asked to form the longest line, Group Funky contributed their utmost (literally.) Most of us lay down on the floor to lengthen the line, while those in wheelchairs cooperatively positioned themselves in line. Through that activity I saw how inclusiveness worked and even forgot in the competitiveness of the game that they were PwDs :). 

  I felt that the prior training we attended at AWWA came in handy as it helped me understand more about the various kinds of conditions that PwDs have such as muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy and also about the different types of assistive devices. During the training, the instructor mentioned that one of the difficulties faced by people who have cerebral palsy is the loss of muscle control.During the time when we had to decorate the paper aeroplanes, I realised that picking up a marker pen and holding it proved a challenging task for one of my group members. When I first passed him the colour he wanted, I thought he would be able to grasp it immediately and was a little surprised when he did not. He had to tell me to lift his arms from the wheelchair to place them on the table so that he could use the minimal control he had of his fingers to slowly but surely grip the marker. It never struck me until then, how tough it can be for a person who has lost muscle control to use a marker. I really admire his determination. Even though he may be restricted in muscular mobility, he could still participate in the decorating activity with the others despite the slower progress. 

  On the whole, what really amazed me was the spirit of determination, optimism and cheerfulness that all the PwDs have despite their challenges. They have helped me to see the importance of inclusion and opened my eyes to empathise with their difficulties. It was a good experience that has shown me that I have much to learn in helping PwDs in Cambodia.