Cambodia Project, 2009-2010
MCMASTER FELLOWS
Jo Ann Burkhardt, Faculty, Education - This project is focused on developing culturally appropriate and accurate instructional materials for Cambodian teachers pertaining to the reign of the Khmer Rouge (1975-1979). In partnership with the Southeast Asian Children’s Mercy Fund these materials will be made available to the ministry of youth, education and sport within the government of Cambodia. This project addresses one of the goals stated by the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia is to discover the truth of the events of 1975-1979 in order to provide the Cambodian people with a unified history of the reign of the Khmer Rouge.
Fred Coulter, Faculty, Education - This project focuses on developing culturally relevant lesson plans that emphasize assessment of students' learning and have these translated into Khmer, printed and distributed to teachers in Cambodia. The lesson plans will be developed in conjunction with early childhood education majors at Defiance College.
ASSOCIATE FELLOWS
Don Buerk, Faculty, History - This project is focused on assisting the Learning Community particularly in the area of literature reviews. Additionally, Professor Buerk will be exploring options and connections for developing partnerships with organizations working with disabilities within Cambodia and developing contacts and potential partnerships with the two predominately English-language universities in Phnom Penh.
Jeffrey Weaner, Faculty, Social Work and Sociology - This project is focused on providing logistical support for the learning community. Additionally, Professor Weaner hopes to investigate opportunities with the Cambodian Women's Crisis Center to develop projects for future scholars to work with, especially in the area of data collection and analysis.
MCMASTER SCHOLARS
Harmony Beck, Junior, Early Childhood Education - This project will produce lesson plans that include directions on assessment of student performance. Lesson plans will be developed with the assistance of the ED430 Assessment of Young and Atypical Children class. Once lesson plans are prepared they will be translated into Khmer and distributed to teachers in Cambodia.
Julie Brunsman, Junior, Social Work/Psychology - This project will continue a former McMaster scholar's project - Cycle Bead program of natural birth control, with the Cambodia Women's Crisis Center. This project will also focus on providing information on identifying and avoiding sexually transmitted diseases.
Brittany Coats, Sophomore, Molecular Biology - This project is focused on creating a manual on the use of microscopes in diagnosing malaria in its various stages. Manual will cover identifying the different stages of malaria, how it is transmitted, signs and symptoms, incubation period, treatment and prevention and how to use the microscopes.
Rachel Flad, Senior, Forensic Science - This project is focused on providing filtration options for clean drinking water in response to arsenic testing conducted during the 2008-09 Learning Community. Filtration systems will be researched and identified with the goal of installing and providing maintenance instructions for 10 systems.
Amanda Johnson, Sophomore, Social Work/Psychology - This project focuses on developing a basic first aid and CPR manual that can be translated and left with the communities in Cambodia. Additionally, demonstrations/classes in first aid and CPR will be provided to the women of the Cambodian Women Crisis Center and to teachers, leaders and other interested parties in rural locations.
Kim Lammers, Senior, Masters in Business Administration - This project is focused on developing micro-lending opportunities for rural families and women in Cambodia. This project will partner with local Non-Government Organizations to manage the loans and payments. Project will also focus on developing sources for funding loans through grant writing and donations.
Tiffani Rose, Junior, Social Work - This project will work in partnership with the Cambodia Women's Crisis Center to develop a compilation of non-violent, non-competitive games to teach the children at the Center. Staff at the CWCC will be trained in adapting the games to various age groups.
Justin Schafer, Senior, Sport Management - This project will work in partnership with the Cambodian National Volleyball League Disabled to develop set of upper body strengthening exercises to assist wheelchair bound members. A basic program will be developed and presented to the members and staff of the league.
Andrew White, Junior, Early Childhood Education - This project will continue a former McMaster Scholar's project on active learning. It will focus on providing teacher training on active learning to teachers and principals in Cambodian schools.
Charlene Williams, Junior, Business Administration and Marketing - This project is focused on continuing the Micro-lending project carried out by a former McMaster Scholar. It will also focus on developing simple training materials to accompany the loans. This will be the third year of a projected five year project in cooperation with the Cambodian Women's Crisis Center and the Southeast Asia Children's Mercy Fund.
Rebecca Zebrowski, Junior, International Studies - This project seeks to continue the 2009 traditional medicine project and aims to synthesize the data previously collected and continue to collect additional data on traditional medicine practices especially in rural Cambodia.
