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Health students inspired by Cambodia
A University of the Sunshine Coast student who worked to reduce illness among Cambodians in a village with an arsenic-tainted water supply has been inspired to continue helping from Australia.
Tynan Narywonczyk, 27, of Narangba, was one of three USC Health Promotion students who spent almost three weeks in Cambodia on work placement.
Laura Willoughby, 24, of Twin Waters, and Meah Paans, 26, of Minyama, also self-funded their trip, which is being assessed as part of their degrees.
“I’m so rapt the University offers these experiences,” said Tynan, who also did a work placement in Fiji last year.
“It will definitely help me get a job, when an employer sees my hands-on role in a project that’s now up and running in another country.”
Laura described the trip as a cultural learning experience that had opened opportunities, such as connections in Cambodia.
“I want a career working in rural and third world settings,” she said. “The placement helped me understand the practical components of my USC course and gave me a headstart in subjects such as Implementation and Evaluation.”
Meah said she gained practical experience in Health Promotion as well as greater cultural awareness. She encouraged other students to take advantage of USC work placements.
The students chose A-Loch, a village of 400 people in the Kratie province in northern Cambodia, because of Tynan’s previous voluntary work with the not-for-profit Newlife Foundation that aims to relieve poverty.
“In A-Loch our needs assessment helped determine three priority health issues: arsenic in the drinking water, malaria and malnutrition,” he said.
“We determined with local experts and Newlife that the contaminated tube well had to be dealt with first. We then engaged the community to develop three public health strategies based around water filtration, partnership and water education."
The students said cultural differences and translations proved interesting in the focus groups.
“It’s challenging but I have a personal passion for this now,” said Tynan, who intends to start a Masters in December.
“Since returning to Australia, I’m advocating for a totally new water source for the village, possibly a hand-dug well.”
Work Integrated Learning Course Coordinator Lyris Snowden encouraged more USC students to take advantage of opportunities for placements in industry or communities.
– Julie Gatehouse