Life lesson in how the other half live

02 May 2012

By The Record

Student from Mercedes College sets her sight on Cambodia to assist those in need.

Year 12 Mercedes College student Jocelyn MacRae wants to make the world a better place and has the runs on the board to prove it.

A volunteering trip to Cambodia in 2011 left the 17 year old so moved she is planning to return again this year.

Jocelyn, 16 at the time of her trip, spent more than two weeks working at the Rose Cambodia Rehabilitation Centre where she assisted in medical procedures and delivered aid to remote communities.

Jocelyn planned to wait until after school to volunteer in another country but when a knee reconstruction prevented her from attending a family holiday, she set her sights on Cambodia.

“In our society, we have people who complain about a scratch on their finger. I can honestly say before I went to Cambodia, I was one of those people,” she said.

Jocelyn and hospital staff often spent hours travelling via motorbikes, tuk tuks or taxis to provide medical treatment.

“The families we visited were usually the poorest and so unwell they weren’t able to move,” she said. “One visit was to a family with a nine-month-old baby. She had a club foot and required surgery.”

“They gave her a local anaesthetic and two seconds later, ‘snip’ – the surgery was done”.

Jocelyn was amazed at how the baby only cried for 10 seconds and it has been a constant reminder when she thinks about complaining she tells herself it can only be for 10 seconds.

“When you are having a bad day, know there is someone out there worse off and still smiling.”

Jocelyn said she wants people to ask themselves: if you want every child healthy and educated, what will you do to make this happen?