GAMING students have been visiting the killing fields of Cambodia in an initiative designed to broaden their horizons.
Level 3 extended diploma in game design students from Darlington College visited a memorial to the two million people killed by the notorious Khmer Rouge in the 1970s.
Around a quarter of the population of Cambodia were systematically persecuted and killed in a genocide ordered by the Prime Minister Pol Pot from 1975 to 1979.
The students visited the country to try and help teach English to local school children in a 15 day trip funded by the Department for Education’s Turing Scheme.
Student Robert Fenwick, 17, of Durham, said: “We visited the killing fields, a prison and torture camp, a pond where they killed children and a cave that contained victims’ bones. It was very powerful.”
Mitchell Dobson, 18, of Newton Aycliffe, added: “It’s amazing to think that half the population is under the age of 22 and that they are still clearing mines. But the temples were beautiful and it was fun taking a selfie with a monk and he took one of me.”
The students helped local pupils improve their English through story telling. “It was the closest way we could link it to our course which involves you having to be able to tell a good story,” said Mitchell, who is considering joining the RAF. “There was a lot of improvising and we used word searches and even Hang Man to break down the communications barriers.”
Robert, who hopes one day to work for a small independent games design company on virtual reality arena-style combat games, added: “We looked at content, the story, concepts such as good and evil and characters which were heroes and villains, eventually working up a full story.”
Cambodia also proved to be a bit of a culture shock for students in terms of the weather, which was hot and humid, and the food.
Students got to experience local delicacies including crispy grasshoppers and fermented duck eggs. They also had to make do with cold showers and bedroom fans which barely cooled the temperature at all when they were in bed.
“It has certainly made us appreciate the luxuries of our home,” added Mitchell.
Darlington College curriculum manager Paula Willis said: “The students all did so well in challenging conditions that were so different from what they are used to. They were very patient trying to overcome the language barriers, interacted extremely well with the local children and I think everyone benefited as a result.”
For more information on opportunities at Darlington College visit www.darlington.ac.uk.
