AHHA Education is a non-governmental organization that provides holistic education to underprivileged students. The organization operates in several Southeast Asian countries, but I volunteered at its location in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The school in Phnom Penh serves both boarding and part-time students, with a primary focus on English education and vocational training to prepare students for future careers. You can learn more about AHHA Education by visiting their website!

During my time there, the school director asked me to paint a mural that would inspire students by highlighting the importance of diversity in education and the power of education in achieving one’s dreams.

My mural design features three students sitting in one of AHHA Education’s classrooms. The student in the middle, Shana, dreams of opening her own bakery. She was preselected to be included in the mural, and I drew inspiration from her story to create a vibrant dreamscape floating above the classroom. I used her favorite colors and incorporated a quote from her favorite movie, Moana, to make the piece more personal. Although I was initially nervous about painting three large portraits of real students, I was thrilled with how each one turned out.

Creating this mural was incredibly challenging due to limited supplies and the extreme heat. Cambodia’s climate is hot and humid, and the school did not have air conditioning. Additionally, I needed to dress modestly while working, keeping my shoulders and knees covered at all times. The paints were old and required a lot of thinner, and since I had never worked with that type of paint before, mixing and storing colors was tricky. Despite all these obstacles, I am deeply proud of the final mural and hope it continues to inspire AHHA Education’s students for years to come.