We Can’t Change the World, But We Wanna Build a School in Cambodia (2011) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Kota was a medical student who was failing his exams and felt something important was missing from his life. When he discovered a pamphlet calling for help to build schools for Cambodian children, he saw it as an opportunity to make a real difference and find purpose.

• kota tanaka motivation
• medical student
• cambodia school project

Mitsuru was deeply affected by visiting a hospital that served AIDS patients and a museum dedicated to Khmer Rouge victims. The emotional weight of witnessing these aspects of Cambodia's trauma overwhelmed him, causing him to leave the trip early.

• mitsuru cambodia hospital aids museum khmer rouge

The IT company that had promised to sponsor their project was implicated in an insider trading scandal, which damaged the project's credibility and caused potential donors to withdraw their support.

• insider trading scandal sponsor it company fundraising failure

The donation boxes were vandalized repeatedly, creating additional obstacles for the fundraising effort. While the specific perpetrators aren't identified, this vandalism represented the broader hostility and skepticism the project faced.

• donation boxes vandalism sabotage fundraising

A Cambodian child sent Kota a letter written in Japanese, reminding him of the real human impact behind the fundraising numbers. The message renewed his belief in the cause and gave the team a renewed sense of purpose to continue their efforts.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, the group witnessed the children's resilience in difficult conditions, making this personal message deeply meaningful.

• letter from cambodia child hope renewal fundraising

The boy who had written to Kota in Japanese was needed to help work on the family's farmland. After the minefield near the village was cleared, the newly available land required the boy's assistance for farming, preventing him from attending the ceremony.

• boy minefield cleared farmland farming school opening ceremony

Kota went to the boy's parents personally and took up a hoe to help with farm work. By demonstrating that education could change the family's future and offering practical help, he persuaded them to allow the boy to attend the village school instead of working.

• kota persuades family boy attend school hoe farm work

The children were crossing an uncleared minefield near their village as part of their daily routine, demonstrating the constant danger that still shadows everyday life in Cambodia from the遗留 of past conflicts.

• children minefield cambodia danger uncleared village

After receiving the letter from Cambodia that renewed their motivation, the team organized three fundraising events with renewed energy and determination. These events, combined with their persistence through earlier setbacks, allowed them to reach the target amount.

• 15 million yen fundraising events three events target reached

Kota and Kaori's relationship hit rough patches as the project faced setbacks including the sponsor scandal and vandalism. The strain from failing results created tension between them, though Kaori remained a source of inspiration and support throughout the effort.

• kaori kota relationship strain fundraising setbacks tension