Newsletter 2002
The year ended on a happy note with a Khmer style Christmas party at my apartment which is now known as ACYC.(Australia/Cambodia Youth Centre.) Sounds impressive but it’s actually more of a halfway house or drop in centre for whoever needs a meal or a bed for a night or two or longer. The truth is I always do a head count every morning to see how many are sitting down to breakfast.
I’m happy to report that the year ended on a happy note with a Khmer style Christmas party at ACYC. In true Khmer tradition, large mats were spread out across the dusty, concrete ground where everyone sat cross-legged around the small cooking pots while a feast of noodles and marinated beef sizzled over the burning coals. Buds of colourful, scented candles floated in small bowls to create an enchanting theme to the evening.
Santa (Alias Da’Vid) made a surprise visit with a knapsack full of lucky dips. The wide eyed local children peered apprehensively at their first encounter with the bearded, red-suited, mythical stranger.
I’ve compiled a brief summary on what some of our students have achieved so far. The girls may be outnumbered but they’ve shown a determination to equal the boys.
I first met Dany when I was teaching at an organization that provides free lessons for the poor. Even then Dany displayed a determination to succeed and dreamed of attending University one day in spite of the fact that she was female and was expected to marry at an early age. But her biggest obstacle was that she came from an impoverished background. I was so impressed with Dany I decided to sponsor her. Dany is now studying for her Bachelor of English degree at a University in Phnomn Penh and I didn’t hesitate when she asked if she could also enroll at the Foreign Language School to improve her English skills.
Our only other girl is Saloon. She’s about fifteen years old and lives at a Missionary Orphanage.
Saloon is currently preparing for her Year 10 exams at Khmer School. She is also learning to play the violin and achieved a high score in her recent music exam. When Saloon asked for my help to study English at a higher level I was only too happy to help. She has now graduated to level 7 and has also asked to take computer classes.
Not to be outdone some of the boys have also achieved great results against.
Sophea is around Eighteen years old. He achieved an excellent pass in his third year accounting pass. I also met Sophea in one of my English classes. He was so keen to learn he begged me to tutor him privately. It was time well spent. Sophea is now enrolled at the Facualty of English as well as continuing his accounting his Accounting studies. Sophea lives at a Pagoda with the Monks who provide meals and shelter for the homeless. However Sophea is a regular at ACYC at mealtimes for a bit of extra nourishment.
Namee is approximately Twenty years old. He lives in an impoverished community on the outskirts of Phnom Penh.
I first met this remarkable young man when he walked into one of my English classes. After introducing himself he told me that he was unemployed and was using his free time teaching the children from the community for free. All he wanted was to observe my class so that he could learn how to teach properly. I was so impressed I agreed to train him.
Da’Vid is from an orphanage. He grew up in a refugee camp and never had the chance of an education so I was thrilled when he won a scholarship to study English. Da’vid is also studying Computers. He proves my theory that just because you don’t have an education it doesn’t mean that you’re not intelligent.
As for myself I’ve been preparing for the opening of the ‘ACYC’ School of English. Classes are finally underway with over twenty five eager students of various ages, ranging from teachers to motto drivers arriving on opening night for the free lessons. The open air classes are held in the dusty grounds of the courtyard, complete with mozzies and the occassional burst of monsoonal rain that sends everyone scurrying.
Photo of whiteboard with landlady
Finally to point out that teenagers from Australia to Cambodia are really not that different I’d like to share some of their joys and mishaps. I’ve watched on with pride as my young friends have bravely dealt with poverty, unemployment, homelessness, broken hearts, shattered dreams, damaged egos, death, joyous reunions with long lost loved ones, marriage, babies, football injuries, Major Zits and realization of dreams. All part of the picture of life on this amazing outer planet called Cambodia.
My Cambodian experience 