Newsletter 2006

This year most of our students are from the impoverished town of Battembong that is near the Thai border. The students live at a Community Centre for the poor in Phnom Penh. I was fortunate enough to meet them all while I was teaching English at the Centre. I was more than happy to sponsor these talented young people in art and computer lessons while they continued with their English classes.

Below is a bit of background information on some of these wonderful young people.

Sinoun is approximately seventeen years old.

She’s studying English and is learning to draft patterns to make clothes to sell at the market. Sinoun hopes to return to her village to start her own small business.

Heng is about sixteen years old. He’s currently in year 6 at Khmer school. He is also studying English.

Heng is a gifted artist as you can see from his charcoal portrait of Rouhut.

Heng is also a gifted musician and plays in the school band at the Community Centre for the poor.

When I aske  Heng what he wanted to do in the future he answered that all he ever wanted to do was to draw. A sample of his work was shown to the Director of Fine Arts. As a result Heng was accepted into Art School. He chose a bright canary yellow bicycle worthy of any artist to get him to and from class across town. Heng loves to play footy and often spends the evenings and most of the weekends at ACYC where he loves to cook.

Ly is about sixteen years old. He has had very little schooling. Ly came to the Community Centre for the poor after his parents died and his ailing grandmother could no longer care for him. Ly is currently studying English. He shows great promise as an artist and he was recently accepted into art school. Ly chose a bright red bicycle to ride to classes, reflecting his cheeky personality. Ly also loves footy. He spends most of his free time at ACYC and loves to cook himself up a feed of stir fry beef and noodles that he shares with his mates.

Dina is approximately eighteen years old. He is currently in Year 9 at Khmer school. He is also studying English. Dina is very talented and has been accepted into art school. He chose a more subdued BMX to get him to classes. Dina also loves playing footy. He spends most of his free time relaxing at ACYC where he is quite happy to eat whatever dishes his mates cook up while his is watching VCD’S.

Radda is a very bright sixteen year old. Her English is of a high standard and she often acts as interpreter for lower level students.

She is also learning to use the computer and enjoys surfing the net that has broadened her knowledge of the outside world. Radda dreams of becoming a hairdresser some day and having her own small business.

Chantrea is about seventeen years old. She is studying English and is also learning to use the computer. She loves using the Internet and receiving emails from Volunteers who keep in touch after they have left. Chantrea dreams of starting her own beauty salon some day.

A very generous sponsor has kindly donated towards the cost of helping Radda and Chantrea continue with their studies.

Twins Hour&Hout happily learning how to use a computer.