Mech Sokha with Khan Pisey, a CCH Graduate CCH Youth Moving into the Bigger World CCH youth are participating in a wide variety of activities outside of the orphanage. For instance, student Soun Chetra, and young teacher Nam Sopheak have both been accepted into the Mekong Youth Network program in Thailand, founded by the well known Thai anti-trafficking leader, Sompop Jantraka. The Mekong Youth Network program is a one year course which trains young people (mainly young women) to become leaders throughout the greater Mekong region to raise awareness about the dangers of human trafficking. Both young women leave for northern Thailand in April. Congratulations Chetra and Sopheak!
Soun Chetra and Nam Sopheak As years progress, more and more CCH students will "come of age," and need to leave the orphanage to make their way in Cambodian society. A recent informal survey of CCH I & II and CCH/CDCC children shows the numbers and ages of children at both facilities:
The number of students about to leave CCH is not so great in 2007, but will clearly increase over the years, and CCH wishes to help prepare these young people for life after CCH. Every case is a little different. Some older children have no realistic hope of finishing high school, some might do so if they stay at CCH an extra year or two, yet others are doing well in school and will need support for local university study. Also, special opportunities arise, such as study at the Mekong Youth Network, mentioned above. And finally, a lucky few, such as Un Narun, will have opportunities for college preparatory and university study abroad. In recent weeks, Hans De Couttere, on behalf of the committee of FV De Stortkinderen/CCH Friends Belgium, referred Miss Jo Frederix, a teacher and volunteer for several months in a vocational school of the Sisters of Don Bosco in Phnom Penh, to Sokha to confer about vocational training issues. Don Bosco is a highly respected Salesian order of the Catholic Church. Sokha and Miss Jo met to begin a dialogue about the necessary steps to successfully move some CCH students from public education, to vocational training programs (pre-integration), and then to gainful employment. Currently, graduate Eng Vuthy is working at Chhuk Leap restaurant. His brother, Eng Ratha and Sok Phearin are training as cooks at Mitsamlanh Friends restaurant in the tourist area of Phnom Penh. Khan Pisey (see lead photo) works as an in-house tuk tuk driver for CCH I & II. Pisey and Vuthy no longer live at CCH, but are staying at Sakura/Kbalchroy warehouse, a property in the area between the Tonle Sap and Mekong Rivers, across the Tonle Sap river from the tourist area of Phnom Penh. Sakura/Kbalchroy warehouse is owned by Sokha, and was donated in 1997 by Ms. Osanai Mieko, Sokha's godmother and head of Japan Team for Young Human Power (JHP).
Sakura/Kbalchroy House Special Projects Many special building projects are currently underway at CCH which will enrich the lives of children there for years to come. Current or recent projects include:
Five New Second Story Dorm Rooms Going Up at CCH/CDCC
Sun Curtains at CCH II and Third Story of CCH I Business Building Under Construction
Security Gate Crew at CCH I Youth Leadership CCH students continue to participate in an array of "extracurricular activities." Keo Chanchesda works in his spare time at NGO-CRC (NGO-Committee on the Rights of the Child) as a paid employee. His sister, Keo Manin and her friend, Chhim Thavery are getting some shop working experience now at the Original Shop of the Charity Factory Foundation (see previous issues). Manin also attended a 2 day workshop run by NGO-CRC at the Cambodian Ministry of Social Affairs.
......Chesda, who works at NGO-CRC...................................Thavery, who works at The Original Shop Education News The success of CCH children at public schools does not happen by accident. In fact, life at CCH is organized to encourage good study habits. Not only is the paid staff concerned with this, but youth leaders are assigned in each dormitory room to lead study and cleaning activities. Children mentioned in previous reports continue to do well at school. Also, congratulations to Srey Nak at CCH I, who recently scored Number 4 in her class.
Sorla Elementary School Near CCH I & II .............................Srey Nak at CCH I (number 4 in her class)
Sokha serves as Chairman of the Cambodian National Selection Committee, whose purpose is to assist United World College in selecting 5 deserving Cambodian youth for scholarships at UWC's college preparatory programs in Costa Rica, England, Norway, Canada, and Hong Kong. This selection process is quite complex, involving formal testing of hundreds of applicants, to arrive at the five prized scholarships. CCH did not have applicants in the competition this year, but will in future years. Un Narun of CCH was a successful applicant last year, and now studies at UWC-SEA in Singapore.
Applicants for UWC Scholarships being tested at a school near CCH I
Volunteers at CCH Recent volunteers at CCH include Daria and Sandrian from Belgium, who donated education materials and two bicycles; Cecellia, from Finland, who is tutoring in English; and Teachers Without Borders volunteer Sharon Gregory from near Chicago, Illinois in the U.S., who tutored Chhin Sayorn in English for several weeks, and donated over $1,000 in materials and cash collected from friends back home. Also, local ongoing efforts by Cambodian NGOs help impart Cambodian culture to the children at CCH. In particular, Rey Yum is concerned with Khmer arts preservation, teaching children drawing and painting skills 4 days a week at both CCH I and CCH/CDCC. Cambokids does much the same thing for CCH children in the field of Khmer cultural dances. Most visitors at CCH are treated to the impressive Cambodian dances by the children, and notice the great artistic training and skill of many of the children.
Cambokids works with children at CCH/CDCC for dance during Christmas/New Years celebration
In related activities, CCH children performed Japanese traditional dance at the Cambodia-Japan Cooperation Centre in Phnom Penh. The three Japanese traditional dances were performed with great pride and confidence, and were much appreciated by the audience there. Mobile Library The CCH Mobile Library featured last issue continues its exciting activities. Not only has the Mobile Library made a second trip to Steung Meanchey dump, but recently went to Anlang Krangan, a poor village about 12 kilometers north of Phnom Penh, to do their program of drama, reading, art, and moral education. One great addition to the effort has been American Todd Eliasson, a writer (and former TV screen writer in Hollywood), who has recently come to live in Cambodia for two years. Todd has a degree in drama, and is working with the role players on a regular basis, to improve staging and acting skills.
Todd Eliasson---CCH Volunteer Drama Coach Health Care
Yes, going to the dentist is no fun in Cambodia either. In the past month, Sokha's wife, Pen Dany, took CCH children to Takhmao, in Kandal province, to visit a free dental care program there. Other health issues included one case of the mumps, and a few sore throats, but nothing serious. And Finally......
A study break at CCH........
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Contributors to this report: Content: Mech Sokha English Editing and Layout: Elia Van Tuyl Photos: Elia Van Tuyl
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