Life Goes On at CCH Recent issues have highlighted many special programs and new events at CCH. This month, we pause to remember that everyday life continues for the children and staff. All the children at CCH I & II and CDCC are back in public school. Once again, Sokha has given a welcoming speech at a school opening ceremony, and CCH dancers have performed. All children have passed up to the next grade, and some, including Sayorn, Phearith, and Rithy, studied so hard this summer that they have skipped Grade 8, and gone into Grade 9! Un Narun is now in Grade 11 at United World College in Singapore, and Keo Manin has enrolled in Grade 9 at the International School of Phnom Penh (ISPP). CCH has a new Football team. They practice at a nearby field. Children continue to help with cleaning chores. CCH staff teach supplemental academic and practical skills to the children.
Volunteers continue to be an important part of CCH life, including Ally Kukel and Todd Eliassen of the U.S., and Rey Yom Art teacher Amanda, plus regular volunteers from Panassastra University and the Japanese Embassy. These people perform services from drama coaches, to language instructors (Japanese, English and Khmer), to art instructors, enriching the lives of the children. Construction Projects Two large construction projects are now nearing completion. The multi-purpose building at CCH now has a third level complete. This level has three rooms total, which will be used as classrooms and study space for older students, Grades 5 through 11. The pig raising project at Sokha's farm property is also doing well. There are now 15 pigs.
Planned Trips Abroad Next month we expect to have big stories on two trips abroad by CCH children. Sokha and one student, Keo Manin, will attend a fund raising event on October 10 in New York City put on by the Happy Hearts Fund of the United States. This event will raise money for Happy Hearts Fund, but will also honor Sokha. Both Sokha and Manin are scheduled to speak at the event. Unfortunately, the United States Department of State turned down visa requests for nine other children from CCH and CDCC who were scheduled to perform traditional Cambodian dances. No such problem was encountered at the Japanese Embassy, and five children plus Sokha have been approved for a trip in late October to Japan to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the founding of Japan Team for Young Human Power (JHP), the organization responsible for providing founding grants to CCH back in 2002, and a very generous supporter of CCH ever since. Special Activities The CCH Road Show has taken the past few weeks to commit to writing the several original drama scripts developed by the children and staff together. Now they are ready for new original material, and will be out on the road again soon! Sokha gets many inquiries from villages and NGOs, suggesting new venues for performing the important dramas about trafficking, drugs and HIV/AIDS. The CCH Library program is being administered in a really creative way by 10 student librarians, who open the library twice a day, Monday through Friday for the younger children. The librarians have supplemented reading activities with dancing and drama as well. A big challenge for the library is to find more good books in Khmer, since there are very few of these suitable for children, outside of the usual school textbook materials. Plans are being considered for translation projects, to make good quality children's books in English more accessible, by translating them into Khmer. CCH Youth Angels continues to provide necessities to elderly people nearby to CCH. An impressive computer training project has been initiated at CCH II, thanks to a generous grant from a donor. CCH has recently purchased 10 new computers, which have been installed on the ground floor of CCH II. Three CCH students, Keo Chanchesda, Hout Ravuth, and Chin Sayorn have been assisting a hired teacher in instructing CCH children, and some local neighborhood children as well.
Management Team The CCH Management Team, consisting of Eng Phearith, Morng Srey Pao, Hout Ravuth and Keo Chanchesda attended a 3 day human resources development workshop in Sihanoukville this month, to learn about strategic planning and report writing. Upon their return, they continued their duties of meeting with younger children as mentors and advisors.
CCH Administration As always, Sokha and the CCH staff continue their work, day in and day out, taking care of all the children at CCH and CDCC. In this issue we note the passing of a faithful friend and supporter of CCH, Mr. Nop Sao, a member of the CCH Board of Directors, and Secretary to the Board. He will be missed by all the staff at CCH and CDCC.
Sokha and Staff meet at CDCC
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Contributors to this report: Content: Mech Sokha & Elia Van Tuyl English Editing and Layout: Elia Van Tuyl Photos: Hout Ravuth & Keo Chanchesda |
