Smart Kids

Hello Everyone,

We would like to update you about a program that K.I.D.S. implemented about four years ago for 23 young people ages 12 and up. For those new to our posts, the Smart Kids program is for rural children who live in an area called Kompong Khleang on the shores of the Tonle Sap Lake in Central Cambodia.

Family incomes are very low in this area and derived mostly from fishing and labour. The main sources of employment are the brick factories. Sadly, not only do the parents work in the factories, but the children from about the age of six or seven upwards also work there due to low wages that are paid to the parents. The working conditions are not good with many of the children operating dangerous machinery and stacking bricks in the kilns.

The Smart Kids program supports one child from each family and assists them in all their education related expenses, such as: uniforms, school supplies and the all important bicycle so they can commute back and forth from school to home. In addition, we provide Cambodian school costs and have hired an English teacher to instruct them every afternoon. Hak, the program manager, supplements the English classes with tutoring every Sunday as well as counselling and moral support for the children. We recently brought out some donated computers and the students are very keen to learn computer skills.

After unpacking the small laptops and helping them to get started with typing tutorials, one boy was typing with the correct fingering on the keys, slowly but accurately, within five minutes. Stunned we asked him if he had ever used a computer before and he said no. He then produced a photocopy of the silhouette of the right and left hand with all the corresponding letters and numbers written on each finger. He had memorized each finger and had been using an imaginary keyboard to remember the fingering at home. With the  enthusiasm expressed by the other children they are not far behind him.

Lekena in front of her house.shop

You would never know by the crisp, clean look of their school uniforms the difficult housing situations these kids face. Some families are provided with very substandard housing either in the factory itself or on the factory grounds. We feel very sad that we cannot help the children in the factories as the owners will not allow it. Many of the families outside the factories are squatters, so we cannot improve their situations either because they do not own the land and cannot rebuild. One of the worst housing situations we saw is for a girl in the program named Lekena. Lekena's house was literally falling down the dirt slope. The family luckily owns the land where their dilapidated, rotten and crumbling home/store sits, maybe 3 feet from the edge of the narrow road, as cars pass by dangerously close. The family sells small things from the house to get by.

Three feet from the road

Slipping down the slope

Lekena's mother built the existing house, as a single mom, ten years ago while she struggled with a serious heart condition. While building the house, she could work for only a few minutes at a time and had to stop to rest and catch her breath (fortunately by another stroke of good luck, her heart was fixed by an NGO last year). Lekena's mom remarried and together with the dream of a more substantial home they all worked, saved and bought the main support poles and floorboards in the hope of buildings a more permanent and nicer house for their family of six. In addition to the small store they operate out of the house, Lekena's mom knits hats for a bit of extra money and her husband is learning small engine repair.

Long story short K.I.D.S. provided funds for roofing, walls, concrete columns and some more structural wood to add to what they had accumulated over several years. The family then called on friends and family to help them. K.I.D.S. provided a bit of funding for a builder to oversee all twenty-some people that volunteered with the building. The new house, though not totally completed, is well on the way and Lekena and her family can finish the rest by themselves.

The old house, the new house and Lekena's family

It will be a relief for us to know that when the rainy season comes, the family will no longer have a muddy dirt floor, a very compromised roof overhead and will no longer have to worry about being injured by a car while inside their home as they are now off the road. They could not thank us enough and in turn we pass their thanks on to all of you.

Ten new Smart Kids

We are also happy to say that thanks to the Compassionate Eye Foundation, ten more young people will be sponsored for this program. This brings the number to 33 students. It is our hope and theirs that through education these great kids can break the cycle of poverty and child labour and assist their families in the future.

All the best,
Rick and Adrianne

Going Green

Hi Everyone,

As many of you know one of the projects we continue to admire and support is The Lake Clinic Cambodia (TLC). The Lake Clinic brings medical treatment to communities living in very isolated areas of the Tone Sap Lake and the Stung Sen River. Each week a team made up of a doctor, nurse, midwife, registrar and cook load up their equipment and medicine and travel on the TLC boats to the floating clinics which were funded by KIDS, Compassionate Eye Foundation and Impact Norway. The villagers travel by boat to the clinics to seek free medical attention and medicine. TLC also offers dental care. Without this amazing program the villagers would not be able to access health care as they cannot afford to travel the long distance to clinics on shore. The teams are comprised totally by Cambodian health care professionals. Sometimes foreign volunteer doctors and nurses travel with them.

The logistics of operating in these isolated villages can be very challenging. Due to the distances needed to travel to access remote villages fuel is a major expense for TLC and this very valuable healthcare program. As with many environments in the world the lake has issues with pollution. Not wanting TLC to be part of the any environmental damage Jon Morgan, the Director of TLC, has committed to using bio diesel fuel. The bio fuel is produced in an environmentally friendly manner by Naga Biofuels here in Siem Reap with recycled cooking oil from the tourist industry. To assist TLC KIDS is very pleased to be able to fund the biofuel for this entire year so the TLC can carry on an emission free mission. What good is a lake clinic team without transportation, so while the medical team provides the know KIDS provides the go.

So we headed out to the lake and called a meeting at 

the school where we showed them the video and discussed the building plan. We picked two team leaders, a boy and a girl and formed two teams of 17 or so students. One named themselves the rabbits and the other the lions. We then got into the fleet of paddle boats, that the children commute to school in and headed out to the closest hyacinth patch behind the school.

Savan the project manager

Here is the short version of the story; together we got the beds built, taught the children how to create a garden with locally sourced free material, eradicated/repurposed a couple of tons of invasive hyacinths and had the most incredibly fun filled, smile till your cheeks ached day that we will remember forever.

Please check out the link below to the video of the garden construction project filmed and produced by Patrick Firouzian from Global Roots.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Eof3o_RYnY

Taking a break

After leaving the beds to compost for a couple of weeks the gardens are now planted, we are sure there will be issues...such is the farmers life. But we hope that this low tech and cheap source of food increases the nutrition and future health of the children and in the long run will result in more time in school and less time at the Lake Clinic.

As with children everywhere by educating them we are placing their future in their own hands.

Thank you to everyone involved.

We Will Keep You Posted

Rick and Adrianne

Bathrooms for Girls

Hi Everyone,

Hope this finds you well. We were recently out at Sarsasdam High School where we have been building a bathroom facility for girls and women teachers. The high school only had four toilets for about 800 students.

In Cambodia 67% of people don't have access to adequate sanitation and this especially affects girls and women. When a girl in Cambodia hits puberty she is faced with a lack of private, girls-only space to wash and so she stays home, missing many days of school. Her grades suffer, which may cause her to drop out of school altogether. It has been proven in developing counties that when a girl stays in school, everyone benefits. Educated girls turn into empowered women; they invest more in their families, children and communities, resulting in higher economic growth for the whole society.

When we found out how few toilets there were at the high school and how difficult this must be for the girls and female teachers, we decided to try and find funds for this project. Thankfully the Compassionate Eye Foundation agreed to fund the washrooms. Now girls not only have more bathrooms, they have a private sink, toilet and water reservoir in each stall. We also installed mirrors so they can comb their hair. The girls and teachers are thrilled to have this private area.

Together this project has not only given girls their dignity it has improved their education and their health. Thanks to Compassionate Eye for their support and to all of you for your support of KIDS.

All the best to you and yours,

Adrianne and Rick 

Water Works

Hello All,

K.I.D.S recently completed another water project north of Siem Reap for a rural primary school. Last year when we first visited the school we were surrounded by hundreds of small children. It was not hard to tell from looking at them that many would be under the national standard for weight and height.

K.I.D.S assists several schools in this area, called Pouk District. Each year we try and increase the capacity of a school by providing clean drinking water, educational materials and a library if possible. We are always looking further down the road to the next school; a little more isolated and with many children in need.

Looking into this school's existing well we could see what is always a contributing factor to the health and well being of these children; murky, dirty water that has proven time and again to keep the children ill with chronic, stomach and digestive issues. This past year we partnered with Lush and their "Charity Pot Giving Program". Thanks to Lush we have been able to install a clean drinking water system for hundreds of children. The Cambodians call it tuk sa'at or "beautiful water".

We arrived at the school in the morning to see the completed water project and to deliver school supplies and school uniforms. We distributed the school supplies and left the teachers with the job of giving out the uniforms as they could do it on child-by-child basis identifying the poorest children.

Once the children received their books etc. they went and had their fill of drinking water from the water project. Of all the improvements to children's lives that K.I.D.S. provides, thanks to your collective generosity, one that stands out and fills our hearts is to see children drinking to their hearts content. Watching them chatter and jostle at the taps, as happy kids should, is always a very touching and gratifying experience.  

Here, as with all the other water projects, the children will be able to satiate their thirst with no limits and take some clean drinking water home at the end of the day to share with their families.

As we well know, being ill from drinking dirty water is both exhausting and depleting. It is good to know that now at this school children have a much better chance to learn and be healthier thanks to the gift of clean water. When it comes to improving the lives and the ability for children to thrive clean drinking water works.

All the best to you and yours,

Rick and Adrianne

New School, New Year

Hello Everyone,

Hope you all had a good Christmas. We were up in the north east where KIDS is involved with the Stung Treng Women's Development Center (SWDC). They produce high quality silk scarves and fabric. At SWDC the weavers make a good living wage in pleasant working conditions and can also bring their children to the onsite daycare/preschool that KIDS provides funding for.

We also built and fully fund a pre school for 2 to 5 year olds in the village behind SWDC. We built the school 7 years ago. It is a wooden building and has served its purpose well. In the compound of SWDC the Allen Foundation, from the UK, recently completed an addition to the original small onsite daycare. It is a much larger and brighter building with two classrooms and a large open area in between the classrooms as well as a covered playground out front. As we support the two teachers at the SWDC school and three at Srey Poh, we have decided to close Srey Poh School and move all the children, teachers and resources into the SWDC on site school.  The village school is only a five-minute walk from SWDC so it is not a far distance for the children to attend the new building.

 When we built Srey Poh School we had the piece of land donated by a family and in exchange KIDS built them a new wooden house, as they all lived in a small shack covered with rice sacks and tarps. We also built five wells for the community. Some of their land was given to Srey Poh School on the condition that it would be used for the benefit of the community. So we have donated the land and building back to the community and it will have several possible uses including: a library, community education and training center and a venue for weddings, funerals and community events. The assistant Governor of the area thanked KIDS for our donation and all the parents are happy to see their children attend the new school, which is much more secure. The teachers will be able to share resources and work together as a team. They are all doing a terrific job and when the children go on to primary school they are both well behaved and very well prepared for learning and are often the top of their class. The teachers work hard to teach a holistic curriculum including: social skills, cultural awareness, hygiene, creative play, and of course reading, writing and math. KIDS provides the children with a great meal every day with all the food groups and one healthy snack so they are thriving. As well SWDC now runs a health clinic funded by Kindred Hearts Canada and so all the children receive free healthcare. Children that came to the school with health, nutritional and failure to thrive issues are now singing, dancing and are healthy...it is wonderful to witness the difference.

As this New Year begins, the children have a new school, the community has a new community centre and each child has a new and improved opportunity for a healthier and happier future.

We wish you all a happy, healthy and meaningful new year!

With appreciation,

Rick and Adrianne

Compassion and Gratitude

Dear Friends,

As we head into the holiday season it is often a time for celebration and reflection. We were thinking about two words that represent how we are feeling at this time of year and the words that come to mind are Compassion and Gratitude.

Working here in Cambodia and being able to provide basic needs and opportunities for children, youth and families has been made possible through your spirit of generosity and compassion. We are always deeply moved by the support K.I.D.S. receives from so many.

We were recently e-mailed a copy of a letter to Santa from Sumalee, the daughter of one of K.I.D.S board members. As you will read she has already developed a compassionate spirit at the young age of five.

 

At almost the same time we were handed a letter from Pai Sue, a young boy of 12. K.I.D.S has been supporting his education for several years. He lives at home with his family, in a small thatched hut with very few possessions. Pai Sue goes to both Khmer and English school. In the afternoon between classes he toils in the brick factory to help his family. He gave us a small package with four lotus flowers in it. His beautiful analogy of how everyone's support is changing his life is below, he wanted us to pass on his gratitude. We transcribed the letter as we could not get a good photo of it as his writing is very small.

 

Thank you for your support to me. I don't have nothing for you

       but I have studied hard. This monthly exam is class five. When

       you don't support me I was like a lotus and don't come out of

       the water. When you support me I can now read, write and spell.

       I am like lotus coming out of the water and see the sun, forever

      today. I am like lotus come out of the water and will become a real 

      lotus. I can hope to find a good job in my future.

      Best wishes,

      Pai Seu

Pai Seu's Gift - Four steps of growth of the lotus flower, from bud to mature pod

At this time in the world, when often there is so much sad and unsettling news, it is good to hear how the children are still hopeful. Thanks for supporting them

Wishing you and yours a meaningful and peacefull holiday season.

Adrianne and Rick

Computer Lab

Dear Friends,

We hope all is well with you and yours and that you are getting ready to spend time with friends and family over the holiday season.

As you may recall from last year we renovated and set up a computer lab at Sasardam High School, which is the main high school serving many rural primary schools. We only had enough funds to renovate the classroom and purchase ten used computers. The class started and the kids and teachers were thrilled to have access to computers and learn the basics. As this high school has about 800 students learning computers will help them to either get into University or get a job once they graduate.

When we came back this year we went out to the school and visited the computer class. Behind each computer sat four enthusiastic students however as we all know using computers is not really a group experience, especially when learning to type! The school had also found the funds to hire a half

​​time trained IT teacher who recently graduated with his degree so this was more good news. We were pleased to tell the teacher, principal and students that thanks to donations received through KIDS we are able to now provide them with the rest of the computers, a screen, projector and increase the teacher's salary so he can work full time.

Today we loaded up a van with the 14 computers, a screen, projector, monitors and other equipment and took them out to the school. When we arrived the principal, computer teacher and several other teachers, along with some students were waiting for us. We thought that we would unload take a few photos and be on our way and they could set up the equipment the next day. The staff and students immediately set to unloading the gear and setting it up. Within an hour the 14 computers, projector and screen were hooked up and functioning and the class was full of students typing away.

Now the school has a fully functioning computer lab where every week hundreds of students will be able to take classes. Thanks to your generosity you have not only made these students extremely happy you have improved their knowledge and increased their chances for a much better future.

The students thank you very much for your support, they put their hands together in the "Sampea" which is a gesture of thanks and a greeting here in Cambodia.  The teachers also thank you for supporting them in the education of their children.

All the best,
Adrianne and Rick