Thavy.

12/30/07-

I must apologize for the lack of updates for the last week; we have not slowed up at all, trust me. It has been more of a matter of getting Olivia up to speed on the ground with our projects. First off, was having her meet the new children at the Landmine Museum and meeting Mr. Togh and Mr. Meng from the school and a day with Sal our Cow Bank Manager.

We have had some amazing and dear friends arrive in Siem Reap today, Brian Janes and Gwen Hobbs arrived from California via New York back, across the west and over to the land of bliss. We are humbled to have them as part of our Advisory TEAM and look forward to getting them up to speed and sleeves rolled up as WE continue to forge forward!

We have spent the last few days checking out the various Universities in Siem Reap, finding out about cost structure and admissions. We’ve taken tours of classrooms and libraries and have been talking with current students on pro’s and con’s of each facility.


I was supposed to take Chet to Phnom Penh to get refitted for a new prosthetic leg; sadly I came down with a great case of something not so pleasant. So I reluctantly had to call and promise to reschedule our trip, I’m thankful he understood and wanted to make sure I was healthy before we went. There is a great little side story to this, Thavy is one of the daughters with whom we are staying with, and she is 10 and has a wonderful personality and charm. She faithfully comes upstairs and whistles and sings softly at 0630 to make sure that we are awake! It’s a really funny thing as she slides notes under our door to see if we are awake. So Thavy came in the afternoon to give Olivia and I our Khmer language lessons, Olivia showed her by hand signs that I was ill and not feeling good. Thavy had a confused look on her face and then said she would come back at 1700 to give us her lesson. She came back a few minutes later to say our lesson would have to be at 1800 as she was going to the Angkor Wat. This made no sense but we shook our heads in understanding, Liv told me she would cut the lesson short if I was not feeling up to it, I would give it try. Well imagine our surprise and wonderment when we hear Thavy and her older sister Chaen walking up the stairs with a tray of warm rice and fried fish. Young little Thavy never went to Angkor Wat like she told us, she went straight downstairs to start cooking us a simple dinner that would rest easy on my stomach. She changed the time of our Khmer lesson so she could prepare that beautiful dinner for us. This gesture my friend shows the beauty and compassion of this amazing family, country and culture! Thank you Thavy for your calculated act of kindness and compassion, you shine as bright as Kampuchea!

Another positive step forward!

12/23/2007-

The great news of the day is that Olivia has landed safely and is getting eased into the hustle and charged pace of Siem Reap. Every part of her travels went flawless, for that I was very thankful. Sao was so very excited to see Olivia as he paced back and forth at the airport, checking the arrival board every few seconds, I decided to chill with a plate of fresh spring rolls and large bottle of Angkor beer!


On the way home we had bite to eat at an old favorite restaurant, Green House. The food is great and the staff is genuinely caring. After a restful nights sleep, it didn’t take long to get to work. It was breakfast & meeting with Sao first thing in the morning. Computer classes have been going really well for Sao. It seems he is learning with ease. A trip out to meet with Togh and his friends at a neighboring Wat was on the docket for the day. We couldn’t be happier with Togh and the Volunteer Development Poverty Children’s School’s (VDPCS) success! They have already broke ground on the new building site for the school and the children are so excited about it that even they have gone to help build it!

We had a meeting with a friend of Togh’s, Daro. Daro is a monk at Kok Chork Wat, not very far from the VDPCS site. He has lofty dreams to build a better structure for the English & Buddhism School he runs. They currently are teaching in a very simple structure built of simple wood poles & thatch walls and roof. Their template for a new school is based on that which is currently being built for VDPCS. They wrote up a project proposal for their new school, it will be presented in it’s final form to Project Enlighten’s Board of Directors for vote.

After meeting with Daro, we made our way to VDPCS new school site. It was absolutely amazing, what we saw! The children from Togh’s school had all come to help move the rocks for the foundation onto the property for the school! How cool is that? Graham who volunteers and one of the teachers at the school, Victoria, were already helping move the rocks so we hopped right in to help. Asad organized the crowd of smiling faces into a couple lines, to teach them the “chaining” technique we often use at home. The children had a wonderful time, laughing & giggling all the way. The pictures are worth more than a thousand words; see here with your own eyes.

Nothing could be more satisfying than an ice cold drink after an evening of good hard work. We settled in for dinner at the Taj India Restaurant. It is a newer Indian style establishment that serves exquisite food that is to die for. When you make your way to Siem Reap and hunger for fine Indian Cuisine/ Halal Food, please check them out! Another successful day in Cambodia, Olivia is feeling at home.

Merry Christmas Chet!

12/13/2007-

This was a morning I was looking forward to for a long time. Spending some quality time with my boy Chet, though reality is I’m watching him transition from a boy to a man. I see him watching over the younger children and helping Akira and Hourt, being respectful to the staff. This was a far cry from the boy I left last year, teetering on the choice of buckling down on school or running to the bright lights and trouble of Phnom Penh. I’m very proud of the choice he made.
So as I entered the new Museum, my smile widened as the people’s faces grew sadder, why is this you say, well about time we wake up to the horrific reality of landmines and what they leave behind after the war machine and the troops go home. The children, the museum and Akira’s work are a testament to the will of the people to pick up the fragmented pieces and carry on, carry on and smile. Lessons learned!

Ok back to Chet, I asked my main man were Akira was as I had brought 2 refurbished laptops over for the children and their future Education Center. He pointed upstairs and said he would take me there, I heard Chet yell up to Akira in Khmer, all I picked up was “Bong Asad, Bong Asad” (older brother).
I gave Hourt a big hug and gratefully shook Akira’s hand as we talked about his impressive new home. What a difference a year makes, again if you haven’t seen their website, have a look. http://www.cambodialandminemuseum.org/
Chet and I had planned to spend the day in Siem Reap, he really wanted a hair cut and try to find a music store that could fix his keyboard as many of the keys are stuck. Before we left I wanted to spend some time with the new children who have recently come to the museum, I was so impressed with their kindness and playfulness, we had a blast in the short time we spent together!
Chet and I said goodbye to Akira and Hourt and loaded our trusted Tuk tuk with Sao at the helm. Chet asked if he could take pictures as Joa who is one of the wonderful
English volunteers caught a ride back with us. Chet was so happy trying to compose great pictures on a bumpy Khmer road while Joa and I were in bliss talking American Football!
We dropped Joa off and proceeded to Sao’s favorite restaurant, we walk in and they ask..”The usual Mr Asad?” yup the usual Beef with green Khmer paste. We had a fantastic meal, so much so desert was not an option, stuffed!

Well we knew of only one shop that could possibly fix a keyboard, as luck would have it, they couldn’t fix them but more than happy to sell you a used one! Merry Christmas Chet, your hard work and solid grades did not go unnoticed by me!

Pigskin/family/friends!

I was flipping through some pictures to use on my next entry, and stumbled across these, I forgot how much I love them and how much I love football and admire and respect my dear friend Phouva! I had the pleasure of meeting this outstanding gentleman at our National Wild land Fire Academy in Sacramento. Olivia was his crew boss and briefly introduced me to this amazing man from Laos. Phouva came up to my hotshot buggie on the Zaca fire earlier this year, we briefly discussed his dream of returning to his village and assisting with rebuilding his school and other projects. I was humbled and honored at the thought of working with this compassionate leader, who wants to use his Natural Resources degree to stop deforestation in his country.
Phouva gave me a call yesterday at the museum as I was in a meeting with Hourt, his voice and character reminded me how much I look forward to working with him and helping in some small way. He sent me these pictures before I left of his wonderful family! Man I love the passion of football/family and friends!

Kok Chark Pagoda.

12/12/2007

Went back to the Togh’s school in the morning, we talked about buying school supplies as I had promised $200 from Project Enlighten! We talked about his teachers and training they needed, I expressed our interest in wanting to support the teachers with continued training and development. I also shared our desire for Togh to spread the word among staff and students for our upcoming scholarship. Togh was very excited when I described our expectations. He stated almost instantly who he thought would be perfect. I won’t give anything away yet, but I look forward to Olivia, Matt, Riva, Gwen and Brian showing up and sharing in this process.
I went with Togh to visit his fellow monks at the Kok Chark Pagoda; this was a 5-minute walk from Togh’s current school, very nice and peaceful walk to get to the Pagoda. I met with several of the monks who teach English to 20 poor children. On the Pagoda’s grounds you will find at least 30 families who were so poor they had no were to live, this Pagoda helped them build simple shelter on the Pagodas land in which this impoverished families call home. So I spoke with Sithon and Daro about what they envision for the future. There problem was simple really, the current classroom is on low ground, thus it floods in the rainy season. They have watched the number of children increase due to the fact they have more poor families building on their land. Their dream is to build a 3-room classroom on the other side of the Pagoda where the ground is high and won’t flood in the rainy season. I shared with them the idea of recycling what we could from Togh’s old school, with was made mostly of wood. They had not thought of that, but liked the idea of not wasting anything, I tell you a recycling plant and ethos would go far in Siem Reap!
I told Sithon and Daro I would visit later in the week, and wanted them to draw up some simple plans for the school on paper and give some idea on project costs. The first number was $200 based on 3-classrooms, I asked do you want a library? Would you like an office? How about a concrete floor? We adjusted our number now to $500. I shared with them that we would not build the entire school, that they would have to assist with the labor. It is very important to Project Enlighten that we share in the construction of the building and in turn the Pagoda will share in the vested ownership of this task!
I shared with them my pleasure in seeing their compassion towards to poor families and wanting to improve their current classroom. I shared with them that I was committed to seeing Togh’s school been built, plus various team members are coming over and want to share their ideas with them as well. I look forward to the possibility of working with the Kok Chark Pagoda.

The MAN that is TOGH!

12/11/2007 Continued-

Just a continuation on the day, Sao and I went back to Togh’s school to assist in some questions he had about the builders, we walked over to the proposed plot of land he had gained a lease on. His eyes grew big and his smile wider as he stated, “My dream is becoming for real” he said, I could only gaze in wonderment at what this 24 year old visionary had accomplished in just two years. I asked him, “Where will you be in 10 years”?
Togh answered “I want to build a place where older citizens can come and we will care for them with respect and dignity, I want to share and teach Buddhism to them, I want them to be happy, many older citizens are not happy, I want them to be happy.” I ask you my fellow Blog readers, how do you not stand behind this school and this incredible young humanitarian and support his dream, he is 24 years old and moving forward with perpetual optimism! We stood together and shared this picture, I was never more proud of our work!

Cow Bank and Sheryl Crow!

12/11/07

I arose today with the sound of children playing, not a bad way to wake up at all! From my fantastic room which Ronnie has so graciously provided, I can look off the balcony and watch the boys and girls play football (soccer) and perform their morning calisthenics. Yarann lives below with his wonderful family. One of the morning’s great pleasures is when Yarann’s daughter Thavy who must be 7 or 8 comes up before school to clean my room. I always try to give her a hand and she always skips over to my laptop and wants to look at pictures and listen to music. This morning we looked at pictures of my job as a wild land firefighter. Thavy loved the video clips of the helicopters flying and picking up water, she really enjoyed looking at the huge mountains and big trees, a bit different than the landscape here in Cambodia!
So I wade through my music library trying to find something that grabs her..Classical..no, world music… a little better…Sheryl Crow..oh my goodness that girl is a dancing machine, big smiles..”I like I like”!! So we listened to Sheryl and looked at fire pictures. We were having so much fun we lost track of time, Thavy pointed to my watch, she wanted me to show her what time it was…oh my Buddha, she was supposed to be at school at 0700…um it is 0745, here eyes got big and she frantically started to clean my room, not knowing were to start, I motioned for here to go to school, we high fived and she ran out the door with a huge smile. Yes she was late for class, but she got to hear some Sheryl Crow and see some geography of the ole US of A.

After breakfast and emails at the Blue Pumpkin, Sao unhitched the Tuk tuk and we took the bike and headed west on Hwy 6 for maybe 15 km. We rode into Pouk district and made a phone call. We got to meet Sal, who is the Manager of the Cow Bank Project here in Cambodia. Sal does not speak any English, hence why I have hired Sao to drive and translate for me! My first impression of Sal was a no BS kind of guy, I was right. He showed us Ronnie’s beautiful farm (Called Nak farm by the locals) and we feed the fish as we settled into one another. He asked how cows I wanted to see, I told him I would like to visit all the cows and families, there was a long pause..He started to walk across a field and motioned for me to follow… I guess we were starting!

We meet with all the farmers that we easily found around Nak’s farm. Sao took my camera as he has now nominated himself as official photographer! It is hard to argue as it frees me up to talk with the farmers. I asked many questions to Sal and the farmers. Where they happy with their cows? Did they encounter any problems with the cows? What could be done better? things of that nature. All the answers were positive and smiles abound. Ronnie and Sal have set up a very successful program here, their hard work is paying massive dividends! Tell a friend and let’s help Ronnie and Sal support their local farmers with the gift of a lifetime!

Chet!

12/10/2007

Today came with much anticipation and excitement, even Sao was restless. “We go see Chet today? We go see Chet today Asad”? “Yes Sao we go” I said. I don’t think I need to explain to anyone who is reading these pages what Chet means to me. The mere utterance of his name brings a tidal wave of emotion to me, as Olivia and I have worked through the good and the bad with this child of the streets. I must be honest, I was slightly nervous and a bit apprehensive after a less than stellar last meeting the year before. There were a few issues last year with “I want this and I want that”. We had a long talk about steeping up and being a man, not waiting for things to happen, but making things happen. I told him this would only manifest itself with a strong work ethic and solid education, these were the key’s to self-sustainability. These were the keys to your successful future! I left unsure if these words sank in....

So as Sao and I drove to the new Landmine Museum about 6 km south of Banteay Srey Temple, I had 40 minutes to reflect and hope, reflect and pray...
I had brought along 2 laptops for the Education Center to be used by the children and teachers, Olivia and I were able to provide these refurbished computers with the amazing help from Charles and his volunteer staff and Interconnection (www.interconnection.org). Truly though a BIG THANK YOU must be extended to all those who made those cherished donations in November to help us make these contributions for education!

When we finally arrived at the New Museum I saw Chet talking with two tuk tuk drivers. I smiled from afar as I realized how much he had grown in just one year! I motioned to Sao not to say a word as I sneaked up behind Chet. Knowing he would not recognize me with my new hair cut (that’s another story). I came up behind him and he quickly turned around as sized me up, “Asad Asad Asad Asad you are back!!” We hugged and walked hand in hand away from everybody, he looked me in the eye and said, “Asad you were right, Education is the most important thing, I realize that now Asad, I’m sorry, you forgive?” I was fighting back the tears, but the tears won…

Oh my Buddha!

12/09/2007:

My morning started at 0600 with slow run through the back roads of Siem Reap, it is a wonderful time of the day as the city takes the first steps of the new day. I ran through my head what needed to be accomplished today. Deliver a laptop to the Director of the Voluntary School, Mr. Togh. In my correspondence with Togh I realized how valuable this tool was going to be to assist him and his team in organizing and developing for the future.
We met Togh with Bob and Claire from Australia whom Togh affectionately calls his mother and father. Sao and I showed up with his laptop donated by my dear friends Kipp and Miriam Morill from California. After a few minutes of small talk I could sense that Togh was very anxious to see his new laptop. I had it hidden under a chair, under the table. I couldn’t take the waiting anymore, I presented Togh the laptop to a soft yell of “oh my Buddha, oh my Buddha, oh my Buddha!” The site of Togh’s face that danced between smiles and tears was so humbling, as the realization that WE made a huge positive difference in this young school Director’s life! Thank you again Kipp and Miriam, this gift will reap a harvest of goodness!
Other accomplishments today was the discussion with Togh on the construction of the school and getting final signatures for the land, working with the builders to get several prices for construction of the new school. We discussed at length providing an opportunity to apply for a scholarship with Project Enlighten. This was a fantastic meeting as the hunger for continued knowledge was never more evident!
It was a fantastic day!!

Britney Spears in the streets of Angkor!

12/08/2007:

Much hard work was finally coming to forefront. Hard work by many on our TEAM was starting to show its fruit! It was an exciting time!

As the snow slowly kissed the top of Siskiyou Pass, my mind wandered to were I would land in 28 hours. Siem Reap and the Kingdom of Cambodia was my only wish. Much planning and anticipation has finally come to fruition. Before I answered a few emails in San Francisco airport I put on my new headphones and tuned out the world for a few minutes…………..
The last song to come out was my favorite band Marillion doing a live cover of Britney Spears “Toxic”. They smashed the original, I boarded my plane for Hong Kong, only to catch another to Bangkok and yet another to my second home in Siem Reap!

As I walked back to the center of town from my fantastic living arrangements (Thank you so much Ronnie!) I found myself humming the last song I had heard, yup it was Britney! I started laughing at my pathetic self, glad no one heard me!

Things are going fantastic, picked up a cell phone, bought some new clothes for the little son of my right hand man Sim Sao and planned some meetings with Togh the director of the wonderful The Voluntary Development Poverty Children’s School and to give him his much needed refurbished laptop! (thank you Kipp!)
Here are a few pictures..more later I promise..minus Britney!!

Peace and respect
Asad

 Cambodia facing uneducated future
By Guy De Launey
BBC News, Phnom Penh

Pich Dy's eyes are welling with tears as she remembers her classroom humiliation.


Pich Dy's father died of Aids, leaving her mother poverty-stricken

"The teachers asked me to stand up," she sniffs. "Sometimes I was ordered to stand for 30 minutes or one hour, just because I didn't have money."

It is something Pich Dy does not have to worry about anymore. At the age of 14, she has dropped out of school and is unlikely to return. Her hope that an education would give her a better future has been dashed.

The story could have come from any poor community in Cambodia. All over the country, teachers' demands for "informal fees" are forcing children to quit classes because their parents cannot afford to pay.

Seng Hong of NGO Education Partnership, an umbrella grouping of Cambodian education organisations, says research shows sending one child to school uses up almost a tenth of the average family income.

"This increases if the family have two or more kids to send to school," he says. "Then they may reconsider which kids should go to high-grade education and which kids should stop."

Justifiable expense?

In many respects, Cambodia is doing remarkably well at school. Registration rates for primary school are high, at about 90%, and in the countryside yellow-washed school buildings are some of the most noticeable landmarks.

Before and after classes, the surrounding roads are packed with white-shirted students, most of them sharing bicycles or walking along the red dirt roads. The numbers dwindle, however, as the students get older.


Cambodia's Ministry of Education has recognised the scale of the problem. The department's Bou Chum Serey has estimated that half of those who start primary school fail to complete their classes.




I want the authorities, especially teachers, to help children - not take money from them
Sophal

Poverty is the main factor. The schools are supposed to be free, but in reality they are a major drain on family resources. With about one-third of Cambodians living on less than 50 cents (25p) a day, it can be difficult for parents to justify the expense.

That was certainly the case for Pich Dy's mother, Sophal. She lives with her five children in the community of Chbar Ampov, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh.

During the rainy season the area is flooded, leaving many of the ramshackle houses semi-submerged in murky brown water.

Sophal's husband died of Aids, leaving her HIV-positive and struggling to cope.

Like many others in Chbar Ampov, she gets by on what she can earn from collecting bottles and cans on the streets. It was not enough to cover the "informal fees" for Pich Dy's teachers.

"When my daughter was smaller I had to pay a few cents a day for school," recalls Sophal.

"As she grew up, I had to pay more - almost 25 cents a day. We had no money, so she had to quit and come scavenging with me. I want the authorities, especially teachers, to help children - not take money from them."

Supplementary income

The teachers, however, have problems of their own. Before Cambodia's decades-long civil war, they were highly valued and relatively well-paid.

Now teachers live close to the poverty line themselves, earning as little as $30 a month.




I cried when my mum said we had no money to send me to school
Srey Mom

"The salary barely covers utility payments like water and electricity. There's nothing left to spend on anything else," claimed one teacher in Phnom Penh, who did not want to be named.

She admitted that she and her colleagues took money from students - for test papers, course materials, or simply for attending class. It was the only way they could earn a living.

Another teacher in nearby Kandal province supplemented his income by driving a motorbike taxi, and saw informal fees simply as a matter of survival.

"Students have many problems, teachers have many problems, people in our communities have many problems," he said.


Limited chances

For the enforced drop-outs in Chbar Ampov, it comes as little comfort to hear that teachers are also struggling to get by.

All 15-year-old Srey Mom knows is that her hopes for the future have been thwarted.




The children of Chbar Ampov play when they should be at school

"I cried when my mum said we had no money to send me to school," she remembers. "With an education, when I grow up I could have a job. All I can do now is make half a dollar from scavenging."




The scene at Chbar Ampov speaks for itself - dozens of school-age children play in the filthy water when they might be expected to be in class. The situation is similar in other parts of the country.

Everyone seems to agree that the best way to change the situation is to raise teachers' pay, but there seems to be little chance of that happening quickly.


Cambodia still depends on overseas donations for about half the national budget, and the teachers will continue to rely on their students to top-up their salaries.