This is an extremely exciting time to ensure the younger ones benefit from the experiences of both what did work and what didn’t!

To start this process the Sangkheum staff have been running Life Skills workshops to enable the budding young adults and youths to think through potential scenarios they might find themselves in and give them the opportunity to answer and explain what they might do and why in any given situation.  Scenarios included ‘being mean to someone just because everyone else is’, or ‘taking someone else’s things without asking’, or ‘keeping money you find in the library’, etc.

Hannah, the Alternative Care and Education Program Coordinator, at Sangkheum who is initiating the workshops said “We had only planned 15 minutes for the activity, but they really got into it, I heard some really great discussions, and it took over an hour to finish! At the end they put together presentations to explain to the whole group what their answers were and how they came up with them.”  This interactive approach is very successful with the participants.

Most importantly Sangkheum are using these sessions to start the new young adult preparation programme and Hannah says that “We’ll link this activity to the next meeting where we’ll use those examples to start creating their own rules, and hopefully they’ll get as involved as they were this time.”

They also utilised this time to broach pending questions on being a teenager, to avoid any embarrassments they were asked to write down any questions they had and put them into a secret box. The discussion went extremely well and again the subjects discussed will be key to curriculum planning for the next sex education classes.
The next workshop will be held at the end of this month where the students will be divided into smaller groups to really benefit from the classes.

Tanya will be utilising her time back in Siem Reap for 6 weeks giving a hand in a workshop to discuss the employment options for the future. In addition she will be working at Sangkheum Center two days a week with the team to finalise HR/staff policies.

Pok one day before starting Military nursing school

HOPE trustees are hugely proud of the leaps and bounds the young adults take as they leave High School and venture out to the big wide world with so much hope and intrepidation!

Six young adults from Sangkheum Center for children left school this September and have embarked on different paths all determined to grasp the opportunities presented to them.

An is attending the prestigious hospitality school Paul Dubrule in Siem Reap where he is learning front office desk skills. Bota is studying  a Business Management course at BBU University, and works full time for Angkor Hotels, an online hotel booking site. Pok and Samnang both budding nurses who gained valuable work experience at Angkor Hospital for Children earlier this year started training at a military nursing centre earlier this month, while Chomnegn and Sameth have moved to the capital city Phnom Penh; Chomnegn to complete a well recognised computer course and Sameth to work for the NGO Starfish.

Two Interns at This Life Cambodia continue their hard work at the TLC offices. Both girls are enjoying the chance to help their communities through TLC initiatives (which include bike programmes for getting kids to school – a simple solution but one of the main reasons they don’t attend given the distance to school and the provision of solar power lamps to enable kids and adults to do their homework after dark).

Seven young adults living at the Anjali Young Adult House equally continue to strive forward as they find their way in the working world.

Sophal has secured herself a fantastic job at HALO Trust, a landmine clearance organsiation. Where she will be talking to some of the heavily mined communities in Cambodia about the work HALO Trust do whilst de-mining. Sophal is the first young adult to leave the programme and the Programme Managers couldn’t be happier of her success.

Roun, and Sopheak work at the socially responsible hotel Soria Moria in Siem Reap and continue to sharpen their waiting and communication skills with the tourists.
Sopheak says…
“I have studied English class for two years I can speak English but not very well and I had a best job opportunity at Soria Moria. I have learnt about a lot at my job, and I talk to people, especially with people from other countries.”

Roun makes the most of his spare time in between study and work playing football and cycling!

Sandy has gained more experience this month in his chosen area of healthcare and has acted as a translator for a recent group of Physiotherapy students from the University of Sydney. Sandy is finishing up his last few months of English classes before he would like to start going to University for a degree in Nursing.

Working for the Dutch organisation PURE! Sert is teaching both sports, and computers to elementary students. Sert received this promotion along with a used laptop computer after working with Pure for a little over 1 year and showing his dedication and passion for the work they do. Sert is currently working on his last year of English language studies before he would like to find a university for the 2012 school year to start a bachelor’s degree in IT.
Pheaktra is finishing his training this month with Grace House’s vocational training scheme for electricians having recently finished a 6 month placement as an electrician at the Ree Hotel in Siem Reap.  Looking to learn a trade in installing air-conditiong Rith is currently working at the Angkor Century Hotel.

Last but not least Sokdam is excited to embark on work in the field of graphic design or computer editing in some manner.

That’s quite an impressive portfolio of achievements this year and we are so pleased with all their hard work and enthusiasm. The project managers should be extremely proud of their achievements in believing in these kids and giving them a future.

Rouen and Sopheak at Soria Moria Hotel

Salariian Kamupchea Life Skills students enjoying the after race atmosphere

This is the one weekend of the year when we focus on the “P” in H.O.P.E …  representing play, which we generally support through sporting activity – The weekend of the year when the grounds of Angkor Wat turn into a cycling and running track.

The sense of achievement and taking part in a large scale event was a joy to see on all our good friends’ faces.  The training before taught also teaches them discipline, gives them exercise, a chance to see their own beautiful countryside and a welcome break from all the studying and work they do.

No crazy promises by the Trustees to cycle 100kms and run 21kms next year – we recognise our limits but we will be back…………..

Our just giving page is still open if you would like to donate at http://www.justgiving.com/Angkor

Bota after the 30km bike ride

HOPE young adults after their 30km bike ride around Angkor Wat

Jo and Tanya after their 30km bike ride around Angkor Wat

Samnang running 3km at Angkor Wat

An enjoying himself as he goes

Vanthat waving as she goes

TLC Interns with HOPE Trustees

On 8th November, HOPE trustees were reunited back on the ground in Siem Reap and with six weeks together ahead of us I expected trustee life to be at a slower pace than my usual two week annual visit. Living at Jo’s house we can eat, sleep and breathe HOPE work, and most of the time we do!  From the minute Jo collected me at the airport we have been discussing the enormous change that has occurred in Siem Reap since we first met in September 2006…..where did those five years go?

Change is on the whole good – definitely a lot of progress, perhaps some has happened a little too quickly and the recent severe floods have undone some good work, but on balance a lot has improved since that first meeting.

So at the half way mark of this trip I wanted to take stock. 2011 has been quite a transformational year for both HOPE and many of the Young Adults (“YAs”) in the programmes it supports. In late 2010 thanks to continued support HOPE was ready and, more importantly, able to increase the number of organisations it could extend financial support to and we now have four major projects benefiting over 40 YAs, as well as a rural school project and not forgetting a fantastic football team.

So the days have been busy having update meetings with each of the project managers – we discuss progress and successes but also the challenges they are facing – the solution is rarely “more money”, but perhaps an introduction we can make, help reviewing a proposal, brainstorming a problem drawing on our own youthful experiences (yes I can still remember that far back) or sitting with some of the YAs to talk and give simple but valuable encouragement (this is my favourite bit!).

We have also managed to meet most of the YAs themselves; either on our weekly bike ride practice (more about that later) or on visits to the transition houses run by Sangkheum and Anjali. Typical conversations are now amazingly easy as they speak good English and more importantly with confidence. They know it is with the help of support from HOPE that they are getting the chance to continue their education, gain valuable work experience and be involved in events that were not open to them before and so they are terribly excited to speak with us – no more shyness, they are proud of themselves and so keen to talk to us.

So despite having to get up early on a Sunday morning for cycle practice I can’t wait – Roun tells me about his job as a waiter, Sert tells me he loves being a sports and computer teacher at a NGO for young kids, Petra is nearly finished his electrical training and Sophal has just secured a fantastic job with HALO trust (a de-mining company) having worked with them on a photography project (her main passion and one which she is increasingly brilliant at). Sandi and Sopheak unfortunately can’t join the bike practice as they have work experience at a local hotel but I catch up with them, putting their waiting skills to the test–they have winning smiles, don’t spill a thing and are gaining confidence with the guests all the time – great to see.

At the Sangkheum Young Adult House we are treated to a “chnang” (“delicious”) dinner of Khmer curry soup and meat kebabs but the biggest treat is talking to the five young adults who this September passed their Grade 12 exams and graduated from High school. They have had big decisions to make since I last saw them (December 2010).  An was accepted at the most prestigious hospitality school in Siem Reap where he is learning front office desk skills including French, so I  had to brush down my (very) rusty French as he has been learning (so quickly) and insisted on practising with me, never one to miss an opportunity to learn, Bota started a management course at university, continues to love football and enjoys working at an online hotel booking site, Pouk and Samnang both budding nurses who gained experience at Angkor Hospital for Children in the summer started training at the military nursing centre only this week, and finally Chomnegn took the big step of moving down to the capital city to complete a well recognised computer course.

Meanwhile at Salariin Kampuchea the new life skills classes are proving very popular not surprising when they cover subjects like “Building self-esteem”, “Community Development”, “Bullying” “Family pressure” as well as career related classes involving writing CVs, making job applications and visiting work places to see with their own eyes what its all about! Such valuable lessons that most young Cambodians are left to find out for themselves.

We also met up with the two Interns at This Life Cambodia working hard at the TLC offices.  Both girls are enjoying the chance to help their communities through TLC initiatives (which include bike programmes for getting kids to school – a simple solution but one of the main reasons they don’t attend and the provision of solar power lamps to enable kids and adults to do more after dark).  They also attend university and gain office experience thanks to the internships.

In between all of this there has been the 7thAnnual Angkor Photography Festival – not only an opportunity for me to indulge by love of photography seeing some 100 professionals display some amazing shots but also experience the workshops run for the children where they get chance to let their imagination and creativity go wild. Watching them see the results of their work on display on a huge screen in the gardens of Raffles hotel with many locals and expats in the audience you can visibly see their chests puff out just a little (and the giggles when a funny photo is shown is totally priceless).

And finally I must not forget the recent successes of Angkor Empire FC, playing both the semi final and final of the Siem Reap Tournament while I have been here – the score on the Final was a cracking 3-0 with the HOPE supporters cheering them all the way.  The trophy is now proudly on display at one of the most popular Siem Reap cafes. Teamwork, discipline and sense of achievement are just some of the benefits these young players get from taking part…..and a little party to celebrate – well they deserved it!

The second half of my visit has no sign of a let up – I’ll be lucky if I can find any pool time!! First this weekend we have 25 Young Adults entered into the 30km bike ride around the magical Angkor Wat temple complex. I am so thrilled to be able to do this again and for HOPE to support the YAs in this event for the third year.

And then on the following day I have been roped into the 3km“run” – anyone who knows me well enough knows I detest running with a passion –but with 43 Cambodians from the Sangkheum Centre entered by HOPE why wouldn’t I want to get up at 4.30am and join them?!

But seriously exercise is part and parcel of my Western life but doing something for fun like cycling and running is only just getting recognised here in Cambodia. I have yet to join the daily aerobics class down by the river but there seems to be at least 50 bopping away.  However I have squeezed in a beginners Yoga course and already feeling the benefits – perhaps you will see a calmer Tanya return to London this time (or maybe that will just because I am no longer a bank employee!)

I also have a visit to HOPE’s final project, “My Grandfather’s House” – I will be living out in the village about one hour from town for four days – Back to Basics…. and some – the next update should be interesting – but I look forward to telling you about the latest progress being made and how they have coped with the flooding which has only just receded there, severely impacting the ability for anyone to get to school.

And just for the avoidance of any doubt, I am loving every minute of being back in the Kingdom of Cambodia…….

Tanya

HOPE's Nordic Challenge

Just back from a long weekend at ‘The Hytte’ (a cosy log cabin) situated along the shores of the beautiful Farris Lake in Larvik, Norway. This stunning setting was the backdrop for HOPE’s Nordic Challenge where 5 HOPE supporters took the challenge to raise a huge amount of money for HOPE (a whopping great £1,180.00 on the last check) and have some fun and games too.

The weekend started with a traditional game of Jam Jars which saw Juliane, Iselin, Henke, Seb and Robin running around the gardens finding numbered cups and placing named numbered slips in the respective cups. The sun was shining and half an hour of running around was a good start to the challenge and a good way to get to know the area ready for the treasure hunt.

The first clue, an easy one, started with…

When it’s cold
would you be so bold
to brave the snow,
and take the plunge!

… and warm up in the tub
and go for a scrub?

Yes, you’ve guessed it, The Hytte comes complete with a hot tub and was home to the second clue! Working as a team they answered 12 clues in total and collected a series of letters and words. The last clue read…

This is the end and final clue!
You should have 11 letters
and three words, too!

It’s a song title, you see,
but can you guess what it can be?

With a mixture of letters W A I L N L N E R and the words ‘TAKES’ ‘THE’ ‘IT’  - can you guess what it was? With three Swedes on the team, it didn’t take too much time to work it out, but they were a little stumped at the next questions…

Who sang the song?

Which 1980 album did it appear on?

Which song was on it’s B side?

What is the third word of the song title?

What is the first word of the song title?

By using the first letter of each answer they then had to guess what their next challenge was.

Without using the internet, do you know the answers? If so, go to our Facebook page and write your answers on the wall! The third questions seemed to be the hardest one.

Heading back to the cabin the team were presented with 10 different locally made jams and jellies of which they had to taste which flavours each were. This event was made equally challenging due to the use of English, Swedish and Norwegian language all having different names for the fruits! Thanks to Marius Sutherland, for providing so many tasty jams and jellies.

The next part of the challenge took the format of a traditional Pub Quiz – photo challenge, a ‘What am I…?’ and a ‘Who am I…?’ before moving onto the harder questions with a Norwegian section, a Swedish section and ‘Jorda Rundt’ (Round the World) section with some UK and Cambodia related questions thrown in.

Prizes consisted of yummy Norwegian chocolate and we saw a little bit of friendly controversy to decide the winner as Seb who came 2^nd helped Iselin, the winner, in the Pub Quiz!!

Well done to everyone, though, for their enthusiasm and competitive spirit…!!

The weekend was completed by cooking up a tasty Khmer curry, thinking of our Cambodian friends, reminiscing travel tales and catching up on the last few years!

Next year is already in the planning process, so please let us know if you would like to join in another Nordic Challenge!!

Challengers Find Clue 9

On their way to the last clue

Working out the final questions

Taste Challenge - locally made jams and jellies

Challengers taste testing local made jams and jellies

Relaxing before the Big Nordic Round the World quiz

Concentrating in the final!

HOPE's Nordic Challenge setting - Farris Lake, Larvik, Norway

At the beginning of the week we sent out HOPE’s newsletter to nearly 500 supporters and filled everyone in on HOPE news! Click here to get your copy now and find out what the HOPE trustees will be up to in November, what our young adults have been up to and what new projects we have helped out this year.

At the end of the week we will be having fun and games with a keen group of Scandinavian supporters who have signed up for a Nordic Challange in the beautiful setting of Farris Lake in Norway.

The group who studied and travelled the world back in 2007 are getting back together to raise money for HOPE. Juliane, Seb, Robin and Iselin will challenge themselves mentally and physically – depending on the weather!

After having visited Cambodia back in 2007 they kept in touch with HOPE and promised they would help out when they can. Since then the majority of the group have been back to Cambodia to volunteer and most have made various contributions of support.

This time on home ground they will be supporting not only HOPE’s young adult programmes, but as a special circumstance HOPE would like to fundraise for an individual who has always shown great enthusiasm, motivation and most importantly always with a huge smile. He will soon be embarking on the Sangkheum Center for Children’s Young Adult Programme, but this August we heard devastating news which could dramatically affect his future.

Having being treated two years ago for Tuberculosis of the spine (Pott’s Disease) Khim had shown great progress in his rehabilitation to date however, about one month ago, Khim began complaining of pain in his back and right leg, as well as numbness in the leg. X-rays and MRI scans revealed that his spine is severely damaged and deteriorating.

One of his vertebrae has collapsed onto the one below, resulting in the pinching of his sciatic nerve and the numbness in his leg.  If left untreated and the spine continues to deteriorate, his spinal cord (a vital part of the central nervous system) would eventually become compressed, after which paralysis in both legs would become a distinct possibility.

Thorough consultaion over the past month with doctors, therapists, and surgeons, both locally and internationally, regarding Khim’s condition has resulted in the overwhelming consensus that spinal surgery is the only treatment that may possibly prevent further damage to the spine and alleviate pain.

The Sangkheum team is reviewing the best options for Khim in terms of surgery and rehab. Therefore, we are taking this opportunity to raise funds for Khim’s surgery to help their options in getting the best treatment for Khim.

So far fundraising is up to £640.00 and have smashed our initial target, however it would be great if we keep going and tip over the £1,000 mark so please do what you can and help support the Scandis during this weekend’s challenge.

On Wednesday 10th of August Life Skill Program students from Salariin Kampuchea visited the Siem Reap Provincial Vocational Training Center

Here are their visit highlights:

On Wednesday 10th August 2011 at 2pm, life skill students SRI and SRII visited Siem Reap Provincial Vocational Training Center.

Both teams SRI and SRII cycled from their homes to SRI office and SRII School in order to gather for visiting.

Ravy asked SRI librarians, Aing Amara and SRII librarians to bring students from different areas. As SRII team was more students, Ravy helped and arranged to bring them from the school to the center.

When our students arrived at the center at 2:30, the representatives of Provincial Vocational Training Center welcomed and let our team gather to tell about the background of the center.

SRI: There were 13 students plus 1 librarian and 1 foreigner volunteer, Patrick.

SRII: There were 14 students plus 1 librarian and 1 life skill trainer.

After that our students both schools were divided to 2 groups to visit in different departments and skills. SRI guided by Mr Vou Kimheang, team leader and SRI guided by Mr. Hai, a staff of Vocational training center to see different departments and skills.

Both teams were active and interesting in asking as many questions as possible. They were so happy to see different skills.

The subjects and skills provided at Vocational training center:
1.    Hair dressing skills
2.    Hospitality: Cooking, housekeeping, front desk (receptionist) and bar man skills
3.    Computer training
4.    Sewing skill
5.    TV and radio repair
6.    Job agency
7.    Agricultural subjects: Feeding animals, fisheries and creative agriculture product after harvesting.
Please see their pictures bellow for both teams:

Students are very interesting in and happy to visit the Vocational training center. They thanks to our organization and Vocational training center representatives to take opportunity and show them on the center.

Bright paintings from Anjali House

There are many universal problems, obstacles and challenges young adults face all over the world whether it is passing their exams, deciding to go to university or the complexities of whether to go on a date with someone.  HOPE’s young adults have been facing some of these challenges head on and attended a workshop raising awareness entitled: Knowledge And Reflection On Life & Sexuality Through a Holistic Approach.

Here Rouen from Anjali House describes his experiences by attending the work shop.

Realizing about Karol & Setha

By: Roun

Karol & Setha is a program of Maryknoll organization and the full meaning of the words Karol & Setha is Knowledge And Reflection On Life & Sexuality Through a Holistic Approach. Karol & Setha is a program that gives education and chances to young adults for thinking and communicating with the family, friends, boyfriends, or girlfriends in the best way.

Last week on Monday the 4th of July 2011, I went to study about Karol & Setha at Pannasastra University. There were six organizations that went to study about Karol & Setha, they were Anjali House, Grace House, Global Child, Sangkheum Center, New Hope and Green Gecko.
In my class, there were 19 students and 3 teachers, they are all very friendly and funny and also smart. The teachers taught us 9 topics from

Karol & Setha. They were:
1.    Who am I? Who are you?
2.    Showing your feelings and good listening
3.    Growing of love
4.    Sexual intercourse between men and women
5.    Body, feelings, and mind
6.    How to control sexual desire
7.    How to stop or control peer pressure
8.    The flower of love
9.    How to stop and control the spread of HIV/AIDS

These 9 topics gave me more knowledge about Karol & Setha. These lessons are very important for me and for other young adults. I had a nice time at Pannasastra University because I knew many friends from other organizations and I played a lot of games with my new friends. Especially this program made me have a great time, because I learned to be brave, to ask questions, and realize a lot about desire between men and women and also communication with other people.

Finally, I would like to say thank you to Karol & Setha for making me clear and realizing a lot about their topics. Oh, and I forgot to tell you this: at the end everybody made a wonderful heart from a piece of paper and they wear it on the back of their body and they go around and write good things about their friends. All the students were really proud of the teachers because they prepared good lessons for us. Everybody said it as a good lesson but for me, I said it was an extraordinary lesson because I never knew and learned these lessons before.

Sokha, General Manager at Soria Moria Hotel

Last week young adults from Salariian Kampuchea visited The Soria Moria Hotel in Siem Reap to get an idea of how a hotel runs front and back of house. One of the young adults have commented on their trips…

On 22nd and 24th of June 2011 at 2:30, Ravy, a life skill trainer took and brought life skill students for two teams to visit a hotel named Soria Moria hotel located in Siem Reap.

All our students cycled to the hotel and back to their home successfully.

When we arrived at the hotel, the receptionists welcomed us friendly and passed to a General Manager name Ms. Sokha and Mr. Poich, Receptionist.

During our visiting, Ms. Sokha explained and showed our students different departments and different rooms. After that our students were welcomed to ask many questions to her and they also noted down all ideas and answers from Ms. Sokha. Please see their pictures and activities during the visit underneath.

Following this Ms. Sokha recommended a meeting with Mr. Samnieng, General Director. He introduced our students to a restaurant and kitchen.

Finally, our students left the hotel and spent short time has some drinks along the river and after that they went home safely.

They are very interesting in and happy to visit the hotel and thanks to our organization and the hotel representatives take opportunity and showed them around the hotel.

Anjali House Young Adult Teacher and student

In the beginning HOPE set out to give the young adults of Cambodia a better future, through play, education and development, in order to harness opportunity and positive change. Supporting Anjali’s young adult programme fits our remit exactly. HOPE are extremely pleased with the progress Anjali House are striving to make with their young adults, and proud to share their news with you.

Anjali young adults have grown in recent months to 29 and with this growth is the employment of two supervisors to manage the daily living in the satellite house opened in March 2011, nicknamed Room for Potentials. Referring to the great potential of Anjali’s young adults and the room they need to be able to reach this potential, it is currently home for 8 young adults increasing to 9 in the summer. In order to enhance their ‘independent living skills’ the young adults have developed a democratic leadership chart in the house and an active point system to measure their new skills in areas such as education and employment, social behaviour and environmental factors. The ultimate goal is to guide young adults to become successful and independent members of society and they set up personal development plans (PDP’s) which are monitored on a regular basis.

A selection of young adults have also been placed at a variety of jobs not only increasing their independence but allowing them to contribute to monthly household bills.

Their free time is also supplemented with sport, theatre, creative writing and photography workshops!

All in all the Anjali young adults seem to be making fabulous progress and the Anjali staff have put tremendous efforts in to make this work. Each and every student puts as much into the programme as they get out of it making it a win win situation all round.

“….We look forward to the upcoming months, where we will try to develop the YAPIP to the next stage. The expansion of the program within Anjali House is a big step in our goal to reach as many marginalized young adults with the YAPIP as possible. We hope to continue this expansion further in the future and we are grateful for the support from HOPE in our efforts to improve the situation of young adults in Siem Reap.”
Richard de Groot – Program Coordinator of the Young Adult Program