Category: Cambodia

Since late last year, the staff and some of the older children at the Goducate Children’s Home have been going out to three communities (Preynob, Ottapang, and Phnom Pec) to teach English to the children. The classes used to be held in the open (see blogs of Nov 9, 2012 and Feb 5, 2013). However, we have now been able to rent premises at these three places, so classes can be held indoors.

In addition, we have included lessons on health. So far the children have been taught proper handwashing techniques as well as how to prevent dengue fever. Lessons on sanitation will follow.

We are preparing a schedule to get to each of these places twice a week, on top of the thrice-a-week sessions at the school in Diamond Farm (see blog of Aug 6, 2013). The older children at the Goducate Children’s Home are being trained to help with this community work. We hope this training will inculcate in them a desire to help others in need.

The Goducate Children’s Home in Cambodia has been helping to teach at a private school in a village called “Chomp Ka Pec “, which means “Diamond Farm”. This is a village of more than 300 families of farmers and fishermen working for a private individual . The area is very remote, which is why the owner set up a small school exclusively for the workers’ children.

There are about 70 children attending the school. Each school day lasts only 2 h because the children have to walk (some barefooted ) 2-4 km to school and another 2-4 km back. The children’s desire for learning is very obvious because, despite the arduous journey to and from school, they turn up rain or shine.

Since May staff from the Goducate Children’s Home, together with some of the older children, have been going over three times a week to teach English.

On July 4, the Goducate Children’s Home, which includes a school for the residents, held its annual closing and awards program to mark the end of the 2013/14 school year. The theme for this year’s event was Character Building: Academic Excellence. In his message the guest speaker, Goducate director Victor Yeo, stressed three points that the Goducate Children’s Home should uphold: (1) Authenticity—in terms of providing a homelike environment; (2) Character Molding— which should be based on example and mentorship; and (3) Education—as the bridge for the children’s usefulness in the future, not only in Cambodia but also abroad. He ended his speech with a call for the children to remain Cambodians so that they can help other needy Cambodians.

During the program, the children were given an opportunity to showcase their talents and skills in playing different musical instruments.  The musical items were presented by the String Ensemble (violin and guitar group), the piano soloists, and the Junior and Primary Recorder Ensemble. Other items were presented by the Beginners, the Khmer class, and the speech choir.

Goducate believes in equipping each child for the future not only through academic training but also by teaching them practical livelihood skills, such as agriculture, farming, electrical work, welding, and music. For those in the music program, there are daily practices, with discipline being emphasized as one of the keys to success.