June Donation! The Big One!
Cambodian Threads makes it’s biggest donation of the year! It was a beautiful Cambodian morning on June 28th as I set out at 7 am to meet Naysim Heng and her cousin Mr Long, an enthusiastic Phnom Penh based 26 year old bachelor who was eager to help in transporting the school supplies to Prek Bongkong for such a charitable cause. Mr. Heng had arrived back to Phnom Penh from a trip in Laos wee hours before; he was exhausted, but when strapping the box of 400 notebooks, 800 pens, 7 maps, and 20 boxes of chalk onto his Honda Super Cub, he smiled as wide as the sun.
We crossed the Mekong and worked our way up the dusty country road; I was really looking forward to tasting a Heng famous coconut from their farm, along with any other Khmer dish they cook so well. Food, however, was a reward that could be met only once we had finished our mission of donation. Thus, after a quick greeting and look at Mama’s newest styled silk being woven, we jumped back on the mottos and headed to the secondary school of Preah Takov.
The goal was to target around 350 students from grades 3-4 with enough extra school supplies so that teachers could continue to distribute any excess notebooks and pens. That Monday morning the students were taking an exam. The principle, director, and a few teachers sat with us outside exchanging information about education systems in both the USA and Cambodia. The tower of school supplies laid out on the table was a barrier they used to hide their smiles and laughter as they joked with the big American.
As 11 am hit with a KLANG from the principles iron triangle, the students turned in their exams and leaped out of their classrooms. We had only a few classes gather in the courtyard, the others were to be given the school supplies the following day in class after another exam period. The smiles on the children’s faces were glowing. They listened excitedly to Naysim and I talk about the Cambodian Threads project, American culture, and the importance of education. Naysim spoke, I spoke, the principle spoke, and then with the children sang their morning song. Next, the supplies were piled high on each teachers arms and distributed to the genuinely grateful Khmer students. We made sure that all the students received their notebooks and pens by having them wave their tools in the air. With a cheer, they posted their hands skyward! The CT gang left with thanks from the teachers and more discussion about future goals for the community. It was a successful day and morale was high!
The lunch table was filled with fried ginger beef, fish soup, piles of white rice, garden vegetables, various dipping sauces, and fresh fruits, including coconuts! It was a delightful meal with great company, the Heng family. I then proceeded to sink into their shaded hammock and fall fast asleep…zzzz… As I dreamed, sister Naysiv and brother Mengleang packaged the next batch of their beautifully amazing hand made silk scarves to take back to the States.
When I woke, Naysim and I talked about future aspirations: more diverse school supplies including modern equipment such as computers and calculators, and potentially starting a women’s group with educational workshops locally and in other desperate areas of Cambodia. We both spiraled on talking passionately until it was time to get back to Phnom Penh. We said our farewells and I went on to motto back to the dirty streets of the Kingdom’s capital, a short ride far removed from the bliss found on Prek Bongkong.
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