Dear Everyone,

I hope all of you are enjoying our new website. I am very happy about the way the website looks, it is very wonderful!

I would love to update you about the events of VDCA in August.

The VDCA is, as usual, going well and all the children are happy to attend the school because the director of the school always gives them very special advice for their future and is also friendly with them.

We have had an increase in the number of children attending from 5 years old up to 12. We now have 45 to 50 children for each ABC classes (it used to be around 30). We are using the Let’s go book with the classes. So it’s full for the Baby’s class now!

We have identified that many of the students that have attended the school since 2005 now speak very good English. Many of them now have service jobs at foreigner restaurants in town and then attend VDCA in the afternoon, which makes us very happy.

Also we have 6 students that are studying teacher training at VDCA. They are learning alongside our teachers how to be competent teachers. These classes are taught by a western teacher from ACE with great experience. As well as these 6 students attending the teacher training class and they also work as volunteers for 1 hour per- day, assisting our teachers in class and in the library.

 On Saturday August 29^th 2009

 VDCA had a special program with health education, Gender’s program that cooperated with SCC in Seim Reap Cambodia www.scc-cambodia.org the students were very interested with this program. I strongly hope the children will be protect themselves and avoid bad activities when they are with VDCA providing the best education for poor children to be positive change for their dreams.

 Current Teacher Training program

I have talked with Shirley (ACE manager) about teacher training’s classes and they are going well and more progress is being made by our teachers. Good news! Next week Mr. Ben (ACE teacher) will provide the results from VDCA teacher’s tests with speaking, reading, writing and listening.

 Also Ms Shirley is still looking for someone to replace Mr. Shally’s class and also support Togh with administration needs. We would welcome any financial support for this new teacher’s salary. So now I am looking forward to the sponsor or the donation for this project.

Current computer teaching.

35 students are taking part in the computer studies course at VDCA with Microsoft Word & Excel 2003. Students also learn about computer maintenance and computer programs. The students are going well and are very interested with their computer course.

  Next Project for VDCA Children

Jonathan, Yasmeen and friends from the Pascha Centre, Christchurch, New Zealand are kindly sponsoring Dy Malivann to be artistand teacher at VDCA for helping other poor children in the school. Malivann is a very good genius of painting photos and the painting color around the school was painted by him and now Malivann is learning at artist school.

So i am planning to open a class for artists for the children. Jonathan, Yasmeen, Chris and friends are raising funds for this project.

 The first Step

 Malivann and students will produce painting photos to sale for volunteers or visitors or other countries if possible and financial income will come to school and also Malivann for his work.

I am very warmly welcome Chris to help me and work close to me, Chris i am very proud of your saying and made me very happy and smile.

I would love to give very Special thank you to Jonathan, Yasmeen, Chris and friends for working to help my dream to support the Khmer Poor Children in Cambodia.

 School holiday in Pchum Ben (Traditional Ceremony in Cambodia).

 The VDCA will be closed for a week from September15th until 22^nd.

 Because some of teacher and students need to go to visit parents or relative where live far away from Seim Reap.

 It’s big story of Pchum Ben.

 Pchum Ben is a religious ceremony which is celebrated after the full moon in the tenth month of Phatraboth. Traditionally, it’s lasts for fifteen days, but the final day the most important.

 Pchum Ben is the occasion when people remember their ancestors. The word ‘Pchum Ben” refers to the balls if rice which people dedicate to their ancestors during the festival.

As well as these balls of rice, each household prepares many kinds of food.

When the food has been prepared, it is taken to the pagoda (Temple) together with incense, candles and flowers and then is given to the monks. The monks then offer prayers to the Buddha for all those who have died.

 Buddhists believe that after we have died our spirit, or mind, will be born again. Those who lead a good life will be born into a happy world, but those who have committed harmful sins will be born into an unhappy world.  We call happy world “heaven” and unhappy one “Hell”.

The Pchum Ben festival is held for those who suffer in hell, but who are let out during Pchum Ben in order to receive the gifts that are dedicated to them.

 Please enjoy reading the events of our update, many thanks for supports the Khmer Children!

I keep you all post.

 Lots of love

 Togh and Children