This is 28th..
Letter from Banteay Prieb
Vol. 28 Banteay Prieb 2017. June to August
Contents [Letter from BP]Christoph [BP Focus] The First Graduation in the Special Education Class [BP Talk] With 'Sok Jiet' [Interview] With Mr. Yuth [Photo] Kompong Saom Picnic [BP News] June to August [BP Information]
Publisher Oh-Chang Kwon S.J. Editor Yeo Reum Kim Copy Right JSC(Jesuit Service Cambodia) Banteay Prieb
[Letter from BP]
Since I arrived in Cambodia 2 Months ago, I was probably eating rice everyday while traveling, and although the food did not change much, the people with whom I shared it, changed constantly. Even now, staying in Banteay Prieb, eating is an important factor to get in contact with all the students living here. From time to time I joined the students to have dinner with them and if I were able to speak Khmer properly I could have also talked with them a little bit more. Furthermore, it is quite convenient that I work in the Special Education Class, where cooking is a skill the students have to acquire. One of my duties is, to judge the result of their efforts, which I really enjoy doing. However, being a Volunteer means I am not only passing the time eating all day as I am in charge of two students, Sovan and Mao. Both of them are quite easy to handle, although Sovan is not able to speak properly, which may also be an advantage regarding my ability to speak and understand Khmer.
When I came to Cambodia I was trying to have an open mind to adapt fast to my new suroundings, but I only finished Highschool having no practical experience in working with mentally challenged people. In addition, I had not yet learned the language and had to somehow communicate my intentions. Actually I have no idea how all of this worked out in the end, but it did. I feel comfortable in this new enviroment, I am even friends on facebook with Sovan and Mao and I think I am not too much of a burden to the other teachers.
ristoph
The Importance of Food
r
e t s n o M Food
Christoph Hoffmann(18), a volunteer from Germany, surprised everyone on the first day as he completed 5 plates of rice. He seems so friendly with Sovan that they like to punch(?) each other. Now, he is working in the Special Education Class and in the office.
The past days we celebrated a lot, because the Pchum ben holidays are getting closer. Every student is enjoying the time and looking forward to visit their homes. Especially Sovan, whom I prepared a cooking book with, wants to demonstrate his ability in the kitchen at home. Not only is he really cheerful most of the time, I was even able to make him dance on the weekends and at other occasion. In the end he did not stop dancing and tried to force me to join him instead. The truth is that I enjoy eating Cambodian food a lot more than dancing to Cambodian music, but Sovan can be really persistent so I tried my best, which apparently did not satisfy him and others at all.
Just recently he was complaining about my long hair, so I decided to have my hair cut. And now I look like I want to become a Buddhist monk. Well, Sovan looked happy, that is why I just enjoy this new experience and luckily my hair did not stop growing yet. I hope I can maintain this smooth kind of friendship with Sovan, because this makes my work in Banteay Prieb a lot more fun! Sovan & Christoph & Mao
[BP Focus]
The First Graduation
in the Special Education 2017.05.31.
There was a farewell party of the graduation in the Special Education Class. The staff and teachers from other classes gathered to celebrate the graduation of 7 students, Sokvy, Poy, Chivon, Lihour, and Naro , including two trainees in the New Farm, Theang and Ravy. This graduation was very meaningful because the teachers and students all had gone through so many difficulties since it was the first vocational training of the intellectual disabled in BP. We really hope there are brighter days ahead for the graduates who completed 2-year course of training.
â–˛ Naro, Lihour, Theang, Sokvy, Chivon, Poy,Ravy.
◀ The names of the ungrauated students were written on the board.
▶Ms. Phalla granted a cooking book and an agriculture book to each student.
◀ The students in the Make Up Class helped 'Sokvy' and 'Poy' look more beautiful today.
▶ The best friends living together for 2 years
◀ Many teachers and staff joined the graduation party.
â—€ 'Naro' vowed and thanked Mr. Ta who took care of him so well in the house.
â–ś 'Srey Oun' blessed her beloved friends with tears in her eyes.
After Entering BP When the intellectually challenged students came to BP, they all had difficulty to do the daily works such as house works, taking a shower, or even brushing the teeth. Because they were never trained or given chances to do so by their parents, they knew nothing about it. Thus, for the first 3 months, they learned how to do the basic work in daily lives. After 3 months, the students started to change. They kept hygiene by themselves, cleaned the house, and communicated with others, although they needed the teachers’ instructions sometimes. They started to learn cooking also. They cooked rice at first and extended to more complicated menu based on their capacity. After 1 year, they learned more specialized skills; agriculture and making coffee. Lihour, Ravy, and Teang were good at farming. Poy and Sokvy worked in the cafÊ in the Special Education Class. They learned not only how to make coffee but also how to sell it, deliver it, count money, and interact with the customers. The biggest change is that the students are able to take care of themselves in daily lives. Especially, they improved a lot in communication. For example, Chivon can do eye-contact, answer to a question (although not always appropriate), and talk to people in the street. It is really a big change compared to before when he hardly could do it. Poy, Lihour, and Ravy are the ones who have shown the biggest improvement until the graduation. Naro also changed a lot. He really likes to communicate with other people (he loves singing to others) and he is really good at cooking. But he easily lost concentration on one work and he was bad at the personal hygiene. Teang was a fast-learner in the Special Education Class.
After Graduation
(3 months)
Now, Teang and Ravy are working in the NEW FARM for one year as the interns. For the first 3 months, once a week the teachers followed up the two students by visiting NEW FARM, observing how they work, asking questions, and working together. After 3 months, the teachers visited twice a month spending half a day with them. They check the students' daily lives and also teach them the necessary skills in agriculture. Poy is having 3-month course training about communication in Hagar Organization. Sokvy lives with her mother and takes care of her nephews. She is doing well in housework. Naro lives with his parents. He stays inside of the house because his parents lock the door before they leave to work. Chivon lives with his mother and 3 siblings. He takes care of the chickens, feeding them in the morning and cleaning the hen house. Lihour who learned agriculture skills in the Special education Class, works in the small farm in the house. He takes care of the chickens and planted some vegetables in the farm. The mentally challenged students need the precise instructions and the constant support even after the graduation. However, there are some difficulties to follow up the graduate students now. The Special Education Class does not have the concrete system for the graduate students yet. Generally, the Outreach Team recruits the new students and follows up the graduates but there are so many works for the Outreach team already. The Special Education Class needs the separate car and people to follow up the graduates regularly. We planned many things for the students after the graduation but couldn’t carry out yet. I feel worried that the graduate students forget all the trainings they had in BP.
by Ms. Phalla
â—€ After graduation, the Special education Class teachers visited Lihour with a physiotherapist and an agriculture teacher to feed back him.
Hopeful
[BP Talk]
With
Sok Jiet
Chen Sok Jiet is 31 year-old student in the Sewing Class. Her house is in a small village in Kompongtom Province and she is the second of five daughters. She has a disability in her legs due to an incorrect injection when she was one years old. According to the teachers, Sok Jiet is a diligent student who tries hard to learn more. Although she had difficulties at first to catch up the class, now she is doing well and especially she is good at leading other students. She helps housework a lot and takes care of them like a mother so other younger students call her “mama". Her house teacher, Miss Siya, helped the interpretation.
Interviewer: Please introduce your family context. Sokjiet: My parents are farmers but their rice field is so small that if it rains heavily, everything is washed out in the farm. All of my sisters married and they are working in Thai now. Only once in two years we meet together to celebrate the Khmer New Year, but we love each other and frequently keep in contact by phone. I am the only child who didn’t marry yet. Interviewer: What were you doing before you came to BP? Sokjiet: Before I came to BP, I was at home all the time, helping housework such as cooking, washing clothes, and cleaning the rooms. I never had chance to study. The school was far away and I had to cross a small river to reach it. The bridge in the river was too old and unstable that you cannot cross it unless you can walk.
Interviewer: How was your r el a t i o ns hi p w it h p e o p le in th e village? Sokjiet: I and my neighbors are close to each other. We often eat the meal together and share many things. When I went back home during the Khmer New Year holidays, my neighbors invited me to have meals with them because we didn’t see each other for a long time. I didn’ t feel any discrimination from them. They were my good friends. Miss. Siya: (in English) Sok Jiet is very lucky that she has good neighbors. Many students had difficulties because their village people discriminated them due to their disabilities. Interviewer: How did you know about BP? Sokjiet: I heard of BP from a JSC (Jesuit Service in Cambodia) Kampongtom, which provided a free wheelchair to me. One worker there asked me if I want to learn in a vocational school for the people with the disability. I asked my parents and they said it is up to me but I couldn’t make a decision easily. Then, Mr. Yuth visited my family and explained about BP more precisely. After that, I decided to come to BP.
Interviewer: Why did you choose the Sewing Class? Sokjiet: When I was at home, I made clothes of my niece and nephews, sewing by hand. I never had learned sewing skills but I just made it by following other clothes. It took me almost one day to make one cloth if there was no other work. Now I use the sewing machine which is much easier and faster to make clothes. Although my skill is not good enough yet, I am happy that I am learning what I want to learn. What I like the most is cutting the textile with the scissors. I don’t know why but I just feel good when I am doing so. I am little bit scared to use the machine because it can hurt my fingers if I am not careful. Interviewer: How were you when you first came here? Sokjiet: It was very difficult because I even didn’t know how to write my name. I was very embarrassed in the literacy class and my selfesteem became very low. However, I improved little by little and now I learned mathematics, and I am now confident of myself.
â–˛Dresses that Sokjiet made by herself. The blue one she is wearing is her favorite.
Interviewer: How is your relationship with other students and teachers in school? Sokjiet: Friends are like my own brothers and sisters, and the teachers are like my parents. Although Miss. Siya(her house teacher) is younger than me, she takes care of us like my mother. Interviewer: What is the most memorable event in BP Sokjiet: A picnic to Kampongsaom is the most memorable moment in BP. It was the first time to see the sea in my life. I’d never believed that I could go to a beach in Kompongsaom because I can't walk. I only had seen the picture of the sea, and had watched other people going to Kompongsaom. I really enjoyed playing in the water with my friends as well as watching the scene of the sea. Interviewer: What gives you hope and support when you are down? Sokjiet: When I was younger, I wanted to kill myself because I was so desperate. However, my young nephew whom I took care of, became the reason to live. My older sister and her husband were busy for work, so I brought him up since he was very young. I loved him so much and I just wanted to see him growing up. That was my hope. (Showing the nephew’s photo in her phone) He is now 20 years old man. He loves me more than his parents. During the Khmer New Year Holidays, he took me to go outing. When my cell phone was broken, he brought it to the cell phone repairing shop to fix it.
Interviewer: What is your drea goal?
Sokjiet: I want to learn more a sewing skills. I have many things I t know yet. I want to open a se workshop later but I don’t know h open it without any support.
Miss. Siya: (to Sokjiet) the Out team will borrow small loan and a s machine after the graduation.
Sokjiet: Working in a sewing facto the second option. My younger s once told me that she would su me to open my own workshop a graduate BP. Nevertheless, she married and she needs to suppor own family. I am not sure if she can support me in her situation That is why I worry so much. Interviewer: Lastly, what does BP to you?
Sokjiet: It is a new light which me a new life. Before, I was unh and unsatisfied of myself because disabled. I couldn’t enjoy what people enjoy and I couldn’t do other people do . Thus, I rega myself as nobody. I was like a fr a well that can’t go outside to a world. However, here in Banteay P I am happier and freer. I am give literacy education, a vocational tra and even an outing to the sea. It is a new world. I am glad to be cha improved and going to a world I never known.
Every day, she has the literacy class. And once in a week she has the basic agriculture class.
On the road
[Interview]
M e n Y u t h
R e c r u i t i n g t h e n e w s t u d e n t s . . .
Mr. Yuth
and
The Outreach team The Outreach team became busier now because from June to September is the time for recruiting the new students. I had an interview with the director of the Outreach team, Mr. Yuth, who has worked in BP for a long time.
How did you get involved with BP? In 1993, I came to BP for a friend introduced here to me. I was desperate and hopeless, but Fr. Soya always encouraged me. I was so happy that a foreigner like him were interested in the people with the disabilities including me and appreciated to his support. I promised myself that if I get a chance to help others, I would do it voluntarily like what he did. After graduation, I went to back home and worked in two jobs; agriculture and charging battery in electricity. One day after one year passed, Fr. Jub called me back to BP and asked to prepare the documents for a new class, the Electronic Class. They were in a process to close the Electricity Class and to open the Electronic Class. I knew nothing about Electronic so I studied about it by myself for 6 months and became a teacher. (Laughing) I kept studying while teaching the students. What is the biggest change since you came to BP? My mind changed. Now I am hopeful and I have high self-esteem unlike before. I don’t think myself as the disabled person, because I am ‘able’ to do what the people without disabilities can do. I am pretty confident enough to raise my voice to the government as well. I believe that students in BP also go through it and change their minds to that they can do whatever they want to do. They are same as the people without disabilities.
Please introduce the Outreach team. Outreach team recruits the new students and follows up the graduates. We supports opening own business or livelihood (house, toilet, well, rice and emergency money) of the graduate students. When I was a teacher in the Electronic Class, there was only a small group for visiting villages. I thought we need a proper system not only for finding the new students but also for following up the graduate students. I discussed this idea with staff of JSC (Jesuit Service in Cambodia) offices in other provinces. In 1998, Sister Denise, Fr. Jub, Fr. Joaqui, Fr. Totet, Bishop Kike (father that time) and Mr. Maite shared opinions in a seminar and the Outreach team was officially formed. Mr. Maite nominated me as the director and the Outreach team used house no. 0 as the office. Since Fr. Joaqui became the director of BP, the Outreach team started to work with BP. We began to follow up the graduates from Kompongspu Province and extended the area. The most important work in the Outreach team is collecting data of all the students. Regardless that they graduated or not, we need to open our hearts to listen to them and help what their problems are. I think Outreach team is the messenger in the middle. We receive the students who need help, and send them where their abilities are needed. One good example is Ms. Soklang. It was very difficult to recruit her at first time. Her mother was strongly against sending her far away. However, Ms. Soklang wanted to learn the skills and finally we could bring her to BP after visiting her house third times. She studied hard in the Electronic Class and I (the teacher in the Electronic Class at that time) suggested her as a house teacher. I persuaded Fr. Joaqui and Mr. Klieng that we need a female house teacher who can take care of the female students. Therefore, she became the first female house teacher in BP. (she works as a house teacher until now.) You were a student, a teacher, and now you the director of the Outreach team. What is the different between each role? And which position do you prefer? Of course, each role is different. When I was a student, I just needed to follow what teachers suggest. But since I became a leader of a group, I need to express opinions and share ideas with other people, becoming more active. I don’t like the ‘director’ position, but I do like to work in the Outreach team as I can meet all students. What is the most precious thing to you? That is people with disabilities, especially the students in BP. They are the poorest among the poor in Cambodia. They lost many things. I have my beloved family but they are not disabled. For me, helping people who live in the poor condition is more important. Banteay prieb is my hospital and the students are the medicine for me. And the Outreach team is my love.
Buying the woods for building a house of a graduate student.
Visiting a new student' house.
What is having a disability in Cambodia like? In 1986, I was dragged to the war as a soldier at the age of 17. During the fight, I stepped on a mine and lost one leg. When I had two legs, I could walk easily. After I lost one, even walking needed so much effort. I used an iron stick instead of the prosthetic leg and tied it with a cloth. I needed to take it out and rest once in 2 or 3 days. It was very painful and smelly. Friends didn’t approach to me and children were afraid of me. I was all alone since I got a disability. Loneliness was the most difficult to bear. One day in 1991, I was reading a biography and one friend came and took my book saying “what is the point of studying and reading books? You are disabled and you can do nothing anyway.”I ran away from there but I cannot forget the pain. People didn’t like me and begging was only thing I could do. I left home to find anywhere that would help me. In Pusat Province, an organization provided a vocational training, but it was only for the people in Pusat. I hitched a ride on the military trucks around many provinces and lived with the food soldiers gave. I was hopeless and tired. When I reached Phnom Phen, finally I met one important person who saved my life. He gave an axe which was the first thing I got from others. He wasn’t disabled but he helped me to work with him and we moved around the Cambodia cutting and selling the woods. I couldn’t find him after that. I want to meet him again. I will remember him forever. What I learned from my experience is that life is precious. And I would help whoever in pain. I want to do whatever I can do for the disabled people who are abandoned from the society, or even from their own family. What is your next goal? I always have a forest. As you can find woods in the forest, I have skills and ability to find and do my work. No matter what, I want to keep helping for the disabled people. Even if BP is closed, I will make my own agriculture training center for the disabled. Is there anything you want to say to the supporters? First, I would like to say thank you for your support. If you were not supporting us, we couldn’t manage helping the disabled. Nevertheless, I would like to say that our work is not enough yet. There are still a lot of the people with disabilities in Cambodia. Every village I visit, I see the people who got disabilities by accident, who were addicted to drugs and who have the intellectual disabilities. They are abandoned from the government and society. They really need support and help.
"I thank for the priests, scholastics, and volunteers all the time. They are foreigners but they work for Cambodian people. I believe that Cambodian people also have to help their own people.."
" It is very painful to watch TV shows which mimick and make fun of the disabled people. That is insulting and disparaging them"
" Sometimes I ask myself, for what do I work so hard like this. The answer is that BP is my real home so I can do all the things for it. "
[Photo]
Kompong Sa
On 23th June, there was school outing to Kompongsaom with all the students, teachers and staff. Despite strong wind and big waves, students were excited to see the sea. They all ran into the water, playing water fights or swimming. The lunch was the rice with pork on the lotus leaves which were brought from the school. The outing ended after dancing on the beach with the loud music.
â–˛On 26th August, the new students in Make Up Class also went outing in Konpong Saom
[BP News]
Banteay Prieb
News
4th June. The local election day. Most of the students went back to their villages to vote. Some students remained in school because they don't have ID cards. 23th June. School Outing to Kompong Saom The article is on P. 15 2nd July. House teachers had a outing in Phnom Umpae. They had a meeting and had lunch there. 17th July. Superior General of 'the Society of Jesus’, Arturo Sosa S.J., and Fr. Danny Huang visited BP. They honored Br. Richard Fernando and encouraged the staff and the teachers. 20th July. A workshop was held in the Special Education Class for the students from other vocational classes to make them understand what intellectually disabled students can do in the house, and which part they need help. 26th August. 10 new students in the Make Up Class went outing to Kompongsaom. The photo is on P. 16 30th August. The Special Education Class went a field trip to Choeung Ek Genocidal Center, and Tuol Sleng Museum. 7th September. 10 computers and 3 laptops were donated by Lee Tae Soo, Park Jin Young, Lee Jong Ho, Lee Sang Ro, Jeong Do young, Jeong Sang Il, Jeong Yoon Sil, Jeong Chan Heon from South Korea. These are used well in the Phone Repairing Class and the Special Education Class.
Banteay Prieb is.. Banteay Prieb, founded by the JRS(Jesuit Refugee Service) and now run by JSC(Jesuit Service Cambodia), aims to help the disabled to be independent and to find dignity in themselves through vocational training and the community life. Contact us at:
Post Address: P.O BOX 880, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Phone: +855 12949710 e-mail Address: banteayprieb@gmail.com Website: facebook.com/banteayprieb facebook.com/craftpeacecafe www.youtube.com/user/banteayprieb
[BP Information]
Special Thanks to..
Individual Donors (6월에서 8월):강경임, 강동주, 강선희, 고금석, 고운용, 고전숙, 곽영숙, 구본찬,권기영, 권도경, 권민선, 권복순, 권성복, 권영규, 권영숙, 권영욱, 권오규, 권오창, 권용호, 권은자, 권인경, 권인순, 권정숙, 권정철, 권춘미, 권태옥, 김금열, 김광자, 김덕순, 김동환, 김병옥, 김상동, 김선자, 김송자, 김시수, 김애식, 김영모, 김영미, 김영지, 김옥희, 김용명, 김유선, 김윤옥, 김익우, 김인현, 김정란, 김주연, 김주월, 김지영, 김진영, 김한솔, 김현옥, 김희영, 남명자, 남미조, 노외순, 노희철, 도미자, 류성준, 문승희, 박기범, 박동분, 박서령, 박세린, 박순희, 박정미, 박재인, 박주완, 박찬익, 박혜정, 박효진, 서명순, 서은선, 서정희, 서형교, 성민주, 손금화, 손순영, 손홍점. 송경희, 송순열, 송진기, 신금옥, 신선자, 신순덕, 신정식, 신헌진 신후재, 신희건, 안재야, 안점자, 양인선, 여승현, 염순이, 오난희, 오미란, , 왕병욱, 요셉의집, 유영애, 윤덕순, 윤민정, 윤석렬 , 윤영화, 윤원만, 윤원태, 윤정희, 윤지홍, 이경숙, 이경자, 이귀자, 이동수,이동원, 이명진, 이상미, 이수연, 이수형, 이용선, 이윤성, 이은경, 이은철, 이인숙, 이인혁, 이재원, 이재창, 이정훈, 이준승, 이증옥, 이춘명, 이한양, 임대옥, 임용성, 임이택, 임정임, 임창률, 장경희, 장서규, 장성옥, 장원희, 장유진 , 장현석, 정규산, 전광민, 전대일, 전영숙, 정백금, 정선희, 정성미, 정옥희, 정은순, 정은욱 , 정은정, 정치수, 정현주, 조미경, 조성욱, 조성태, 조영숙, 조옥희, 조윤희, 조창권, 진상현, 천상영, 최난희, 최동원, 최동화, 최명수, 최양순 , 최영준, 최은희, 최윤자, 최정희, 표한화, 편경현, 피옥경, 한기복, 한성민, 한영호, 한영희, 한향숙, 한희수, 한희주, 허윤정, 황원희, 황정숙 Visited Donors (6월에서 8월): 프놈펜 깔멜수녀원, Ms.Angela & Mr.Martin, 인천교구 신부님들, Togni Cristina, Kim Yun Jung, Wah Yan College Hong Kong, St.Ignatius College Riverview, 대구 욱구 성당 청년회, Saint Ignatius College, Cagliero Project Group from Australia, Holy Redeemer Church from Hong Kong, Sophia University students, Eguipe Magis Promesse Earnlodge, 예수회 한국 관구 제3수련자들
How to Support us If you are interested in our work here in Cambodia, please check this payment details Bank Name : Phnom Penh Commercial Bank Swift Code : PPCBKHPP Bank Address : #767-769, Monivong Blvd., Sangkat Boeung Trabek, Khan Chamkamorn, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Account Name : Jesuit Service-Cambodia Account No. : 111-02-004010-6 you can also contribute to our work by purchasing products from the production of Banteay Prieb. Please check our products in this website. http://issuu.com/banteayprieb/docs/production_catalog Email. banteayprieb.production@gmail.com
The end