Letter from Banteay Prieb
Beginning of New Life Vol. 19 2014. 11 ~ 2015. 02
Days with batch 27 in 2014 [January 8th] :School started [March] :International Women’s Day Picnic [April] :Cambodian New Year’s Day [July 18th] :Annual picnic to the ocean [July 3rd] :Students went to listen to strategy of Cambodian government on people with disabilities [August] :International Environment Day, Planting trees
[August 29th] :Homecoming Day
[September] :Cambodian Thanksgiving Day
[December 3rd] :Participate in event on International Day of People with disabilities
[December 7th] :Participate in Angkor Wat International Marathon [December 18th] :Graduation Day
One Day before ‘Graduation’
Interview
▶ We talked with students who had only one day left before graduation day. -Interviewee: Bausee, Rang hung, Mieun, Phisur -Interviewer: Fr. Greg, Somin -Date: 17.12.2014 How was your life in Banteay Prieb while you were living and studyinghere?
and wary of other people. But now I have affection towards others, which came about by living together and helping each other. I will really miss Banteay Prieb. Before entering Banteay Prieb, how was your life and how did you know about Banteay Prieb?
Rang hung: I usually stayed at home alone. My father passed away when I was young and my mother and brothers Phisur: I was very happy. Especially, I went to Phnom Penh to work. Thecould make many friends who are Outreach team visited my house and disabled like me. In my village, there are thatis howI got to know about Banteay only two people with disabilities includPrieb. ing me. Therefore, neighbors harshly Bausee: I finished studying in high discriminated against us and I was school. After graduating from high always not confident. However, I have school, my family could no longer supchanged since I arrived to Banteay port me so I couldn’t go to university. I Prieb. I’m confident enough to go to wanted to support my family. One day, I market alone. I think I can continue to heard of Banteay Prieb and got the go to market when I go back home. phone number from another NGO. I was Mieun: It was really good to see how really happy to learn techniques which people loved each other. Since I came would help me to support my family. to Banteay Prieb, I began to do many things by myself. Before I came here, I Why did you choose to study eleceither stayed at home all day or wantronics? dered outside without knowing where I was going. I also didn’t think deeply Phisur: I use a wheelchair because my about my future. And I was suspicious legs are disabled. I thought studying
electronics would be easierfor me because I could sit down and work. Mieun: When I was 6 years old, I fell down from a running train. The doctorshad to amputate one leg because of this accident. I chose to study electronics for the same reason as Phisur. What was your favorite program of Banteay Prieb? Bausee: Playing basketball after school with my friends! Phisur: Gardening every Saturday. Mieun: I also enjoyed gardening. It was physically hard but I felt happy to make our own environment beautiful. Rang hung: I liked playing volleyball and basketball with my friends. Who is the most memorable person throughout your one year in Banteay Prieb? Phisur: House teacher is the most memorable person.
â–śFrom left:Bausee, Rang hung, Somin, Mieun, Fr. Greg, Phisur
Mieun: House teacher and student care teachers. They helped us a lot to be self-supporting. Bausee, Rang hung: Electronics class teacher, house teacher, and friends. What is your future plan after graduating from Banteay Prieb? Phisur, Mieun: I’d like to open my own electronics workshop at home. Bausee: I want to come back to Banteay Prieb to continue to study phone repairing course. Lastly, do you want to say anything for Banteay Prieb? Mieun: I want to say to future students to love one another. Phisur: I hope the tradition of having a homecoming day lasts for a long time. Bausee, Rang hung: There were many explanations in English while we studied electronics course. So it will be really nice if there is an English class for students and also computer class.
-Interviewee: Cheya, Sina, Theara, Srey, Sokjieut -Interviewer: Fr. Greg, Somin -Date: 17.12.2014 What is thedifference before and after entering Banteay Prieb? Cheya: I had bad experiences of discrimination against me because I’m disabled. When I went to market, people pointed a finger at me and made fun of me. I was really hurt and became less confident. However, after living in Banteay Prieb, I became confident for almost everything. People still discriminate against people with disabilities but I no longer feel afraid of others. Sina: I became capable of doing many things by myself. When I went back home during holidays, I could hang out with our neighbors and went outside with people. Theara: Me too. I really enjoyed my life in Banteay Prieb. Srey: There are many teachers who take care of us and help us when we are sick. And there are also many friends who went through similar experiences as I did. Before I came to Banteay Prieb, I was scared of other people and didn’t feel confident to go outside but now I can go to market and I’m not scared of what other people think of my disability. Which aspect of Banteay Prieb positively affected your life? Sokjiut: When I was young, I couldn’t
go outside because I didn’t have a wheelchair. Then when I got my wheelchair, I was already over 20 years old so I didn’t have the courage to go to school and study with younger people. That’s why I never learned how to read. It was really good to learn literacy and numeracy here in Banteay Prieb. Now, I am able to read signs on the road. So I’m not afraid to go outside because now I surely know where I’m going. I also really enjoyed learning sewing techniques. Which program of Banteay Prieb did you like the most? Cheya: I liked learning shoe-making techniques and literacy class which was held every morning. Srey: I enjoyed gardening. I think it was very meaningful to take care of our own environment by ourselves. Sokjiut: I liked playing sports. Before entering Banteay Prieb, I have never seen people with disabilities playing sports outside. I really enjoyed watching people playing sports. Who is the most memorable person throughout the year? Everyone: House teacher! What did your house teacher help you? Srey: Living together as one community, they taught us how to love others and take care of each other as one family. If you explain what Banteay Prieb means to you in one sentence, what
would it be? Srey: My second home. Sokjiut: A place where my new life began. Any suggestions for Banteay Prieb? Cheya: I hope Banteay Prieb lasts long so that many students can come and study. Sina: I hope Banteay Prieb continues to work with people with disabilities like now.
▲On International Women’s Day picnic, Srey sitting in the water
▶Annual picnic to the ocean. Left in front row, Sokjiut sitting and smiling in big hat
▲On International Women’s Day. Sina(right) with her friend.
▲Best friends. Chey and Theara.
My name is ‘Nae Di’
Story
The coconut tree that changed my life… My name is Nea Di. I was born in 1993. I became a person with a disability only 5 years ago when I was 17 years old. I fell down from a tall coconut tree. After this accident, I was sent to ahospital in Phnom Penh and had surgery but my condition was still the same. Because of this accident, my two legs were paralyzed. I was just an ordinary high school boy before the accident. However, I had to stop going to school after the accident because myschool was 7 km from my house. It was really difficult to go to school with paralyzed legs and I didn’t know how to continue to study back then. I was hopeless. Cambodian society really has a strong discrimination against people with disabilities. After the accident, little by little, I lost my friendsand stayed at home most of thetime. Meeting Banteay Prieb at 22 I got to know about Banteay Prieb from agovernment organization in Kampong Speu. At first, I was not confident to come to Banteay Prieb to study but I didn’t want to live in pain and despair so I decided to push through with it. I’m physically disabled but I didn’t want to have disability in my mind. Before entering Banteay Prieb, I thought it would be really difficult to take care of myself with mydisability. But while I stayed in Banteay Prieb, I could study, cook, and go to market. And I made many friends. Especially, teachers and friends encouraged me a lot. My favorite activities in Banteay Prieb were gardening, planting trees on environment day, grocery shopping at market, and cooking vegetables which I became capable to make very well. Healing the mind by writing poems I first wrote a poem right after coming back to Banteay Prieb from Khmer New Year holiday. Khmer New Year is the happiest moment for Cambodians. During this holiday, families gather together andgo to thetemple to pray for good health and happiness. When I was staying with my family, I suddenly realized that my life can’t be the same as before. I really missed the time when I ran around with my brothers and played with myrelatives. When I came back to Banteay Prieb, I realized that I was really disabled and I have to live with mydisability for the restof my life. I started to write poems to express my sadness. Writing poems helps me to express my feelings that I can’t express by speaking. After writing poems, I felt relieved and atpeace. I want to continue to write poems in the future.
My dream after graduating from Banteay Prieb I’m the last child among 3 sons and my parents are old. My parents are very happy about my life in Banteay Prieb. Especially, they were very happy to see me helping them and doing many things by myself when I went back home for holidays. Before entering Banteay Prieb, I was always feeling depressed and sad because I thought that I could no longer help my family. My parents were worried about me a lot. Therefore they were happy to see thepositive changes in my life. I want to open my own electronics workshop and help my family.
▲Nae Di’s poem with his handwriting
▶Picture of Nae Di
I have a new story I can’t say but I can write down Many or a little not copy from each other I try to write both day and night. If something wrong Please, forgive me and do not mind me Because I have immature heart Some words I use are always wrong. I have a word that I worry about Both day and night of my disability Lost leg and feet makes difficulty on everyday Never stop thinking about that word. Disabilities if it touches everyone, Both man and woman Much or little destroy feet or hand That is the same word which is disabilities. Like someone says even if my body is disability In my idea not disable I must preserve Longing for true knowledge So that in my life can move forward. Physical disability don’t think and worry Don’t degrade We try very hard plan for new life Don’t be anxious society welcome. I think the God forgotten me everybody else All of us suffering hurt nearly die Is this punishment Or from my previous sin. As I approach god remember the gifts from god Please help me I make my daily offering To remind you of my prayer to make a new generation That is without disabilities like this. Many or few time I try my best To share with each other If I do 100 or 200 times it is better than nothing Do by without ashamed I am hoping for your blessing. About my offering not light or heavy Not loose or tight not poor or rich Only that do good tried hard To find at about sin and grace.
+Fr. Sang yong Kim, Dominico S.J. translated Nae Di’s poem beautifully. We thank for your contribution.
2015
New Banteay Prieb January 13rd, 2015, New students(Batch 28) entered Banteay Prieb On January 13th, new set of students entered Banteay Prieb. There is a total of 111 students, 30 in Electronics, 26 in Mechanics, 25 in Agriculture, 22 in sewing, and 8 in Phone repairing course. During the first week, we conducted an orientation introducing each course, all the teachers and volunteers, and life in Banteay Prieb in general. Orientation week aims to help students to understand better life in Banteay Prieb and build friendship. Please, pray for our new students! Banteay Prieb’s new project, education program for people with intellectual disabilities will be started in March We are launching an education program for people with intellectual disabilities this year. In Cambodia, the number of people with physical disabilities is decreasing and there are a few organizations which are working for people with intellectual disabilities. Reflecting on this changing need of Cambodian society and building on Banteay Prieb’s 23 years of experience working for people with physical disabilities, we are embarking on an education program for people with intellectual disabilities. The vision of this program is inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities into the society. Our mission is to develop the life skills of people with intellectual disabilities so they can live independently and be self-reliant. Our goal is to create an environment which is conducive to active participation of people with intellectual disabilities in community life.
Preparations for the program started last year by conducting various workshops about basic understanding people with intellectual disabilities to teachers and staffs of Banteay Prieb. They have also visited other NGOs to learn from their experience. This year, we are planning to have regular workshops for house teachers, staffs, and students to help them better understand and comfortably live with students with intellectual disabilities. We had the first workshop of this year with house teachers last 13th February. During the workshop, teachers learned about behavior management. Given various behavior habits of people with intellectual disabilities, the teachers were taught how to react and help students in specific situations. The class for people with intellectual disabilities will commence in March. This is a big challenge for all of us and we need to prepare and learn many things. But we believe that we can do well by drawing lessons from the 23 years experience of working with people with disabilities. With the long experience of education for people with disabilities, cooperation with experts, and trust in each other, we will work hard for both students with physical and intellectual disabilities. Please, keep our new mission in your prayers. Craft Peace Cafe has moved to better place Craft Peace Cafe which is directly run by Banteay Prieb has moved to Phnom Penh Thmey which is close from Phnom Penh International Airport. New Craft Peace Cafe is located within 30 minutes drive from Banteay Prieb and 5 minutes walk from Jesuit center. Craft Peace Cafe remains to be a place where people can find products of Banteay Prieb, enjoy good food, and serve as a cultural place for meetings and exhibitions. Come and enjoy meaningful time in Craft Peace Cafe! ★If you want to follow newly updated news of Craft Peace Cafe, Please visit: www.facebook.com/craftpeacecafe
Special Thanks to...
＊Camboren and Jesuit Community Japan
＊Joy of Sharing
＊Ae-hwa School ＊Sogang University ＊Fr. Amos ＊Sr. Marie Vianney ＊Korean Jesuit Scholastics
＊Woong Suk Yang, Sun Ok Hong
＊International Ladies Golf Community
＊Jun Skin, Sol Cafe
Banteay Prieb, founded by the Jesuit Service Cambodia, aims to help those victimized by war, land mines, polio and accidents achieve independence and find dignity in themselves through vocational training and psychological support.
Support us
for more INFORMATION
Bank : ACLEDA Bank Plc / Address : #61, Preah Monvong
www.banteayprieb.org www.craftpeacecafe.com facebook.com/banteayprieb facebook.com/craftpeacecafe www.youtube.com/user/banteayprieb Email. banteayprieb@gmail.com
Blvd, Sangkat Srah Chork, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh, Cambodia / Detail : +855 23994444/15999233, inquiry@acledabank.com.kh / Account : Saving / SWIFT CODE : ACLBKHPP / CHIPS UID : 415637 / Name : Jesuit Service-Cambodia(Community) /Account NO. : 0001-20-296380-2-99
Ordering and buying our products http://issuu.com/banteayprieb/docs/production_catalog Email. banteayprieb.production@gmail.com
Phone. +855 12617721 Post Adress P.O BOX 880, Phnom Penh, Cambodia