JSC
News Letter vol.02
Jesuit JesuitService Service Cambodia Cambodia
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Contents 3
Director’s letter
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Reportage
2015 JSC staff workshop
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Rush to the scene
Plant Stung Sen with JSC Ecology team
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Special Letter
School Story of new teachers in Xavier Jesuit School
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Staff Relay
Life making 3 wheels - Mr.Sovann in Mekong wheelchair team
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Letter from Banteay Prieb
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JSC News
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Photo story
JSC News letter vol.2 Publisher In-don Oh, SJ
Translation Sujin Park, Dawoon Chung
Design&Editor Dawoon Chung
Photo Credit Dawoon Chung, Gwanseok Lee, Seulro Lee, Insu Song, Donghee Cho
Copyright in JSC
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Director’s Letter Happy New Year! In this year, I hope you all are filled with love and peace of the Lord. In 2015, Jesuit Service Cambodia (JSC) took time for preparing a new future plan based on the overall program evaluation that was conducted in 2014. As a result, we selected 4 priority programs which are becoming the key points of the JSC program in the future – Supporting People with Disabilities, Education for the Poor, Advocacy, Ecology. 2016 is very important year to start these plans. The past 25 years, our desire never to serve the most disadvantaged among the poor has never changed. This value will not be changed in conducting those 4 priority programs. Of course, it’s not easy. But as we have done before, if we do our best for the poor, I surely believe that our dream can be a reality step by step. Especially, there are lots of new starting programs: The special education program in Banteay Prieb, Xavier Jesuit School in Sisophon, Ecology Program which is planting peace in Cambodia. With those new starting programs, we are expecting more challenges and opportunities this year. I am very grateful to you all for the generous support and interest you provide. I pray to the Lord for a happy and hopeful new year for you all. God bless you. Thank you. 14 Feb 2016 Director of Jesuit Service Cambodia
Fr. Indon Oh, S.j.
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Reportage - Staff Workshop
2015 Staff Workshop
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workshop for all JSC staff was held for 4 days at JS Siem Reap, from 4th to 7th Nov. 2015. A total of 65 staff members came together to attend, including the 5 coordinators of rural project offices and staff from Banteay Prieb, Ecology, Mekong Wheelchair, Light of Mercy Home, RDAS, Ear Clinic and the head office. This staff workshop is a regular event we have every year, to report our activities and try to understand each other by looking back on the year. This year in particular was important as our new personnel policy and operation strategy were introduced here.
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SC has set the new policy and strategy of human resources management in order to implement the operation systems in an effective and fair way, e.g. managing work hours and salaries, and welfare. It will act as a stepping stone to a more systematic work environment with the long years of bond by our staff, who have worked for the last 20 years in a strong faith with us.
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s the last activity of the workshop on 6th Feb., all staff members visited Xavier Jesuit School in Sisophon to discuss about the direction and values of education project which is our main project for the future. Followed by the presentation, by Fr. Ashley, the director of Xavier Jesuit School project, and the project manager Ms. Sonai, was a Q&A session on the new education programs of Xavier Jesuit School. JSC director, Fr. In-don Oh stated about the future plan that “While JSC has focused on the disabled and children for the last 20 years, environment and education are now the next to be emphasized. Projects on these two are essential for the future generation of Cambodia and need your great support.”
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SC now has 28 Jesuits and 15 foreign volunteers working together with 148 Cambodian employees, who are the main doers in practice of JSC projects. It would not be too much to say that those staff has made today’s JSC with their effort, pride and responsibility. We 4 expect year 2016 to be another year of fruition through our continuous cooperation. also
Reportage - Staff Workshop
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Rush to the scene - Ecology
“Planting dream of everyone” Stung Sen Trip with Ecology
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tung Sen river is located in Kampong Thom province of Cambodia. The river, with a wide stream in the relatively low region, flows across Kampong Thom to gather in Tonle Sap lake in Kampong Chnang. It is surrounded by beautiful swamp and forest, in which many animals, important in environmental issues, inhabit. The word “stung” means a river. “Sen” has three meanings i.e. one is 100,000, secondly it is an adjective used to describe a very good thing, and the last is “to offer to God”. Though the origin of the name “Stung Sen” is not clearly known, most Cambodians say it means a precious river to offer to God. It is that much beautiful and peaceful. As well as the flowing river, dense woods, birds and fish, there are also beautiful people who base their lives on Stung Sen river. Those who lived in the houses floating on the water gathered around because they had no land to live on, and formed a floating village in the river which now became their homeland. In Jan. 2015, for 3 days, 4 JSC ecology members went on a journey to Stung Sen to do a field study for a 2016 project of planting trees.
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years ago when the ecology team first started their environment movement, the main activity was planting trees which was centered in the church community. However, planting trees has spread out to villages, Buddhist organizations, other NGOs and the government as well for cooperation. Pat Sandai, an area close to Chnok Tru of the small church community as a part of Kampong Chnang church, began its relationship with JSC 3 years ago through the planting trees project.
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JSC Ecology team has maintained a good relationship with the people in Pat Sandai since then they started the office in 2013. Now the people in Pat Sandai act on their own environmental campaigns and watch to keep out the illegal works in the area, with the knowledge they learnt from our trainings on environment.
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In 2015, the ecology team successfully carried out the campaign of planting trees in the association with Pat Sandai middle school in which the students and other villagers all participated. Upon the suggestion by Ministry of Environment under Kampong Thom province, in 2016 trees will be planted on the land that is protected by the government. The recent field study was to check the land and establish a network with the related persons - government workers, teachers at Pan Sandai middle school and etc. The director of Ecology, Fr. Gabby says, building relationships of trust is the most important.
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We are still focusing on cultivation confidential relationship between the persons concerned. How many trees we planted, which survey we did... those matters are the matters later on. The persons who should protect the environment here and who can sustain it are the persons who live here. Especially, young people are very important. So we want to make a trusting relationship between local people before we do something. Pat Sandai is the outstanding village where is cultivation those relationships very well. So we are paying attention to this area.”
Rush to the scene - Ecology
” ology Team
(From above) > Stung Sen Floating Village > Fr. Gabriel(Gabby), The director of JS Ecology Program > View from Pat Sandai middle school
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r. Hak Lai followed the field study with Ecology team from beginning to end. He is a teacher in Pat Sandai Middle school who has actively supported our works until now from 2013 when JSC Ecology first started the campaign in Stung Sen. JSC has developed a campaign to plant trees with the students since 2 years ago and held regular environment trainings. This was possible because the teachers came together with one will for the students to learn the importance of environment and grow up with attitudes to put into practice. Mr. Hak Lai tells that he can feel the environment directly connected to the lives of people in this area.
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If the environment is destroyed here, the first thing you will find is the reduced amount of fish. Then the means of living for famers and fishers will be gone too. The poor people whose living is based on this area can only breathe when all the forests and river around here breathe alive.”
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Mr. Hak Lai in Pat Sandai middle school
he name of the land where trees will be planted this year is “Bung Sbat” which means a place for the bushes. This is an area of government protection that allows private fishing or fishing business. Ministry of Environment of Kampong Thom suggested JSC Ecology team to create a forest in this area by planting trees, which is a very significant move unlike many imprudent development plans by other government departments. It can also be seen as a result of effort by JSC Ecology team, who has continuously developed a positive relationship and implemented the environment projects for the last 3 years. Ecology team has accepted this suggestion with gratitude and is now preparing to plant trees when the earth becomes dry and solid in March. They also have plans to build a research facility in Stung Sen this year and start intensive researches on the water quality of Stung Sen river and the diverse lives of the area.
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(From Above) > The Ecology team observing the land - Bung Sbat > The Ecology team visiting the forest where they planted trees last year > Pat Sandai school students
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Below) Bung Sbat Land
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Children in Xavier Jesuit School Srey Nai(10) My name is Srey Nai. I’m 5th grade and I live in Phnom Bak village. I have 6 family members including grandparents, parents, auntie and me. I have no siblings. I have been studied in Xavier Jesuit school for 4 month already. I learn english since I want to speak english when I become an adult. My dream is being a doctor who takes care of sick people. Because my grandfather, grandmother and my aunti are sick. I think, to be a doctor, I have to study much. So I’m excited there is a new school in our village. I like to do homework and to read books on holiday. These days, I can play with my friends at the school so I feel happy with that. And I can show my parents what I learn everyady then they like it too.
Suo Riet (9) My name is Suo Riet, I’m a 3rd grade student. I live with grandmother, auntie and my sister. I’m learning english in Xavier Jesuit School. Eglish is difficult but I like it. When I play with my friends, we make fun of saying english like “Sit down!! Stand up!” or we play the game we learnt in the class. I like singing and dancing. I want to be a person who sing and dance happily.
Da Somnang (12) My name is Da Somnang. I live in Phnom Bak village. I have 8 siblings. One of my elder brothers is working in Thailand. I have been studied English in Xavier Jesuit School for 4 month already. My grandfather said, If I study English very well, I can get a chance to go to other countries. I go to Phnom Bak school in the morning, but there is only Khmer and Society classes. I like to come to this school. Because I can learn new things and meet friends. And I like the teachers here. I want to be a teacher like them. If I see the students who learn from me in the future, I think it feels very rewarding!
Ly Sreyreath (12) My name is Ly Sreyreath. I’m the youngest one of 3 siblings and my parents are farmers. My home is very closed to this school so I attended the summer school of XJS already. I love to come here since I can learn new things everday. I can learn different things with the school that I go in the morning. I like math the most but these days I ‘m interested in English also. I want to be a teacher. Because teachers help children to grow up and to know more. I think I should study hard to be a good teacher.
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Children in the After-school Program of Xavier Jesuit School
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Story of new teachers in Xavier Jesuit School
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Special Letter - XJS
Srey Pech(22) New teacher of XJS kindergarten “How did you start this career?” It is a new school starting in this area and they need many teachers here. And I love children. Sometimes it is not so easy to be with them but they always make me happy. “What did you do before you become a teacher?” I lived in Chnou of Banteay Meanchey province. When I was in high-school I stayed in a student center run by Sisophon church to go to school. “What is your daily routine?” I start work at 7AM by welcoming the kids and do morning exercise together. Then I read story books to them in our reading class, that I usually choose from educational stories. After a snack time I teach them about colors, name of things, how to wash hands, how to put clothes on, and etc. They
Son Kunthea(22) New teacher of XJS kindergarten “How did you start this career?” Before I came here to work, I was working for EDC school in Sisophon as an English teacher. I love teaching and also how “I” learn through the students. Their life is full of happiness, more happiness than in our life. Unless the adults force them to learn some things they don’t need to know. “What is your daily routine?” The kindergarten starts at 7AM everyday as the kids arrive. At 7:30 we do morning exercise together and have a class. Then there is a snack time and another
follow us, the teachers, quite well in class. “Isn’t there any difficulties?” In fact, when we started our kindergarten here, they cried a lot in their first days. Because it was their first time being separated from parents, they felt very nervous and uncomfortable. But as they could see that the teachers were always happy with them, they are not afraid of coming to the kindergarten anymore. Now we sing and dance together and they enjoy learning. Very few kids cry these days. “What do you want to teach them as the most important?” I think the most important thing is to let them to speak. They will learn how to deliver what they feel and think to others while they speak, draw and write. They also learn how to buy and sell things there. To teach them to communicate with each other is the most important, I think. Chil-
class afterwards which finishes at around 10:30 and the kids go home. “How does trainings for teachers help you?” From the teachers training I learnt a lot on how to teach and how to treat them in daily life. I especially enjoyed when I learnt the methods of using pictures and illustrations that children love. It helps me to teach them much easier and make it more fun. “What do you want to teach them as the most important?” I think it is very important for them to learn to exercise with each other and move their body
dren in Cambodia don’t learn to express their feelings in school. One day during my class, this one kid tried to go outside by all of sudden, so I grabbed him quickly. But I grabbed him so hard that he told me it hurt and I said sorry. Then the kid was surprised by that, asking me “why do say sorry so easy?” That is when I decided again to show it more often and teach them how to sorry and thank you. “What is your dream?” My dream is that the kids talk better and grow up as individuals with wisdom who can communicate well with others. They are actually much smarter than we think they are. But they need to learn how to show it themselves. Personally, I want my life to be more settled and I want to keep helping with the work they do here. And more later in the future I would like to run my own kindergarten.
because in their age physical development is important. And the communication process that they talk with friends and understand what teachers say is also important. “What is your dream?” My dream is to provide more financial support to my family. In the future, I want to build a school and a student center on my own to help children.
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23 years with wheelchairs
Mekong Wheelchair
Keo Sovann Jesuit, who landed in Cambodia 30 years ago with its first mission to help Cambodian refugees, established a vocational training center, Banteay Prieb (Center of Dove), for people with disabilities from war and landmine accidents. Mekong Wheelchair Production is located in one of the buildings of Banteay Prieb, which has become a source of hope for the disabled in Cambodia. They produce wheelchairs, specially designed for the geographical features of Cambodia and handmade to fit each user’s physical conditions. The main part of Metta Karuna, a rural development project Joy of Sharing is supporting, is the distribution of these Mekong Wheelchairs. More than 1000 wheelchairs are produced every year by Mekong Wheelchair employees, most of them having disability in real life. I had an interview with one of the only two employees with no disability, Mr. Keo Sovann(50) who has been with Mekong Wheelchair for 22 years from its beginning. I could recognize his long years of experience at a glance.
“When did you start working for the people with disability?” I studied physiotherapy in a university in Thailand and worked for a Thai NGO in production of prosthetic legs and crutches for those who lost their leg in landmine accidents. Later in July 1993, I returned to Phnom Penh to work for a small British NGO with 5 people. While we were helping the disabled with physiotherapy, we could think about the need of Mekong Wheelchairs. It is easily seen in rural area that the people with disability are not able to go outside even with wheelchairs. So we thought we needed to change the shape of wheelchairs depending on the lay of the land throughout all regions of Cambodia, and needed different types of wheelchairs to match the variety of disabilities for example, polio, leg amputation, paralysis of legs and club foot. It also needs to be designed according to age and sex which are differentiated by lifestyles and types of work and activity they do.
“What are the reasons you worked for the long time and still work for them?”
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In fact, I wanted to become a journalist when I was young. But by chance I studied about the disabled and physical development and I found it interesting. Then I could see many times the people without disability ignoring the people with disability. I even saw a family abandoned their family member just because of the disability. I think that they are same people who live with us in our society and they should come out of their house to be able to actually live in the society to-
Staff Relay - Mekong Wheelchair gether. That is why I studied physiotherapy and started to make prosthetic legs, crutches and wheelchairs.
“Can you tell us about how you designed Mekong Wheelchair at first?” For the first 3 months we grouped together with the name “Motivation” and investigated on wheelchairs. Later we invited more people - designers, users, physiotherapists and engineers - to discuss about production of special wheelchairs for Cambodia and came up with 3 types of wheelchairs, i.e. four-wheel, four-wheel folding and three-wheel. After a discussion with other NGOs (AAR, VI, JSC) who showed an interest in wheelchairs, three-wheel was chosen and JSC started its production in 1994. This is when I became an employee in JSC Mekong Wheelchair. Most of those foreign NGO engineers who worked in the early days have left and now Cambodians have taken over to continue the production.
“How do you select who will receive Mekong Wheelchairs?” Firstly, we get applications from all JSC coordinators in Cambodia. They are reliable partners to us because each coordinator goes out to villages to check and see themselves if there is anyone with disability or sickness in their area and talks with them about what they need in person. There is another team in Banteay Prieb that does a similar work, it is the outreach team. When they go to the rural area to visit the graduates of Banteay Prieb, they also examine how many people need new wheelchairs or any replacement and repair. Our priority beneficiary is the physically disabled people we find through these processes who are the poorest and in most need for help. But we also have requests from other NGOs or individual inquiries.
“What is the level of disability awareness in Cambodia?” In general, it has gone up compared to the past. But still there are very few willing to work with people with disabilities. We only have 5 people who completed a formal education on physiotherapy. And in rural areas with lack of awareness, they think they can just stay home and have lots of medicines when they get sick or disabled. They don’t know that it helps to do exercises, receive treatment, meet other people and be active.
“Tell us about your teamwork in Mekong Wheelchair.” Mekong Wheelchair production has 18 people and among them 16 are with disabilities. We all have some weaknesses so we had to go through difficult times. It would have been too difficult if I worked by myself and only for my profit. However, we have been always happy because we worked together to complement each other and believed that our work would bring good outcomes for the weak and the isolated.
“When do you feel happiest while working here?” I like that I work together with these people here with the same dream. Anything can make you happy, even with disabilities, poor skills or poor language, if you have the same goal and dream for the better world together and try to understand and be considerate to each other.
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Letter from Banteay Prieb
A special Issue on
The Graduation Ceremony On December 22 of 2015, Banteay Prieb was very crowded with people who came to celebrate the graduation of the students. It was the biggest event of the year. Government officers, including the Kandal provincial governor, were also invited to the graduation ceremony. The ceremony started from 8:30 in the morning. First, there was a congratulatory speech by the teachers, and then graduation certificates were given to the students. There were two certificates – one issued by the government and the other issued by Banteay Prieb – both were given to each student. We put a lot of effort in preparing the certificates since these will prove the students’ skills and make customers have
trust in them when they start a new business. After the graduation ceremony, there was an exhibition prepared by each class, which showed their year-round activities. We took time to look around each booth and congratulate the students’ accomplishments for their year in Banteay Prieb.
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Letter from Banteay Prieb
After looking around each booth, the most fun part of the graduation day begun – the race! Many students participated in the race that included wheelchair part, -wheelchair part and relay part. The cheerful dance music added more excitement to everyone. We cheered for one another, and it was just like a festival!
Later, we had a special dinner with a whole roasted pig that we had just caught and cooked. Then we had a dance party which was the highlight of the day. Students dressed up with their best looks and enjoyed the party. In the middle of the dance party, there was a fashion show by students wearing tuxedos and dresses that were made by students of the sewing class. This fashion show has been the tradition of Banteay Prieb’s graduation ceremony. With the help of the teachers from the sewing class and the make-up class which just started this year, students could dress up very nicely and we all gave them a big applause. The party continued until 11 pm.
In the next morning at 5 am, before dawn, students who live far from Banteay Prieb begun to go back home. Teachers and volunteers said good bye to students with encouraging words for their new start, and the students left one by one for their new life. Many students embraced each other crying. They promised to meet again and cheered for each other. 105 graduates, 28th batch, in the year of 2015. Please remember them in your prayers. 17
‘Letter from Banteay Prieb’ is extracted from the newsletter of Banteay Prieb, the center for disabled people in Cambodia. Banteay Prieb Facebook : www.facebook.com/banteayprieb Banteay Prieb E-mail : banteayprieb@gmail.com
JSC News
JSC NEWS Banteay Prieb New students, Batch 29!
New JSC Webpage launched! New Jesuit Service Cambodia webpage is opened. You can meet the information and news of JSC here! Home : jscambodia.org FB : www.facebook.com/jesuitservicecambodia
2015 JSC Staff Workshop workshop for all JSC staff was held for 4 days at JS Siem Reap, from 4th to 7th Nov. 2015. This year in particular was important as our new personnel policy and operation strategy were introduced here.
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Banteay Prieb Graduation of Batch 28 On December 22 of 2015, There was the biggest yearly celebration of banteay prieb - the graduation day of 105 graduates, batch 28. Please remember them in your prayers.
BP attended to the International Disabled day. On December 7 of 2015, BP students went to the celebration of International Disability Day. After the celebration, students had a small picnic at Wat Phnom.
In 2016, 120 new students came to Banteay Prieb. Some students already have studied literacy in Banteay Prieb. This year, we run 7 classes - electronics, agriculture, machanics, sewing, phone reparing, beauty/hairdressing, special education class. BP is full of people and joy again!
Christmas Concert in Craft Peace Cafe On December 12 of 2015, ‘Bon Noel Christmas Concert’ is held in Craft Peace Cafe run by Banteay Prieb production. For this concert, All the staffs in BP and some JSC staffs were invited. It was the first visit of many staffs to Peace Cafe. We had such a great time altogether!
JSC News
New books from JS Book Production, Oct15 - Jan16 ‘A little bird and a little red ant’
Xavier Jesuit School running kindergarten and after-school class! Community Learning Center in Xavier Jesuit School built last August is now running kintergarten program in the morning and after-school class in the afternoon. After-school class includes English, Math, and Computer class.
JS출판, 2015 캄보 디아 북페어 참가 On December 11 - 13 of 2015, JSC Books participated in the 4th Cambodia Book Fair! We introduced our books with instructive and interesting stories to children, our future! The book fair broke the highest record of visitors. It means the prospect of book production and reading culture in Cambodia is more developing.
‘A Lonely Tree’
‘The Proud Chick’
‘The Conquerors’ ‘Cactus Hotel’
XJS the land-fill work for Primary School started. On the 19th of January 2016, the land-fill work for the Primary School started again. Last year, the Governor encouraged the School Project to help take silt from the river bed to use as land-fill. This work had to stop during the rainy season.
‘Not Mines, But Flowers’
‘Nobody has time for me’
‘The Gorilla and the Cannon’
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or t S to o h P
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Photo Stor y #1 28th Batch of Banteay Prieb photo by. Insu Song
농업반
기계반
재봉반
전자반
1번집
5번집
7번집
2번집
휴대폰수리반
10번집 3번집
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9번집
8번집
4번집
11번집
Photo Stor y #2 Dei-Lo Kindergarten run by XJS in Sisophon photo by. Gwanseok Lee
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The Graduation Ceremony of Banteay Prieb Batch 28