SUNRISE CAMBODIA A note from Geraldine Cox AM
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ith a new year just beginning, and all the support Sunrise receives from you, I am truly optimistic that 2019 will be a wonderful year for the Sunrise children. You are such a big part of their lives, and I know they can count on you to brighten their future. I hope you know how much that means. This is why I am thrilled to be sharing Sunrise’s latest update with you. Aniela Chaudhuri, a very talented teacher from Six Cat Studios, has been successfully running a music programme for us – mostly via Skype. It is amazing what your support, as well as technology and innovation, can achieve. To read more on this heartwarming story, please see page 2. The provision of a “big yellow” school bus has enabled more community children to attend school. Their smiles gave it all away – they were just so happy to be meeting new friends in their new surroundings. Your support brought them there and I send my most heartfelt thanks for reaching
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out and making a change.
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Our friends from Project Gen Z, Liz Volpe and Andrew Morello, gave the Sunrise students another wonderful opportunity to rise up to the challenge and test their brainpower during the ‘Dare to Dream’ workshop. This is an event that the children look forward to every year. Thank you, Liz and Andrew, for everything.
Of course, with the new year ahead, I am positive that you will continue to change more lives with your support. Now is a great time to give as classes resume and the children are ready to start the school year. Our Back to School appeal is your opportunity to take part in the start of their learning journey. Please see page 3 to learn more about how you can give.
Our ‘Humans of Sunrise Cambodia’ story on page 4 will give you an inside look at the workings of Sunrise. Bonna Leng, who oversees operations in both centres, opens up about her tragic past during the Khmer Rouge and her remarkable recovery. It’s very touching to see the strength of the human condition, showing how we can learn from our experiences, as traumatic as they can be, to find our purpose. Our work in Cambodia is truly rewarding, but at times it can also be very challenging. The rising costs of school supplies, government and compliance expenses and teachers’ salaries has compelled a bigger need for funding and a need to be more
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roject Gen Z’s Dare to Dream workshop once again exceeded our expectations as the team launched their 'Apprentice-style' competition. Every year in October, Project Gen Z embark on a social impact trip to mentor the Sunrise students on business skills and engage them in some friendly competition.
I do hope that you enjoy reading the latest Sunrise news and seeing all the joy and smiles in the photos; knowing that you help put those smiles there. Okun (thank you) for giving the Sunrise children a great start to the new year. Love and light,
Geraldine Cox AM
Founder, Sunrise Cambodia
Project Gen Z travelled to Sunrise Siem Reap from different cities across Australia and the UK, bringing with them the perfect mix of skillsets, backgrounds and, of course, passion. The Sunrise children were thrilled to see familiar faces as well as new ones, as they anticipated the fun and excitement of the Dare to Dream workshop. The Sunrise students did indeed “dare to dream” when six teams took part in a sales challenge. Each Team was required to set up and launch their own small business – with a budget of just $100. They then had to come up with a marketing strategy to take to the streets of Siem Reap to compete in a selling challenge. The week ended with a grand finale event where each team made a sales pitch to the Project Gen Z judges. The overall winner was Khlem – the first ever male winner. He took part in the Apprentice Challenge and played the role of CEO for the Purple Team. His leadership skills made him a standout contender as his team successfully planned and launched a mini business.
Okun (thank you) to the founders of Project Gen Z, Liz Volpe and Andrew Morello, for hosting another successful event. The incredible energy that you bring each year will continue to inspire Above: Brainpower for the win! The Purple Team celebrating their future generations for many years to come. success during the finale of Dare to Dream.
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Sunrise Cambodia
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Strike the Right Note
Above: A solid connection. The children taking lessons from Aniela via Skype. Left: Hard work pays off. Aniela and the Sunrise students during their first violin concert in December last year.
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music teacher’s chance encounter with a friend, along with a group of upbeat Sunrise children, was key in establishing this wonderful music programme at our Siem Reap centre. Aniela Chaudhuri from Six Cat Studios, Hong Kong was the first to introduce violin lessons at Sunrise. After an initial attempt to garner support for a violin programme in schools in Hong Kong, she was left disappointed, and never expected the programme to take off in Cambodia. This resourceful and passionate teacher persisted and eventually ‘struck the right note’ with Sunrise, bringing music to our ears. As a graduate from the Music School of Douglas Academy for Musically-Gifted Children, Aniela's passion to teach is clear. She has grounded her passion well, having founded her own music studio in Hong Kong with the support of her husband, Stuart. The Six Cat Studios duo craft their own music programmes to encourage learning through various means, making the classroom a more stimulating learning environment for all ages. “My husband, Stuart, and I create Music Education games, books, puzzles and sheet music to further develop learning for anyone of any age who would like to know more about music in a fun way,” she said. Stemming from her own learning experiences, Aniela made the choice to give back through teaching. She is simply driven to share the gift of music with children who are less fortunate than herself. “Learning music has had such a profound impact on me, that a life without it is unthinkable. I would not have had these fantastic opportunities were they not provided without charge,” said Aniela. With two decades of teaching experience under her belt, Aniela can vouch for the positive effect learning music can have on students. She says that it's the intangible benefits that makes music valuable to teach, especially to children. “Music brings joy, instils discipline and problem solving and most of all, encourages cooperation and bonding through the shared experience of learning and performing together. Music is something we can all naturally create and connect to; it can also be a source of comfort and healing,” said Aniela. The best part of Aniela’s job, of course, are the children, who make
every effort to engage with the learning material in preparation for their performances. “I am always deeply moved by the children’s open heartedness and desire to learn. Watching their development as musicians and people absolutely makes my heart soar!” she adds. Geraldine was deeply moved by Aniela’s kind gesture, further supporting that it is the healing aspect that makes learning music an important part of the Sunrise education programme. “I also believe that, for children who have been abandoned and abused, music is a great healer and I can see what it is doing for the Sunrise children,” said Geraldine. Aniela was first introduced to Geraldine and the Sunrise children through their mutual friend, Erin Lillis. “I was telling Erin how we had many donated violins and wanted to start a programme in Hong Kong for underprivileged children. We approached a number of schools, charities and institutions, and were met with little to no interest in the free instruments, lessons and teaching materials provided by us. Erin suggested that the children at Sunrise could benefit,” said Aniela. In July 2017, Aniela set off to Siem Reap with nine of the donated violins. The Sunrise children were totally immersed with learning music and the Sunrise Cambodia/Six Cat Studios Music Programme was born! “The children are all given the opportunity to try the violin, and those who want to learn have committed to lessons,” said Aniela. The Sunrise children receive at least an hour of instruction per week via Skype as well as intensive daily lessons in person for up to two weeks, three to four times a year. Their first performance in December showcased Aniela’s and the children’s musical talents, bringing tears of joy to everyone watching. “What made me cry when I watched them playing is that without Sunrise they would never have heard, seen or even known what a violin was,” said Geraldine. Okun (thank you) for your support making this programme possible. We look forward to seeing where this could lead.
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TAKE PART IN THE START
Sunrise Cambodia
The gift of a great start to an education is key to opening doors and transforming lives. This gift creates a ripple effect across developing communities where equality and work opportunities are necessary to improve their future. It all starts with quality education. According to UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring Report, if adults had just two more years of schooling during their childhood, 60 million people would be lifted out of poverty. Your generosity has the power to make this possible. Sunrise Cambodia’s Back to School appeal is your opportunity to take part in the start of an exciting journey with the Sunrise children. With a donation of $50.00, you can help with the cost of sending a child to school by providing school packs with the essentials to get them through the day. Each $50.00 donation buys one child a back-to-school pack, which includes: • • • • •
Backpack Text books Water bottle Snacks Exercise books
Okun (thank you) in advance for your generosity.
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Please visit sunrisecambodia.org.au and give today. Donations $2.00 and over are tax-deductible in Australia under an agreement with The Australia Cambodia Foundation Inc. (ACF) ABN: 37 730 989 411. Sunrise Cambodia is an approved project of The Australia Cambodia Foundation Inc.; an ATO-approved Deductible Gift Recipient charity, registered to raise funds in all states and territories in Australia. ACF has partners in Hong Kong, the UK and the USA to provide tax-deductibility for donors in those regions. For more information, please contact us on 1300 894 591 or visit sunrisecambodia.org.au.
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BONNA LENG
On January 7, Cambodia commemorated 40 years since the fall of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge. It is a significant day for all Cambodians, marking the end of one of history’s most brutal genocides. Our team in Cambodia took part in honouring this day, which all in all gives context for the work that Sunrise does. Bonna Leng, who oversees all operations in Siem Reap and Kandal, takes us into the heart of Sunrise’s work by sharing how her experiences tie in with the very purpose that drives our cause.
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onna knows the ins and outs of the Sunrise Cambodia Learning Centres. With over 400 highlyenthused children passing through our doors every day, the responsibilities can be a bit overwhelming. However, she manages to find joy and great satisfaction in her role knowing that it’s all for a good purpose. “I’m driven to make Sunrise the best it can be for the children and their futures. I love being with the children and knowing that I am changing their futures,” said Bonna. This drive stems from a life filled with tragedy. Born in Phnom Penh city in 1957, Bonna’s childhood was condemned to Pol Pot’s brutal legacy, which claimed the lives of her immediate family. Bonna was the only survivor from a family of seven.
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Her high school studies ceased when all schools were forced to close as an attempt to create a pure agrarian Communist society. “My own childhood was really hard and there was not much joy. I had lots of sadness,” Bonna recalls. In a remarkable turnaround from the dark days of the Khmer Rouge, Bonna found the strength to recover, leading her to the path she is on today. She worked hard and earnt a scholarship to study finance and economics in Russia for five years. Bonna then went on to work in the government, banking, foreign affairs and tourism sectors before landing her first NGO role at Sunrise Cambodia in 2004. It was here where she found fulfilling work in improving children’s lives through education. “My job is really interesting. I work often on the weekends, but I don’t mind. I am most proud of Sunrise’s work when the children have graduated and become doctors, managers, architects, designers etc. I am also proud when they get married and raise good families in Cambodian society,” she said. The heart-warming stories about the children that Bonna often shares is enough to bring tears of joy. It is also a reminder that, at the very heart of that story lies
your generosity, which is changing lives every day. Bonna finds great satisfaction in teaching the children valuable lessons in discipline that they can apply to their studies and later on in life. “I like the story about Leap*. Leap was given a drink bottle that he cherished, feeling very special to have received a gift. Although he was a very bright child, he failed Year 1 and Year 2, and the school was very worried. One day, I called him in to my office. I told him that if his marks have improved by the end of the school year, I have a gift just for him that was even more special than the drink bottle,” she recalls. “Now he is coming third in the class.” For Bonna, the rewards unquestionably outweigh the challenges, and she is very proud to be working for an organisation that provides education, care and most importantly, love to the children of Cambodia. Love, she says, instils confidence in children who can then go on to build a brighter future for themselves. “I am most proud of Sunrise because of the endless love that Geraldine gives to the children. This love makes children confident in their lives with Sunrise so that they can achieve their goals.” *Name has been changed.
Above: Bonna and Geraldine breaking down the events of the day with the children at Sunrise Kandal. Right: After darker times, she found her purpose. Bonna with the Sunrise children in Siem Reap.
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We love hearing from our supporters. Please contact Sunrise Cambodia if you have any questions or would like to share stories and feedback. Our office hours are from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Email: hq@sunrisecambodia.org.au
Phone: 1300 894 591
Website: sunrisecambodia.org.au
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sunrisecambodia
Post: PO Box 2266 CLOVELLY NSW 2031
Head Office: Suite 1405, Level 14, Office Tower 1, 520 Oxford Street BONDI JUNCTION NSW 2022