Disadvantaged children have few opportunities for activities beyond school. This void is keenly felt during the 8 week summer break when there is literally nothing to do. Summer Arts Camp provides 8 weeks of fun and friendship for children while learning traditional Cambodian dance music and painting and drawing. Our anticipated 100 campers will include approximately 30 children from the National Orphanage in Phnom Penh, children from our AIDS Patient Family Support Program and local children
It is important to enable children from all backgrounds to have access to activities to help them to learn about the wonderful cultural heritage of Cambodia. Their school break of 8 weeks is filled with boredom, which may sometimes lead otherwise good kids into mischief. Kids are kids and when out of school and left to their own devices they will find ways to fill the time. Our idea is to give these kids a " purpose filled" summer break at the Summer Arts Camp.
Children enjoy a half day session 6 days a week,learning traditional Cambodian dance and music and the history that created the dance. This year we will add painting and drawing classes to enrich our program.Last year daily attendance swelled as local children came to participate.Some days saw up to 100 children.We are building community and becoming known as a safe place for kids among local street vendors who find the camp a great way to safely occupy their kids during the school break.
Camp helps children to build team skills and they are also exposed to peer mentoring. We believe that the process of learning performing arts will not only enrich their young lives,but will create a platform of discipline and determination that will help to prepare them for adult life. They will also develop a sense of pride in their accomplishments and be reminded that that they too have a responsibility to help others, to " pay it forward" and help others as they themselves have been helped
This project has provided additional documentation in a DOCX file (projdoc.docx).
