Our school gives free traditional Cambodian performing arts tuition to not only orphaned and blind children, but also poor children from local villages outside Kampot Town. They are too poor to hire transport and many of them do not own a bicycle. They really want to learn at our school and many of them are really talented. The arts offers not just an understanding of their cultural heritage but a valid form of vocational training in a country which uses music and the arts throughout society.
Without organised transport, our new students cannot come to study. Their villages are too far away and they are too poor to own a bicycle. They really want to study and to come to our school. Many rural people live in a state of great poverty and the gap between rich and poor is getting wider. The poor are left behind and children have very little future. Through the arts they can receive vocational training and educational support from our school, creating a better future.
Providing daily transport in the afternoon, five days per week and with the consent of the children's parents, (already granted) the children can come freely to our school and study different performing arts categories: Music, Dance. Yike Theatre, Shadow Puppet Making and Theatre (Leather artisan work). The poorest children will also receive food and other support if their home situation is very bad. This projects helps restore traditional Cambodian performing arts.
This program is scheduled to start at the end of August 2016 during the Cambodian school holidays (August - October) so that the children (aged from 9 to 12, boys and girls) can get a good introduction to the performing arts. This funding appeal is for the duration of 1 year to help start-up the project. However the project to give free arts lessons is of long duration lasting several years - until the children are of University age and can graduate and form their own professional artist groups.
