Help keep a Cambodian Music and Dance School open

Lya, an 11-year-old girl in grade 4 at Po Banteay Chey Primary School, lives with her family in Boeung village, where her father is blind on both sides. Despite not having any experience in traditional music, Lya is determined to learn and perform it to earn money for her family, especially for her further education. Her mother is the only one raising her, her brother, and her disabled father. The family's living conditions are challenging, as their income is insufficient for daily expenses. If someone is seriously ill, the family must borrow money from neighbours, relatives, or moneylenders in the village to use it for medical treatment.

Lya, a hard-working and patient learner, has been selected to practice traditional music at the vocational training centre of SCC Siem Reap Branch due to her family's poor situation. With her dedication and hard work, Lya has become proficient in performing various Khmer traditional music, earning 10 to 15 US dollars each time. She performs at ceremonies and hotels at least two times a month, relying on clients for her income.

Traditional Khmer music is valuable for transferring knowledge to poor children and young people, ensuring their well-being. By collaborating with philanthropists, we can help preserve this traditional music and help make the dreams of other poor young people a reality.

Veasna, who has four siblings including a female, is a 15-year-old kid from a poor family residing in a small village of Sangkat Chreav, Siem Reap Province. He is a primary student in sixth grade, despite his age, which should be in grade 11 at a high school; his mother is a vegetable grower, while his father works in construction. Poverty is a major issue in Cambodia, as many children drop out or are not sent to school. This issue is due to Cambodia's shortage of educated people and resources compared to its neighbouring countries. Also, it is the reason why the number of migrants is increasing year after year. 

Khmer traditional music helps Vesna earn income to fund his studies and family meals. Seeing his difficult situation, Veasna has been selected by SCC staff based in the SCC Siem Reap Branch to learn Khmer Traditional Music since 2019. The reason he was selected is his high willingness to acquire a talent that would enable him to support his family and preserve traditional Khmer music. Veasna learnt the music quite well and can play numerous traditional songs that are played at ceremonies, events, hotels, and restaurants because of the mental and physical support and encouragement from SCC and his instructor. He gets twenty US dollars every time since he plays traditional instruments at a high level. With his income from the music play, he can continue his education and a part of the earnings is allocated to his family meals.

Veasna hopes that more underprivileged children may have a better life in the future, just like him. He wants to become a professional Khmer Traditional teacher in the future because this job has helped him and his family to have better living conditions. He is willing to help the next generation to know well the music so that when the instructor is absent, he is delighted to share his expertise with the next young students. He used the fundamental approaches to teach Khmer traditional music to the next generation. Finally, we would like to appeal to all philanthropists to join us to make other poor youths' dreams come true as well as to maintain Khmer Traditional Music. Thank you for your generous kindness of yours through SCC. Finally, we would like to urge you to help us in making other disadvantaged children's aspirations come true while also preserving Khmer traditional music. Thank you for your tremendous compassion shown via SCC.