Rural Education in Cambodia: Believe in Me

April saw the Khmer New Year (also known as Cambodian New Year). Celebrated in mid-April for three days, Khmer New Year marks the end of the harvest season, before the rainy season in Cambodia. At home, families clean, play traditional games, make seasonal foods and perform rituals to honor family members. Additionally, our students held a celebration where they danced and played traditional games. It was enjoyed by everyone; especially Theodore. Preparations were made as part of the students' art and music class; traditional dancing is very popular amongst our students. The end result was an entertaining performance with music and dance. Many of the kids were thrilled to showcase their talents and hard work. It was very festive and rewarding to see. 

May is when the Believe In Me School transitions into the rainy season. Not only can our playground look very different day to day, but it can be difficult for some children to make it to school. Local authorities have been working hard to clear roads and make sure workers and students are not hindered by the rain. The kids have taken advantage of the extra rain and spent a couple sunny days beautifying their garden and planting new flowers. 

Rain has no effect on Rangsei school's computer class. Everyone is extremely grateful for the opportunity to learn about and work with computers. From the very first day, students have been attentive and dedicated to learning how to use the computers. Currently the classes are learning proper placement of their arms and hands and how to type. 

Every child at our Believe In Me Schools are provided a healthy and nutritious breakfast and lunch. This vital nutrition helps students stay healthy, but for the month of May, many students savored a soup with banana flower and water lily. For several days, we had many students eating a second helping and shouting out thier praises for more soup! Banana flower is considered a superfood, rich in nutrients, fiber, antioxidents and minerals. 

Student spotlight: Theodore - Theodore was thrilled to attend Rangsei's Khmer New Year celebration. He loved being able to watch his classmates perform and feel a part of the school. Theodore pays close attention in class and all his efforts have been paying off. The gap between THeodore and his peers is becoming smaller. His reading is improving and there are times when Theodore will bravely volunteer to read aloud the lessons from the whiteboard. Theodore said, "This school gives me a lot of hope that I can study like the other students. I get a lot of love from my classmates and teacher." 

Thank you for your continued support of our Believe In Me Students. Your generosity is helping their futures become brighter, with many opportunities that would have been out of their reach.