Newsletter 30

Dear all,

The first newsletter of 2019, one with a special anniversary! Indeed, in February 2009, 10 years ago, the initiator of DARA Europe, Tirza Voss, visited Andong for the first time. A contact she met through, through, through (as it often goes) brought her to Andong together with her friend with whom she traveled around, Janet. A long ride on the back of a scooter on a dirt road led to a slum with people who had been driven out of Phnom Penh three years earlier because of new construction projects. According to the contact person, this was the place where a real difference could be made. The friends visited the then child care center (CPO) and taught English here for several days in an informal and playful manner. This made a big impression as could be read in Tirza’s blog at the time:

‘Swallowing tears, there was an exuberant wave from both sides as we drove away in the tuktuk. Who knows, maybe we’ll come back again to see how the kids are doing, or maybe we can do something else for them from the Netherlands!?’

Meanwhile, the private support has turned into structural aid with the registration of DARA Europe as a foundation in the Netherlands and the Stellar Chil Care organization (SCCO) in Cambodia. DARA means star and the goal of the foundation is to give the children in Andong the opportunity to develop into true stars. Tirza met several children in 2009 who we can now say are indeed growing up to be true stars!
An awful lot has changed in the past 10 years, both in Cambodia and in the capital Phnom Penh and in the Andong district. So has the support provided by the foundation and a lot of work has already been done. We hope to be able to tell you in 10 years time that we see even more children and their families in Andong growing up in a safe environment with quality education, so that they can make a positive difference in the future of their country!

Reintegration

Having reintegrated the children from the children’s center into (foster) families, they are doing well! The oldest children are taking on more and more responsibilities. For example, they help out in the household and take good care of the younger siblings in the family.

Most of the children were fortunately able to stay in the school they were already attending, but some had to be enrolled in a new school. The children who had to go to a new school are slowly starting to get used to it here.

The children who used to stay at the children’s center go out together once every quarter. A kind of “family reunion”! During the reunion in January, former volunteer Claire was also in Cambodia. They had a great day together and were extremely happy to see each other again.

Collaboration with Education4Life

SCCO has now become a household name with its various programs and years of involvement in Andong. As a result, questions regarding expanding support are coming from various quarters. Thanks to our partnership with Education4Life, we are able to respond to one of these requests!

Education4Life is a foundation that provides financial support for young people to attend vocational training in order to give young people a future perspective. In 2018, Education4Life sponsored two students and after a visit by initiator Anneke, it was decided to offer another five students the opportunity to receive training. With great enthusiasm and energy, the students are training to become cooks, electricians, technicians or English teachers. We want to thank Education4Life for this wonderful cooperation!

Kindergarten classes in Andong

Singing and making music together gives children a lot of fun, but that’s not all! Research shows that making music has a positive effect on school performance. Playing an instrument contributes to children’s motor development and promotes discipline and perseverance. Making music together teaches children to consider others and stimulates the development of social and emotional skills. The children in Andong need this so much! They are offered this through play in SCCO’s preschool groups. For more information about our educational programs, check out our website as well!

Lenten Action

For the third year in a row, SCCO is the charity during the Shrove Tuesday period! Both the Parish of the Holy Trinity (IJsselstein, Nieuwegein, Cabauw, Lopik, Polsbroek, Harmelen, Benschop, Montfoort and Linschoten) and the Vitus Parish in Leeuwarden support the Lenten Action project ‘A safe home for children in Cambodia’. This year, as many as 5 elementary school are supporting the project during the Lent Action period. Super that these kids want to dedicate themselves to the children in Cambodia!

With this project, SCCO wants to build on the successes already achieved and invest in structural building of good living conditions, by:

• facilitate self-help groups, workshops and counseling for young adults and parents.
• provide family support: families are guided in making the right future choices for their families.
• to train young mothers to become seamstresses to generate independent income.
• provide education to 4- and 5-year-olds in preparation for elementary school.

Would you like to support this project? You can do so by donating to this project of SCCO through the website of Lent Action.