About Me

Before I came to live at Aziza's Place, I lived at Steung Mean Chey. At Steung Mean Chey there are no school and no jobs. I lived with my family when my mom went to work in the town, I had to look after my brother and sister. At night time me and my family slept in a small house. On the morning of 25.3.2007 I saw a man come into my house and he start to talk with my mom and then he come close to me and he asked me if I wanted to study and I said 'yes.' In the morning he came to take me to his school, then he handed me books; a pencil; a maker and white board, he told me to study hard. I was busier I had to wake up at 6 am and study there until 5 pm. One day in 7.8.2008 I saw Makara, he walked in and asked me and my Mom "Do you want to study," and I said yes. On 8.8.2008 Makara took me to Aziza's place. When I got here I felt excited, Then the teacher called me, he gave me a book and I felt like studying. The next day I felt I had more skills. At AP we study Karate, dance, computer, music, football, math and Khmer. I study all of the m now I have skills so it is fun to learn.  

"Hello, I am Ny. This year I am 16 years old. I have one sister. I was born in Preyveng province. In the province I could only study Khmer. When I came to AP in 2007, I can study more, like Khmer, English, Math, Computer, and other subjects that Aziza's place provides. Before coming to AP I knew nothing about the world even Cambodia.

 I also went to UK in 2010. It was a very big adventure for me. In AP I also go to public school. I'm in grade 10 of the Toultompong high school. After I finish my high school, I hope I can get a scholarship to study outside of Cambodia. In the future I want to be a skilled doctor." 

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January Newsletter Sneak Peek!

The lives of each of the AP residents were intrinsically changed the moment they walked through the colorfully painted gates at Aziza's Place. As they come of age today, it's important for them to take a moment and reflect on the journey they took to get where they are now. 

 "I’m Ven, I’m 18 years old. I have 3 sisters and 2 brothers. My Mom took us to Steung Mean Chey to make money, but we knew nothing about it. See every day we had to pick the trash and take it to sell. I can make 1,500 riel for one day, but it's too hard to get 1,500 and too dangerous. I wanted to go to school, but I can't because we had no money. Then one day I met Nader..."

To read more excerpts written by the older AP residents, keep you eye open for our next AP newsletter!

Today we said 'goodbye' to our recent volunteer, Ruth Lemon, from England, who has been a fantastic addition to the Aziza's Place family over the past 3 months. On her second volunteer stint with AP,  she assisted our full-time English teacher, eagerly taught the house moms English and initiated dance and piano lessons with the children. Her smiling face and positive attitude will be missed around AP!

AP has always embraced and welcomed volunteers passionate about dedicating their time and skills to the children and staff at AP. We welcome all individuals eager to learn and work with a grassroots organization who is trying to make a difference in one small corner of the world. If you're interested in joining our team, please send me an e-mail: mandolyn@azizasplace.org 
I'd love to hear from you!

As I walk down the stairs from the office to the AP courtyard, I hear the sound of happy laughter, the buzz of voices and the strum of a guitar. Friday is a calm day here at AP, the children relax downstairs without the constant bustle of extra-classes and initiate rowdy volleyball matches or practice karate. As I step off the last stair I'm welcomed into the warm family scene of Cheng sitting on the bench strumming a guitar soulfully, SreyNat staring into the distance with her arms encircling her knees and Roth sitting ensconced in a black towel, his eyes scrunched up as Makara takes the trimmer to his wild thatch of hair. As I sit with them, happy to just exist in this moment turned golden by the evening light, I recall a quote about family that seems to fit the sentiment perfectly: 

"My home is not a place; it is people." 
- Lois McMaster Bujold 
 --
Mandolyn 
Communications Director

Life in this region of Cambodia pulses to the flow of the Tonle Sap, the largest freshwater lake and river system in SE Asia. The Tonle Sap acts as a life giving artery supporting approximately 3 million people, its seasonal floods provide spawning grounds for fish and its rich silt deposits fertilize rice fields. Twice a year, this great river reverses its flow attracting upwards to a million Cambodians who gather on it's mossy banks to celebrate the Water Festival. Historically, this 3 day celebration held at the end of November, featured colorful boat races, the largest boats measuring over 100 feet and crewed with up to 80 oarsmen. This year, however, the great river was quiet as all boat races were cancelled to honor the passing of the king's father. Instead, Khmer families flocked to the beach to relax in the sun and eat fresh seafood while their children's laughter rang from the surf.

A day in the life of AP

SreyPhea crouches quietly in the evening light gently coaxing her spindly seedlings to grow. The AP residents have begun cultivating small vegetable plots, learning how to plant the seeds and nurture them with water under the direction of Barb Devine, our full-time English teacher. Each day the children run over excited see how much the seedlings have grown in the night.