Happy Holidays from Aziza's Place

The holiday season gives us time to reflect on what is most important to us at Aziza’s Place: our friends, family and our community. As a supporter of Aziza’s Place you are not only a friend, but an important part of our global family and our community. We thrive because of this special relationship. We appreciate your continued commitment to strengthening our programs, allowing our resident children to develop physically, intellectually, and emotionally into responsible young people.

In keeping with the theme of the Holiday season, we want to highlight an example of the spirit of giving that greeted our Director, Dan Haney on a recent fundraising trip to the U.S. It included a presentation with over 150 James Madison University students and professors in attendance and a collection from members of the Leesburg, Virginia Rotary Club. We welcome our new friends, and thank our continually generous partners. Everyday you are helping us make a real difference in the lives of each child, their families, and staff at Aziza’s Place. We extend our warmest wishes to volunteers and donors alike who make AP what it is, a truly unique grassroots community providing opportunities and building futures for the families we serve.

Wishing you and your family Happy Holidays,
The Children and Staff of Aziza’s Place

Make the Holidays Bright for the Children of Aziza's Place

Your Holiday Giving Provides AP Children With

- A safe home to live

- nutritious meals and snacks

- heath and dental care, vaccinations
- access to public school
- access to English education
- computer literacy skills
- teachers, tutors, mentors
- football and sports
- monthly family nights
- field trips to museums and art exhibits
- karate, art classes, traditional Khmer dance
All this amounts to a life of education, creativity and the opportunity for a bright future.


Make a world of difference to a child in Cambodia and make a holiday gift today.

Photos from AP’s 1st Annual Community Film Screening and Art Gallery

On December 6th, children, families, teachers, and volunteers gathered at Aziza’s Place for the premier of five short films written, directed, and produced by the film education program’s students. Artwork of all 21 AP resident children was on display as well. Guests enjoyed delicious snacks of fruit and the favorite cinema treat, popcorn! Aziza’s Place is one of very few film education programs in Cambodia and is garnering the attention and support from the community, click on the news article below highlighting this attention. Clicking here will take you to a slideshow of that evening’s festivities.

Read AP’s article from The Phnom Penh Post: Addressing the past to change the future—one frame at a time about the film education program.

Students Meet S-21 Survivor, Learn Cambodia’s Past Under the Pol Pot Regime

AP children twelve years and older broached the subject of Cambodia’s history under the Khmer Rouge regime with a trip to the Tuol Sleng Genocidal Museum in Phnom Penh. The history of the genocide is currently not part of all public school’s curriculum, so discussing the past in a truthful and sensitive manner is of high priority to AP.

The students first met with Mr. Vann Nath, one of seven survivors of the former S-21 prison. The infamous prison was converted from a public school from 1975-1979 where over 14,000 people were tortured, then sent to the Killing Fields for execution. Mr. Vann’s paintings of the torture and abuse at the prison are famous today and are on display at the museum. He is also a well-known advocate for teaching youth the history of the genocide. He recently testified against Kaing Guek Eav, also known as Duch, the S-21 prison warden, at the Khmer Rouge Tribunals now taking place. AP students had a chance to have a one-on-one discussion with Mr. Vann and ask him questions about his time in the prison. The children were then taken on a guided tour of the prison.

Following the students’ visit to Toul Sleng, volunteer Diana Chende and Assistant Director Soy Socheat team-taught a class in Khmer and English to guide the students to think more about Cambodia’s past and how it affects their future and the future of Cambodia. To put their newly-acquired knowledge into perspective, the children read excerpts from The Diary of Anne Frank as well as from, First They Killed My Father, Loung Ung’s memoir about her childhood and survival during the years of the Pol Pot regime. In learning about genocides that were also perpetrated in other countries, the children gained a broader understanding of what happened in Cambodia and to help them think critically about their country’s history.

Breaking the Cycle of Poverty: AP Hires Fathers as Security Guards

On December 1, the fathers of two residents began employment as night guards at Aziza’s Place. The two men will take weekly shifts providing a watchful eye over their children. Both were formerly working full time as garbage scavengers at the municipal dumpsite and on the streets during the graveyard shift.


AP staff is working closely with the security guards and their families to shape a plan of action to reach their aspiration of completely ending dependency on the trash. With the added income of this part time position they will have the opportunity to save money and will have help from AP to locate job training elsewhere. Improving the quality of life for AP families is a continuing priority of our program.

Volunteer News

FOUR PAST VOLUNTEERS VISIT AP
AP kids and staff were ecstatic to have Prem and Kalle, both volunteers this past summer and Ben and Maria Mays, volunteers from January to July 2009 return for a week in December. It meant so much for us to see you again.


WELCOME STEPHANIE MCMAHON
In November, Aziza’s Place welcomed Stephanie McMahon from San Francisco, CA. Stephanie decided to take a break from her life as an attorney to volunteer and travel in South East Asia. She has taken over our English level 2 class and has brought the class to life with amazing science experiments. Welcome to the AP family, Stephanie!


NEW AND IMPROVED VOLUNTEER BLOG
Our volunteers have given us feedback that sometimes the Courtyard newsletter just isn’t enough! To keep our volunteers in the loop we are introducing the new and improved AP Volunteer Blog. This is a forum to learn and comment about current events, volunteer experiences, and ways to support us from home. It is also a great way for prospective volunteers to learn what we are all about.


2009 ANGKOR WAT 1/2 MARATHON
Congratulations to Diana Chende, Cath Waugh, and Ali Robbins for going the distance for AP at the Angkor Wat 1/2 Marathon on December 6. For all those runners out there, or those up for a challenge, think about joining us in Cambodia for the race in 2010.

How to Help: Donate, Volunteer, Share

Aziza’s Place Welcomes Our New Friends

Debbie Butler—Leesburg, VA
CBRE—Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Rich Caldwell—Leesburg, VA
Gerry Dillion—Boyce, VA
Susan Donohoe—Haymarket, VA
Maureen Fouler—Ashburn, VA
Maryellen Hagy—Warrenton, VA
Phillip Haney—Charlestown, WV
Nesly Hneich—Ashburn, VA
Leesburg Rotary Club—Virginia
Rich McCary—Dulles, VA
Mary Pate—Sterling, VA
Pat Reid—Leesburg, VA
Arthor Rosecan—Leesburg, VA
Zhenxia Shuai—Leesburg, VA
Lori Smith-Williamson—Leesburg, VA
Jane Sutermeister—Bluemont, VA
Franz Szymanski—Berryville, VA
Jonathan Walker—Harrisonburg, VA


Click here to make a donation to the Aziza Foundation on behalf of Aziza’s Place.U.S. donors receive a tax credit receipt for your contribution. UK donors may elect the Gift Aid option so the tax-gross up is received by the charity. Contact us for more information.

If you are making a gift over $400, consider making a wire transer. It is easy, fast, and allows for Aziza's Place to recieve the full amount of your donation without giving a percentage to Paypal.


US Bank Information:   
The Aziza Ghori Charitable Foundation
Comerica Bank
ABA / Routing Number:072000096
Account No: 1851432573


UK Bank Information: 
The Aziza Foundation (UK)
HSBC Bank
Sort Code:    40 05 30
Account No:    72815559


Thank you for supporting Aziza's Place!

Aziza's Place News - November 2009

A Message from the Directors
Aziza’s Place is proud to announce we have been awarded a $10,000 grant from Moms Against Poverty. A portion of the grant will be allocated to our 2010 operational budget while the remainder will allow critical resources to go towards health care, the education of our resident children, and construction costs. MAP’s partnership is an exciting step in the sustainability of AP and its long-term investment in the future of the children and families it serves. We are enormously grateful to partners like MAP whose portion of our necessary-sustained funding allows us to continue operating and improve the quality of our programs. On behalf of our resident children, we extend our deepest gratitude to Moms Against Poverty.

Tell Us What’s On Your Mind; Take Our Quick Survey

Didn’t get a chance to take our survey last month? Please take a few minutes to give us your feedback on how Aziza’s Place is communicating with its friends and supporters. This survey is very quick and anonymous. Thank you in advance for you time.

Click Here to take survey

Community Screening to Take Place December 6 - Short Films and Children’s Artwork To Be Exhibited

Five film education students will debut their short films at a community screening to take place the beginning of December at Aziza’s Place. The short films, individually written and directed by the students, are the final project of a year-long film education course sponsored by a grant from ArtVenture.

ÄP’s film education program gives young Cambodians access to the valuable knowledge and skills in film theory, technique and production. Aziza’s Place is currently in the process of opening its next filmmaking program to other students in need as a vocational training program. Stayed tuned for more developments on this upcoming venture.

Along with the short films, an exhibit featuring the artwork of the 21 resident children of AP will be on display for guests. The exhibit will include students; drawings, paintings, and photographs from throughout the year.

This marks the first of what AP hopes will be many art exhibits to come. With such a strong visual arts emphasis and creative, budding artists, Aziza’s Place is looking forward to sharing the art of its talented students with our friends and community members.

Water and Moon Festival - November 1-3, 2009

The Water and Moon Festival is an annual celebration of the flooding of the Mekong River and the full moon in November. This three day festival takes place in Phnom Penh, bringing in droves of Cambodians from all over the country to visit for the party, fireworks, and the spectacular boat races (each boat can have up to 100 rowers). Take a look at the amazing boats, large crowds, and our very own AP resident spectators.

Volunteer with Us in 2010

Aziza’s Place invites you to join us as a volunteer from January to April 2010. Join our growing family of volunteers representing over 20 countries around the world. Volunteering at AP offers a rich teaching experience and an opportunity to interact with and make a lasting impact on our 21 incredible resident children. View our volunteer blog to hear what past volunteers have to say about AP. Interested? Please contact us.

Support Our Volunteer Marathon Runners

In a few weeks AP volunteers Diana Chende and Cath Waugh will be going the extra mile(s) for Aziza’s Place. Over 10 weeks of training has prepared them to run the 13.1 miles or 21 kilometers to the finish line, all for the great cause of supporting AP. Help our marathoners get to the finish line by showing your support and making a donation to Aziza’s Place. Donation instructions are below. In the photo AP volunteers and staff prepare to run a 10k race in Pursat, Cambodia to train for the Angkor Wat 1/2 Marathon to take place December 6 in Siem Reap.

How to Help: Donate, Volunteer, Share

Aziza’s Place would like to thank Adam Johnson for his time and dedication in assisting with the set-up and formatting of the Aziza Courtyard, our monthly newsletter. Adam’s help has enabled us to create an efficient and professional newsletter each month. Adam is a freelance web-guru based in the UK. If you are in need of html or web-based support contact Adam at adam.johnson@talk21.com.

If you have a special skill you would like to dedicate to AP, please let us know! We are always searching for creative fundraising strategies and new marketing tools.

Click here to make a donation to the Aziza Foundation on behalf of Aziza’s Place.
U.S. donors receive a tax credit receipt for your contribution. UK donors may elect the Gift Aid option so the tax-gross up is received by the charity. Contact us for more information. Thank you for supporting Aziza’s Place.

Aziza's Place October News

A Note from our Assistant Director

I am pleased to have worked at Aziza’s Place for over two years now. The kids at AP are special, especially in their desire to study. I am happy to see how much our kids have grown. Many had never studied before and in two short years they are ready for high school.

The system of our public school makes it difficult for poor children. Uniforms and books cost a lot of money so many kids are held back in the wrong grade until they can save up money to pay. This is true for almost all students at AP. This year we had nine kids ready to skip into higher grades. We worked hard and advanced seven of them this year. This is a big success for Aziza’s Place in 2009.
Our work to improve the lives of children in Cambodia is possible because of your support. We want our friends and supporters to be invested in our children’s futures and our current events. To help us understand about your needs as a supporter of Aziza’s Place, please take our short survey located below. Thank you for keeping our children healthy and our programs strong. - Soy Socheat

Help Aziza’s Place Grow: Take Our Quick Friends and Supporters Survey

This survey will give us your feedback on how we at Aziza’s Place are communicating with our friends and supporters. Your honesty and interest in helping Aziza’s Place is deeply appreciated. In turn, we are seeking to understand your expectations and any specific areas you feel we should be focusing our efforts. Our partnership with you is profoundly important to us, and we hope to gain insight on how we can best serve you and reach other potential supporters most effectively. This survey is very quick and anonymous. We thank you in advance for your thoughtful contributions and continued support.
Click Here to take survey

Seven Residents Advance Grades in Khmer Public School

Aziza’s Place education program heralds the beginning of this Khmer public school year a great success as seven resident children advanced into higher grade levels. Accelerating children who have had a late start in public school is the primary goal of the AP education program. Supplemental classes and tutoring–along with the hard work of the students has proven successful for these seven.

In August, the Courtyard highlighted Theara, a 17 year old resident who was enrolled in Grade 2. Had she only advanced to Grade 3 this year (rather than into Grade 7 where she has been placed) she would not have graduated from high school until the age of 27! Early this summer, staff and teachers evaluated which students were most set back in school. Then, AP Assistant Director Soy Socheat set out to establish relationships with the directors of local schools. He successfully located a primary and high school that would place students in a more appropriate grade after paying hefty registration fees and taking an assessment test.

This year marks the first time AP residents have advanced grades. In addition to Theara, AP is happy to announce the placements of Chanthy (15), Chiev (15), Somely (15), and Srey Ny (13). Each began Grade 7 on October 1, the first day of this academic year. Also, Roth (12) and Sengkri (12) both advanced from Grade 3 to Grade 6 in primary school. AP can now proudly say its education program is effectively reaching its goal of advancing its residents through public school with the aid of supplemental classes and tutoring. We wish the students all the best this school year.

New English Class Open to AP Siblings

Aziza’s Place has opened its doors to the siblings of our residents for English class five days per week. The class will eventually hold up to ten students, including AP’s two house supervisors. The computer lab will also be available for these students. The English class and access to the computer lab is part of the expansion of AP’s efforts to encourage family and staff development. Aziza’s Place is excited to have the capacity to offer its educational resources to our community.

Around the World with AP Volunteers

Volunteers representing over 20 countries have shared their time and talents with AP residents. In September we welcomed two volunteers to add to our ever-expanding list. Diana Chende is from Romania, and now resides in the UK. Melanie Haaksma is our first volunteer from Holland. Read more about them.

Diana, a bookworm, is coaching her advanced English class through their first novel. Melanie has introduced our intermediate English students to the concept of a school play. They are trying their hand at acting and costume-making and will have a grand performance for the entire school.

Above, Melanie and Diana stand in front of AP’s gigantic classroom world map. The map highlights the names and countries of past and present volunteers. We are happy to add Melanie and Diana to our map.

Volunteers & Staff to Race for Aziza’s Place at the Annual Angkor Wat Half Marathon

Volunteers Diana Chende and Cath Waugh, along with Director Ali Robbins, will run the 14th Annual Angkor Wat Half Marathon to take place on December 6 in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The three are running to support Aziza’s Place education programs. No matter where you are in the world, it’s easy to show your support of Aziza’s Place and our volunteers here in Cambodia! Click on the “Donate” button in the How to Help section below to make a donation through Paypal. Please add a note that you are supporting the Marathon. For more information contact ali@azizafoundation.org.

How to Help: Donate • Volunteer • Share

Your support keeps AP programs running strong. Since its opening, AP’s Karate program has produced 10 brown belt students. At a Karate competition in mid-September, five residents took home prizes. Somley, Segkry, and Roth (left) accept trophies and awards for winning a team competition. We thank our friends and supporters for ensuring that Aziza's Place continues to provide a nurturing home and quality education and programs to our 21 resident children.

Welcome new Friends of Aziza’s Place:
Meaghan McGrath Beaumont, Washington, D.C.
Heather Connell, Sacramento, CA
Kathleen & William Haney, Boyce, VA
Maureen & John Haney, Somerset, NJ
Dixie King, Oxford, MD
May-ying Liou, Sugarland, TX
Craig Nethercott, London, England
Lauren Seaver, Plainview, NJ/Paris, France
Bassam Shamoon, Birmingham, MI
Dinah Taylor, Williamsburg, KY

Click here to make a donation to the Aziza Foundation on behalf of Aziza’s Place.
U.S. donors receive a tax credit receipt for your contribution. UK donors may elect the Gift Aid option so the tax-gross up is received by the charity. Contact ali@azizasplace.org for more information. Thank you for supporting Aziza’s Place.

Aziza's Place September 2009

A Message from Student Volunteers
The three of us had the privilege of volunteering at Aziza’s Place during our summer break from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. We stayed for only two short weeks, but we quickly fell in love with everything about AP. The kids and staff embraced us into their family with the same warmth and love that they have for each other. We saw firsthand how much they helped and cared for each other. It became clear that the kids embody and reciprocate the love and care that they receive, which is what makes AP such a special place.

We originally came to AP to provide business support and help with fundraising efforts, but we found ourselves getting involved in so much more. Since the kids were on summer holiday from public school, they had a ton of other activities and classes that kept them (and us) busy! Some of the highlights of our experience include watching the kids practice traditional Khmer dance and karate in the mornings, helping them learn to swim and watching them show off new tricks at the water park, and leading one of the English classes to perform a theatrical rendition of The Three Little Pigs for their peers. It was great to see the kids cultivate their talents and dedicate themselves to learning new things.

Our time in Cambodia flew by too quickly. But just as Aziza’s Place has changed the lives of these 21 kids, it left a deep impression with us as well. We are grateful for all of the individuals who have helped to create such a nurturing environment, and we hope that you will join us in our continued support and service to our friends at AP.

-Justine, Kittipong, and May

AP Student Autobiographies Take Center Stage

This month’s English classes focused on the creation of autobiographies and self-portraits. Based on their current level of English, students used their ever-expanding vocabulary to describe themselves and their lives. Above, Sophy reads his autobiography in English while Buncheng translates in Khmer during AP’s monthly Family Night. Coupled with individual presentations, a gallery of self-portraits was displayed for our visitors made up of relatives, teachers, and volunteers. Click here to read their actual autobiographies and see their artwork.

Aziza's Welcomes 21st Resident, Linna

The children and staff of Aziza’s Place welcomed six year old Linna to the program in mid-August. Linna had been living a vulnerable life on the streets of central Phnom Penh, without the opportunity to attend school. She helped make a way for herself and family by begging for money on the streets. Linna’s bold attitude, witty humor, and affectionate hugs have won over friends and staff alike. She is now relishing in her curiosity typing away on her XO laptop, sketching on her art pad, and participating in Karate and dance. She is anxious to begin first grade this month and don the public school uniform she has always coveted! Linna has already shown progress in reading and writing the Khmer and English alphabets. As the youngest resident at AP we are looking forward to watching Linna grow and obtain the knowledge she needs to define her own future.

Founder Amjad Ghori Visits AP

Aziza’s Place was thrilled to see Amjad Ghori, father of Aziza and AP founder. He was impressed with the development of the children and programs at AP. He and the staff also had the opportunity to discuss plans to ensure AP’s sustainable future. As usual, he and the gang enjoyed a refreshing day at the water park!

Wharton Business School Students Donate Time, Expertise to AP

Aziza’s Place would like to thank Justine Chae, Kittipong San-olan, and May-ying Liou, graduate students from The Wharton School of Business at The University of Pennsylvania, for sharing their time and talents with our students and staff for two weeks. The volunteers are part of the Wharton International Volunteer Program (WIVP), a club structured for students to plan and organize their own volunteer abroad projects. At AP, their focus was to provide insight into the accounting, organizational management, and fundraising systems. Their guidance has helped AP maintain an efficient and sustainable program. We thank them for their non-stop hard work (though as you read above they managed to have plenty of time for fun, games, soccer, and a food fight). Justine, May, and Kittipong– we are happy to welcome you to the AP family!

Justine was born and raised in Los Angeles, California but has been living on the East Coast for the past 10 years. Upon graduation in May, she will return to LA to work. Justine took part in the WIVP program because she wanted to make a real contribution to the international community. “I felt I could best give back by applying the specific skills I have gained from my work and business school experiences,” she said. Justine was most impressed by the boys ability to chow down pizza at the pizza-eating contest. Justine, thank you for your instrumental and momentous work on AP’s fundraising strategies.

Kittipong is from Bangkok, Thailand where he has a job waiting for him after graduating from Wharton. Having had volunteer experience in Bangkok, Kittipong was excited about WIVP because it allowed him to volunteer in a new country. He decided to volunteer in Cambodia hoping that the similarities between Thai and Khmer culture would enhance his experience. Kittipong is amazed at how eager the students at AP are to learn. “I think the kids at AP have an amazing opportunity here”, he said after working with the children. We thank Kittipong for bestowing his accounting expertise to our staff.

May is from Sugarland, Texas and is studying Marketing and Strategy at Wharton. The WIVP club caught her attention at Wharton right away: it was a perfect fit for her interests in business, volunteering, and traveling abroad. As the team leader, May was in charge of identifying and reaching out to international NGOs for potential volunteer projects. She was drawn to Cambodia after a visit here last year, setting in motion her desire to return in a volunteer capacity. May recalls one of her most memorable moments at AP was when she witnessed Roth teaching Linna the English alphabet on his own accord. She says this perfectly demonstrates the sense of community and friendship at Aziza’s Place. Thank you May for finding Aziza’s Place and sharing you and your team’s passion, intellect, and dedication. We are honored to have had you all here!

Snapshot in the Community

This month the children of Aziza’s Place and Chibodia (a German-based NGO) got together for fun and camaraderie. Chibodia is a home and learning center similar to AP with 13 resident children. Working with Chibodia is part of AP’s effort to increase the children’s sense of community as well as to promote resource sharing and relationship-building in Cambodia.

How to Help: Donate - Volunteer - Share

The success of Aziza's Place is due to the generosity and commitment of our supporters. Whether through funding, volunteering, or simply raising awareness among your own network of family and friends, we thank you! You ensure that Aziza's Place continues to provide a nurturing home and quality education to our 21 incredible resident children.

AP Children Receive A Generous Wedding Gift!
Aziza’s Place sends a warm thank you and congratulations to Emanuele and Agnieszka Cibrario (Dubai, UAE) who raised money for our programs at their wedding in August. Emanuele, Agnieszka, and their wedding guests chose this joyous occasion to support AP and we are deeply grateful. Thank you for making such a strong impact on children in Cambodia from home!

Welcome to the new friends of Aziza’s Place:

Ms. Elaine P. Haney
Charles Town, West Virginia

Mr. Edward J. Higham and Family
Armonk, New York

Lee and Natalie Robbins
Guttenberg, New Jersey

Mr. Kevin R. Stratton
Reston, Virginia

Support Us
Click the Donate button below to make a donation to the Aziza Foundation on behalf of Aziza’s Place. U.S. donors receive a tax credit receipt for your contribution. UK donors may elect the Gift Aid option so the tax-gross up is received by the charity. Contact ali@azizafoundation.org for more information. Thank you for supporting Aziza’s Place!

Aziza's Place August 2009

A Message from the Directors
August commences a two month summer holiday from Khmer public school for the students of Aziza’s Place. We are proud of our students who often have to deal with difficult situations within the Cambodian public school system. Most students at Aziza’s Place entered 1st grade at a late age and are now in classrooms with children much younger and learning material that is below their cognitive abilities. Further, public school teachers may impose illegitimate fees for access to lesson plans, or to graduate to the next grade level. Despite these realities, our students endure and overcome, and we celebrate their success! In this issue we highlight Theara, our eldest female resident whose story illustrates her individual struggle with the Cambodian public school system.
With our students out of public school, Aziza’s Place is now bustling with classes and activities all day long. Please read on for some of the exciting summertime programs taking shape this holiday. It is only because of your support that we can continue to provide our outstanding students with equally outstanding programs, and we sincerely thank you!
With gratitude,
Ali and Dan

Summertime Spotlight—new and dynamic programs for AP students

Take a Look at the Fun and Activity Filled Plans for Aziza’s Place Students this Summer

Khmer and English Reading Workshops
We believe reading is fundamental to our children’s literacy development. Encouraging students to read is an important part of this summer’s curriculum. We are working to increase the amount of Khmer and English books in our library as well as constructing workshops that encourage group discussions and critical thinking.

Visual Arts and Drawing Class
Art teacher Chorn Dina is the newest addition to the AP team. While teaching art at NGOs, Dina is also working to establish herself within the rising Phnom Penh art scene. At AP she will teach 3-D design, sketching, sculpture, and work on new murals for the outdoor courtyard walls. Welcome to Aziza’s Place, Dina!

Experiential Field Trips
This summer AP students will take field trips to art galleries, museums, and other cultural centers. These trips seek to expose students to the greater community, a central mission in AP’s education programs.

Karate Competition
The second week in August brings our Karate students to take part in a five day Karate competition. This competition includes Karate students from various NGOs and private schools. Fifteen of Aziza’s Place students will take part in this prestigious event.

Khmer Sign Language
With many thanks to the Cambodia Deaf Development Program, AP students have been receiving lessons in Khmer sign language (below). DDP’s Interpreter Training program has linked us with interpreters who have taught the children the Khmer alphabet in sign language along with disability awareness and education. Click here to see a video of AP children signing their names.

Steung Meanchey Dumpsite Closes: Residents Evaluate Long Term Options

After 40 years as Phnom Penh’s municipal waste disposal site, the Steung Meanchey landfill has closed its doors to the city’s trash. Word came from a Steung Meanchey resident on July 25 who confirmed that dump trucks had ceased disposing of trash there. Families dependent on picking trash are left with few options in the wake of this news. One choice is to relocate their home to land closer to the new dumpsite in Choeung Ek, over 15km outside of Phnom Penh. Another option is to spend the one way fare of 2,000 riel (equivalent to US 50 cents) on a moto taxi to go and pick trash at the new dumpsite each day. A final choice is to eke out a living out of picking trash from the street. It is frustrating to see the lack of sustainable aid and resource for those losing their jobs. Aziza’s Place is assessing the needs of each individual family affected by the closure. We are also working with local NGOs to search for sustainable, alternative means to provide our families with a source of income. Photo: A boy dismantles his home in front of the dumpsite.

English Students Find Value of Peer Tutoring

Advanced English students Rotha, Cheng, Sreyny, and Sengkry spent one week as peer tutors. The students first took part in a workshop on community leadership. Here, they identified the communities they are a part of as well as their roles and responsibilities within each community. For one week they tutored the beginner English language students on pronunciation, and sentence construction. When asked if she enjoyed tutoring Sreyny replied, “I like tutoring because it is fun and it helps me to have experience and improve my knowledge.” In an evaluation of the tutoring week, the four students showed great interest in taking part in a community service project outside of Aziza’s Place. They will be the first of AP students to take part in an upcoming pilot program that connects the children to their communities. It will focus on leadership and community service learning.

Eldest AP Female on Quest for Fair Education

Only recently did Aziza’s Place find out Theara was 17 years old. Her family book which is a Cambodian birth certificate, was recently obtained by AP exposing her true age. Even Theara herself had thought she was 14 years old. Arriving to AP in August 2007, she had never before attended school and entered 1st grade in Khmer public school. Theara has shown vast improvements in her written and spoken Khmer and is frequently lost in a book. The supplemental education and tutoring Theara has received at Aziza’s Place over the past two years has advanced her to the equivalent of 6th grade. In finding out Theara is much older than expected, AP staff set to work advocating to advance her to a more appropriate grade level. Because the public school director was uncooperative in this matter, Theara will have to leave Toul Tompoung primary school. AP is working with French NGO, Pour Un Sourire d’Enfant (For the Smile of a Child), who has an alternative education program and has shown an interest in providing Theara with accelerated schooling. Whether through this NGO, or by identifying a new public school, we will ensure Theara will have the accelerated education she, and every child, deserves.

A Fond Spaghetti Farewell for Prem

The residents and staff of Aziza’s Place would like to extend a warm thank you to Premla Krishnan and her boyfriend, Kalle, for their generosity as volunteers the past two months. We have Prem to thank for introducing the children to Michael Jackson, whose music they are now constantly singing and even replicating dance moves! Prem taught one of our English classes and created imaginative lesson plans including the study of myths, legends, and fables. Kalle temporarily took over as Art teacher educating the children on the history of tattoos. Prem and Kalle left us with an enormous and delicious spaghetti dinner (of which the teenage boys consumed at least three helpings each!). The spaghetti party ended with games and goodies. Thank you Prem and Kalle for your dedication to AP!

How to Help: Donate-Volunteer-Share

The success of Aziza's Place to date is solely due to the generosity and commitment of our supporters. Whether through funding, volunteering, or simply raising awareness among your own network of family and friends, we thank you! You ensure that Aziza's Place continues to provide a nurturing home and quality education to our incredible resident children.

Help Us Keep our Bookworms Reading! AP’s resident children love to read. Maintaining a library stocked with quality books is a constant challenge as they are expensive and difficult to find. Because shipping to Cambodia is costly and unreliable, we are asking our friends and supporters to help us fundraise for English and Khmer books. Children deserve access to information and books, help us keep our bookworms reading!

Click here to make a financial contribution to the Aziza Foundation on behalf of Aziza’s Place.
U.S. donors receive a tax credit receipt for your contribution. UK donors may elect the Gift Aid option so the tax-gross up is received by the charity.
Contact ali@azizafoundation.org for more information.

Aziza's Courtyard July 2009 News

A Message from the Directors
Since our introduction to Aziza’s Place and Phnom Penh two years ago, we have witnessed the city change, and seen amazing progress with our children and programs. The children are growing at an astounding rate both physically and intellectually. We are amazed with their ever increasing eagerness to learn and experience the world around them. Changes in Phnom Penh are occurring through fast-paced development; skyscrapers are rising and more and more businesses are moving in. Land grabbing, evictions, and a greater divide between the rich and poor are the result. This development is leaving Cambodia's next generation with an unnerving set of challenges.

Aziza’s Place prepares our residents to overcome these challenges. Students will graduate from AP with an invaluable skill set that incorporates education, vocational training, and a creative and open mindset. Our staff and teachers instill the importance of leadership and challenge students to imagine how they can make a positive impact on state of their community. In this issue we highlight our film education and vocational training programs that serve our ultimate goal to prepare residents for the world outside of AP. We will continue to adapt and develop our educational and vocational programs to meet the standards of a future in the rapidly changing country of Cambodia. We are so grateful for your support of Aziza’s Place as we continue to provide children with a new future, a future they choose.
With gratitude,
Ali and Dan

Lights! Camera! Aziza’s Place Film Program is Back in Action

Aziza’s Place film education program, sponsored by ArtVenture, has recommenced as of June 1st. Five AP students are taught by Mr. Timothy Vann, a professional Cambodian filmmaker and founder of HighDef Productions based in Phnom Penh. Mr. Vann has experience in directing and writing movies and commercials for Khmer television. His expertise lies in the techniques and production of film. We are excited to have this qualified teacher resume the film program.
Through this unique program, students are educated in the entire filmmaking process; from film history and technique to concept creation and production. After learning the lighting, sound, and film equipment, each student brings their own story to life with the help of their classmates in a short, 15 minute film.

With Mr. Vann, the students have developed their pre-production concept, a story titled “Hygiene City.” The premise of this film is to document Phnom Penh’s poor waste management system. Their idea is to make a documentary depicting Phnom Penh’s current waste management problems and to compare it to a city renowned for its clean waste management practices.

The film education program was pioneered and taught by Nader Ebrahimi, Aziza’s Place past director. Nader’s knowledge and passion as a professional filmmaker greatly inspired his film students. Aziza’s Place film program is the first of its kind in Phnom Penh. We are grateful to Nader for visualizing the benefits and impact a program like this can have on children at AP and in Cambodian culture.

AP Resident Sponsored in Web Design Program

We are proud to report that our eldest male resident, Rotha, 16, has received a vocational skills sponsorship in website design thanks to Arocore. With the help of a local non-governmental organization (NGO), New Future for Children, Rotha was accepted into the program taught at Bartouk Computer Professional Center. Rotha will learn HTML programming before graduating to PHP, a web development tool. Being computer savvy, this program is ideal for Rotha who had already programmed six computer games on his XO laptop. Computer programming and web development is a coveted skill within the Cambodian job market and will give Rotha expanded career opportunities in a field he loves.

As with Rotha, Aziza’s Place is working to pair our older students with vocational training programs and internships based on their interests and abilities. Resource sharing is extremely helpful in Phnom Penh which is home to hundreds of NGOs specializing in human development. We hope to find vocational training opportunities for at least two more students before the end of this year.

Families Uncertain in the Face of Evictions

This month’s Family Night provided a great opportunity to discuss our growing concerns about the evictions and relocation of the Steung Meanchey city dumpsite. Many of our resident families live and work at the dumpsite scavenging for items to be recycled for money. They are plagued with rumors that the dumpsite will be moved far outside of the city. When that day comes, they say they will be forced onto the street as they have no alternative means of income. Many have asked that we help them find other jobs. From reliable housing rights NGOs and Habitat for Humanity, we have confirmation that the dumpsite will close down by the end of the year. We are working to ensure our families are a part of a sustainable relocation initiative. All the families have made it clear they want their children to remain in the care of Aziza’s Place.

Amidst the serious conversation, parents, siblings, teachers, staff, and children enjoyed a delectable meal prepared by our in-house chef Seaklim. The children ended the evening with presentations to their guests about their current topics in English class (right). Parents and children alike were proud of their accomplishments.

Thank you and "Bon Voyage" to AP Volunteers

Fauzia Ghori, Mother of Aziza’s Place Namesake Visits, Makes Lasting Impression
Residents and staff are honored Fauzia Ghori, mother of Aziza Yasmeen Ghori, visited us in Phnom Penh for three weeks. Fauzia is the Co-founder of The Aziza Foundation. Foundation projects had previously brought her to Cambodia, but this was her first time meeting the children of Aziza’s Place. The children endearingly nicknamed her “Mom” and had loads of fun dancing to her iPod tunes! Aside from the fun, Fauzia devoted her time and energy to networking and forging partnerships for Aziza’s Place.

Along with discussing the long-term goals of AP, Fauzia took a hands-on approach with the children. She taught our beginner English class as they made headway with their phonics and reading. Her in-depth presentation on India, where her family is from, concluded with a Bollywood movie and Indian food night. She also sponsored a trip to see a show at Sovanna Phum, a Cambodian cultural arts center. Fauzia, we send a heartfelt thank you for visiting, and countdown the days to your return!

Missy Washington Leaves Legacy at Aziza’s Place
Missy joined Aziza’s Place in October of 2008 as a volunteer English and Art teacher. With a background in art and non-profits, she immediately fell in love with her work at AP. Missy showed incredible care for the individual well-being of each child, and for the future of Aziza’s Place. She extended her efforts to giving daily English lessons to our two house moms. In Jan. 2009 Missy took on the position of Communications Director and developed our monthly newsletter. Further, her outreach brought qualified, enthusiastic volunteers to Aziza’s Place. We thank Missy for her devotion to the children of AP and we hope she will rejoin the Aziza team soon. Missy, we dedicate this edition of the Courtyard to you!

Wishing volunteers Ben & Maria Mays ‘Bon Voyage’
Ben and Maria Mays spent six months living in the apartment next door to Aziza’s Place. While they spent their time volunteering with humanitarian organizations in Cambodia, the residents and staff of AP were lucky to have The Mays’ as friends and neighbors. We thank them for their generous love and commitment to Aziza’s Place. We wish them all the best and look forward to their next visit to Cambodia! Click here to see what Ben and Maria have to say about their time at Aziza’s Place.

How to Help: Donate • Volunteer • Share

The success of Aziza's Place to date is solely due to the generosity and commitment of our supporters. Whether through funding, volunteering, or simply raising awareness among your own network of family and friends, we thank you! You ensure that Aziza's Place continues to provide a nurturing home and quality education to our incredible resident children.

Benefit Show for Aziza’s Place is a Smash Hit! Aziza’s Place would like to thank Eliza Callahan, Lulu Pratt, and Owen McCormick for organizing a benefit show on June 5th in New York City. Their band played for a group of about 100 people. We thank this group of globally minded high school students for bringing education to Cambodian children.

Aziza's Courtyard - June 2009

Welcome to another addition of the Courtyard! We have enjoyed updating you on
life at Aziza’s Place, and we thank you all for your positive feedback.

In this issue we focus on the education and development of the children at Aziza’s Place. The wealth of classes and activities offered at AP go far beyond the basics of food and shelter. Supporting a small group of children gives us the advantage of adapting our
programs and services to their needs and interests. From sports to the arts, academics to cultural studies, our goal is to shed light on the projects and programs that make AP truly unique and standout from other organizations in Phnom Penh.

As in last month’s issue, we will continue to offer meaningful insights into the realities of our work at Aziza’s Place and in Cambodia. Our newsletter will cover a wide range of
topics including Cambodia’s public education system and updates of our children’s
families confronting forced evictions from the city dumpsite. Along with the progress and development of our resident children, these critical issues provide you with an insider’s view of life in Cambodia.

Thank you for your support,
Aziza’s Place

Creative Writing Workshop Brings Out Imagination at AP
This month’s creative writing workshops reveal that AP may have some future novelists on its hands. We put our two advanced English classes’ originality to the test. Each student in our English level III class, taught by Davina Clay, individually composed illustrated books about their lives, but with a twist; they conclude with “twenty years later,” a glimpse of what the students expect their future to hold. Chiev visits the United States, Sreysros becomes an art and Khmer teacher, Somely becomes a writer, Chanthy becomes a famous artist, and Roth goes to outer space after he becomes the President of Cambodia. See below for Roth’s story in his own words. We look forward to seeing these stories become reality!

In a workshop designed by Missy and Davina, our students put their vivid imaginations into action. The teachers created a giant, colorful map of a jungle island manifest with obstacles such as tigers, quicksand, and even wild boar. The students were given a scenario: their airplane must make a crash landing in the middle of the jungle. To survive, they must overcome these obstacles and dangers. They are equipped with some supplies to help them through their adventure: rope, a lighter, a parachute, a stick, a voice synthesizer, and tiger balm. What will become of them? Only their imaginations can decide. The final product of this project will be a journal highlighting these adventures.

We were thrilled to witness our advanced English students take their English vocabulary and writing skills to the next level. This outpouring of ingenuity will not be their last! A concentrated effort to promote creative writing is a priority in our advanced English curriculum.

Excerpt from My Life by Roth, 11 years old
...Thirty years later…I am 41 years old. I am the President. My friends just invited me to meet them in USA. We talked about space and all the planets. The President of USA asked us “Do you want to go to space?” and we said “yes we do.” He said “Next month I will tell my scientists to make the rocket.” I said “It must take a long time to make it. I will take some of my body guards to help your scientists.” I came back to Cambodia and told my body guards to go to help them...The rocket finished in only five months...Before we got into the rocket we wore the special suit because there is no gravity and we will fly away. Then we got into the rocket and we rode to the moon. We took photos of the moon. We land on the moon. When we came back to Earth we were very famous.

Ali Robbins Returns to Aziza’s Place as Co-Director
Alexandra Robbins, long time volunteer and friend of Aziza and Aziza’s family, returned this month to co-direct Aziza’s Place. She first worked at AP from September 2007 to January 2008 and is thrilled to be back with her friends at Aziza’s. She spent the past year and a half working for a non-profit in her hometown of Reston, Virginia. Ali will manage Aziza’s Place program development and donor relations.

She hadn’t even emerged from the fog of jet-lag before she set to work. For the children it was like she never left. Ali is honored to be working for this exceptional and dynamic group of Cambodian children. She is focused on bringing innovative and sustainable programs to the forefront of AP. With the help of Ali’s dedication and energy, Aziza’s Place is ready to reach new heights.

Aziza’s Place Beach Bums Take a Field Trip to Kampong Saam
After months of sweltering heat, we escaped Phnom Penh and made a trip to the beach! Cambodia, never short on holidays, celebrated the King’s Birthday in the second week of May giving the children two days off from public school. We spent two days at the beach and on the ride back stopped at Kbal Chhay, a waterfall tucked into the mountainside. The waterfall happens to be a favorite hang out for Cambodians during the hot season.
The children came back ten shades darker, each with a smile on their face and a seashell collection; which were unfortunately still in use by sand crabs, as we smelled later.

☼ Aziza’s Place Volunteers – Past, Present and Future
Calling all past volunteers! AP has been extremely fortunate for all of the volunteers who have shared their time, talents, and energy over the past two years. Our extended family has grown substantially and we want to keep in touch. As part of a solution, we are asking past volunteers to join our AP volunteer blog. Write a about your time at AP, a funny or endearing memory, share your experiences with our friends around the world and to provide inspiration for prospective volunteers. We will be collecting them on our website. Take a look!

Learn more about our volunteers - http://azizavolunteers.blogspot.com

Interested in Volunteering at Aziza’s Place?
Summer break from Cambodian public school is just around the corner. We have classes and activities to plan for the months of August and September and need your help! Come and experience Aziza’s Place first hand. It is sure to be an amazing experience and summer break is a great time to help out. Please contact Ali if you are interested at mailto:ali@azizafoundation.org?subject=Volunteering%20at%20AP.

Welcome to our New Volunteers
Aziza’s Place would like to extend a warm welcome to Maude Barrow, Cath Waugh and Premla Krishnan! Maude is from England; she was studying civil engineering in Singapore and has taken a few weeks to volunteer before heading back to the UK to finish university. « Cath is from New Zealand, she will be spending up to a year in Cambodia. Prior to AP she was working at a public health company. « Prem is from Malaysia. She worked as a administrator with Volvo in Sweden before taking a sabbatical. She plans to volunteer at AP for several months. We are happy to have them here.

How to Help: Donate • Volunteer • Share
The success of Aziza's Place to date is solely due to the generosity and commitment of our supporters. Whether through funding, volunteering, or simply raising awareness among your own network of family and friends, we thank you! You ensure that Aziza's Place continues to provide a nurturing home and quality education to our incredible resident children.

We’ve got the Rainy Season Blues and need your help! The rainy season brings Aziza’s Place children many joys including much needed reprieve from the hot and humid weather. Unfortunately, when we say it’s raining buckets at Aziza’s Place, it literally is raining into buckets from the leaks in our resident home. The months and months of rain wreak havoc on our wooden framed house, continuing to cause leaks and warps. Funds for maintenance repairs like these are critical during rainy season.

Click here to make a financial contribution to the Aziza Foundation on behalf of Aziza’s Place.
U.S. donors receive a tax credit receipt for your contribution. UK donors may elect the Gift Aid option so the tax-gross up is received by the charity.
Contact mailto:ali@azizafoundation.org?subject=Donations%20from%20Newsletter for more information.

April News

Happy Khmer New Year!

We celebrated Cambodia’s biggest holiday this month on April 13, 14 and 15th. For weeks leading up to the New Year, our house, the streets, and all of Phnom Penh was bustling with traditional games and holiday music. The pending forced evictions of slum-dwellers all over Phnom Penh loomed large over the majority of parents of our resident children, most of whom face being evicted from their homes on the Stung Meanchey dumpsite which was recently sold to foreign developers. In this uncertain period, the holiday was a great opportunity to reach out to these families and share in the good news; the great strides being made by their children. Our inaugural Parent’s Night at Aziza’s Place held on April 12th was a smashing success and will now become a monthly event. The Parents loved hearing about their children’s progress and assured us that they all want to see their children remain at Aziza’s Place even after they are relocated from Stung Meanchey.

Also this month, our founder Amjad Ghori had his first fundraising event in the US. We are grateful for all those that generously donated. Thank you so much for your support! We’d also like to say a special Thank You to Doris and Gary Galvin who hosted the event at their lovely art gallery in Chelsea, Michigan (www.chelseagallery.com)

Wishing you the best,
Aziza’s Place

Parents Night

The holidays were the perfect time for us to launch our first Parent’s Night. It has been one of our goals to get our children’s parents more involved in the activities and education at Aziza’s Place.

Many orphanages in Cambodia assist children who have families. As with Aziza’s Place, many of our children have at least one parent who is living, but given the conditions at the dumpsite they are unable to provide their children with a clean and safe living environment, nutritious meals, medical attention nor the opportunity for them to attend school. For a variety of reasons, families have been forced to survive scavenging for recyclables in the city’s dumpsite. Now, even this meager opportunity to earn a subsistence wage may be in danger.


Photo by Nader Ebrahimi 2008

Phnom Penh is growing and developing quickly these days. Unfortunately, the pace of progress has been a strain for many; mostly the poor. Those in poverty are carrying the burden as many locations which served as their dwellings are being evacuated to make way for commercial and residential real-estate developments. Our friends at Aziza’s Schoolhouse in the Dey Krahorm neighborhood were evicted in January in a brutal display of force that saw bulldozers raze their dwellings and occupants forced to gather their life’s belongings within a matter of minutes. Stung Meanchey faces a similar fate as evictions have been declared imminent. With mounting fear and uncertainty, it has been very important for us to discuss the future with these families.



Happy New Year! (Susaday Chnam Thmey)

On April 12th we celebrated Khmer New Year at Aziza’s Place, hosting all of our families. We feasted on delicious curry noodles prepared by our talented chef, Seaklim, played holiday music, danced and enjoyed some of the many traditional New Year games. In one game similar to pinatas, we hung ceramic pots above the courtyard. Some were filled with candy, money, and flour, while others were filled with water. Players were blindfolded, spun in a circle and then aimed at the pots. The “unlucky” smash the pots with water. (Welcome to AP Laura!)






Given the emotional strain of the past few months, our Khmer staff members were given the entire holiday off. The four boys who stayed at AP over the holidays were supervised by Missy and Dan. All were apprehensive of their “rice*” making abilities, but as it turned out they surprised everyone and themselves with some delicious meals: stew, pancakes, and spaghetti. The four boys ate enough for the whole gang. They also enjoyed a trip to the riverfront, swimming and some fun games, such as scrubbing the bathroom floor. That’s fun right?


* In Cambodia the word rice is often substituted for the word food, because typically all meals have rice.

English with My Brother and Sister

By Rotha

On Khmer New Year, I went home to see my mother and my uncle. When I got there, I met lots of my friends and my family. The next day I walked around my house and saw chickens eating insects on the beautiful grass. In my province it was very hot, but in the morning it was really good to breathe the air. My brother and sister were at my house. They were really cute. My brother is six years old, and my sister is nine years old. They were interested in English. One day they asked me to teach them again and again. When I taught them they really focused on what I said. My brother was good at pronouncing words, but my sister was not. She was good at writing and remembering the alphabet. It was fun for me to teach them. I really like to share my knowledge with my brother and my sister.

Happy Birthday Ben!

Ben Mays, a volunteer from London, England, celebrated his birthday with us this month. He and his wife, Maria Mays have been spending their free time with us, while volunteering elsewhere on worthy projects. In addition, they orchestrated a fund-raising effort that resulted in generous donation for Aziza’s Place from their friends from around the globe. Ben is mean basketball competition for the boys and Maria has been helping Channy and Chanty with their English.

April Birthdays

Chheav (15) - April 4
Sokty (11) - April 8
Davina Clay (Generous volunteer - 25) – April 15
Ben Mays (Generous volunteer ) - April 17

Thank You Laura Newson

Laura, a student from Calgary, Canada joined us for the month of April as a volunteer. She stepped in to teach the first level English courses. She will be heading to school in Halifax, Canada in the fall and is saving up to return. We will miss her! Good luck with your studies, Laura!