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!