Aziza's Place News - March 2010

Dear Friends of Aziza’s Place,

As March 2010 draws to a close and the Khmer New Year approaches, we at Aziza’s Place reflect on the love and support we’ve received this past year from our family of friends and supporters. The month of March also has great significance for our program as it was four years ago, in March of 2006, that I had the pleasure of meeting my friend and Co-Founder of Aziza’s Place, Nader Ebrahimi. It was this chance (or was it pre-ordained) meeting that ultimately led to the creation of Aziza’s Place less than one year later on February 14, 2007.

Nader first came to Cambodia in 2005 to film a documentary on women and human trafficking. What he saw changed his life. A visit to the Steung Meanchey dumpsite and the immediate friendships he made with the children here led him to return permanently. Our first meeting and countless exchanges of ideas culminated in the conceptualization of Aziza’s Place, but it was Nader’s artistic touch and vision that created the magical environment that now exists at AP. Our living and learning center, as we coined Aziza’s Place, allowed Nader to combine his love of art, photography, music, film and children together under one roof and brush them generously with his talent.

Our beloved Nader unexpectedly passed away on March 2, 2009, a few short weeks after celebrating the two-year anniversary of the opening of Aziza’s Place. This sudden loss left us with a tremendous void. We focused on the children and their well-being and helping them deal with their grief. Likewise, the staff and I have also grieved in our personal ways. Reflecting back from a year ago, Nader’s passing bound all of us in a unique way and has ultimately made us all stronger to continue our task of ensuring that Nader’s vision endures. One look at our amazing, resilient children is all that is needed to see that Nader is ever-present and his impact and influence will always be felt at Aziza’s Place.

It is with deep gratitude that we look back this March to the hard work and dedication of staff, volunteers, and all those who have touched and supported the lives of the children we serve. Because of you, Aziza's Place is secure and thriving today.

This month’s newsletter is dedicated in memory of Nader and celebrating the the children and communities he served as well as the revolutionary film education program that he helped to create.

With gratitude,
Amjad Ghori

Co-founder, Aziza's Place