News from Aziza's Place - April/May 2011

Dear friends of Aziza's Place,

This month the AP Courtyard comes from the setting of Cambodia's hot, dry season. April is typically Cambodia's hottest month and this year has been no exception! April is therefore the perfect time for Cambodia's biggest nationwide holiday - Khmer New Year. This year we celebrated Khmer New Year with a party of games and fun at Aziza's Place just before most of the children headed home to spend some time with their families, most of whom return to their home provinces during this Holiday.

This month’s issue also features the successful culmination of three-month dance project undertaken by seven resident children of Aziza's Place in partnership with performers from other NGO's, Chibodia and New Future For Children. All the participants staged an eloquent modern-dance performance, displaying the results of the hard work and dedication invested by the children under the guidance of dance instructor Stephen Bimson.

As we have highlighted in previous issues of Aziza’s Courtyard, Aziza's Place integrates certain core values which we feel express our raison d’etre, namely: 'Respect - for ourselves, each other and our surrounding community; 'Honesty - we believe that trust is the foundation of a genuine relationship; 'Caring - looking out for each other each and every day; 'Unity - living as a family, listening to one another and working together'; and, 'Opportunity - embracing the chance to reach our potential'. These values embody the spirit and belief of Aziza's Place and are the basis on which we live as a community. This month we focus on how our emphasis on 'Opportunity' is advancing our Aziza's Place staff, who have been participating in workshops geared towards building and nurturing their capacity and their potential as a team. The workshops strengthened staff support and explored effective strategies for improving communication and problem solving while providing a healthy and positive learning environment for the children at Aziza's Place.

We (sadly :() extend our heartfelt thanks and farewell to volunteer Leila Antakly who has left a lasting impression with her love and dedication for the resident children of Aziza’s Place and with her remarkable fundraising efforts. We also give special recognition for the impact that former volunteer Hayley Carter has been making from her home in the UK with her fundraising efforts. Please read on for more detail!

With Gratitude,

The AP Team

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We would like to thank the people who supported Aziza's Place in April:

Susan and Arch Elving and the American Women of the Eastern Province (Saudi Arabia) for their generous annual donation

Ed Higham for the matching gift of his employer - New York Life

Mary Norton - a long-standing friend of the Ghori family

Kevin Ferguson - a friend of Aziza's Place intending to establish a new project in Cambodia and looking to the principles of Aziza's Place for guidance.

Ian McCourtney and Jorge DePablo • Enrique Alonso