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."
To read more excerpts
written by the older AP residents, sign up for our newsletter!
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!
