Resident Highlight - Sreyny

Age: 12
Place of Birth: Preveng Province, Cambodia
Home: Stung Meanchey, Phnom Penh
Entered Aziza’s Place: July 2007
School: Tuol Tompong Public School
08/09 school year: Grade 5

Sreyny came to Aziza’s Place in the summer of 2007. Since enrolling in school, Ny has pushed herself to excel in every area of her life at Aziza’s Place. Be it academic subjects such as math, English, Khmer, or extra-curricular activities such as dance and karate, Ny consistently gives 130%. Her lithe soft-spoken nature, underscores a commanding drive to succeed. She placed number one in her class at Tuol Tompong public school in every quarter of the 2008 academic year. In addition, she is the lead performer in traditional Khmer dance class, a brown belt in karate and a member of the film class, which is offered to students who are proficient in English. With quiet determination, she often works on her own, but is quick to help younger students. She carries herself with dignity and integrity beyond her years and though not the most vocal student in class, her presence has weight and authority just the same.

When she grows-up she says she wants to be a doctor, her aptitude for technical study - math and the sciences - is clear. Unfortunately, public school is not challenging her enough in these areas. Currently she is in fifth grade and though pressure has been placed on the school to reevaluate her placement to a class ahead of the one in which she’s currently enrolled, the issue has not yet been resolved.

Resident Highlight - Chanty

from February / March Newsletter 2009



Age: 14
Place of Birth: Kompong Cham, Cambodia
Home: Kompong Cham, Cambodia
Came to Aziza’s Place: February 2007
School: Tuol Tompong
Grade: 4

Chanty is originally from Cambodian Light Children's Association (CLCA), an orphanage in the Dey Krahom area, where Nader first volunteered. Through art, the two formed a quick bond. Nader brought Ty sketchbooks and talked about his passion for art and Ty filled up his sketchbooks with tons of drawings. When the Dey Krahom slum was razed for development and CLCA had to relocate to the outskirts of Phnom Penh, Ty joined Nader and became the first resident at Aziza’s Place.

In the two years that Ty has been here he has grown-up quite a lot while facing some formidable challenges. Ty was always recognized as the “artist,” quickly showing off his sketchbook to new visitors. But as the other children continue to develop their talents, he has been forced to find his own identity outside of art. Though visibly difficult at times, Ty has developed a strong sense of self and maturity and become much more rounded all of which will serve him well. Yet, now more so than ever, he continues to reaffirm his interest and goal in becoming an artist and an art teacher….just like his beloved Nader.

Ty is attentive and helpful in class, though he prefers art and sports. He loves to shoot baskets in his free time and is especially good at soccer and karate, earning his blue belt in the most recent Karate test. He also enjoys music, quickly picking up the banjo and guitar.

Ty’s greatest asset is his solid character. Aziza’s Place holds a strict code of conduct and works hard to instill solid values. Ty has been a good leader in representing the fundamentals: honesty and truth, humility, integrity, and bring true to oneself. Ty can always be counted on to help out and uphold those values. The next step with Ty is to help him prepare for his future with viable job skills and direction.