AP Director Soy Socheat Steps Up for VBNK Management Training

AP Director of Programs, Soy Socheat, with

Sengkry, Roth and Theara. 

Staff training is an important focus for Aziza’s Place as a means of developing the capacity of individual staff members and in turn, developing the organization itself. This month Aziza’s Place Director of Programs, Soy Socheat, attended a Management Course run by VBNK – a local organization focused on improving the effectiveness and quality of development practice and management in the social development sector in Cambodia. To do this VBNK offers management and leadership development training courses, facilitation, coaching and consultancy for local and international organizations working within this sector.

Socheat participated in VBNK’s five-day management workshop, ‘Managing Your People’, which provides managers with effective Human Resource Management tools so they can improve the performance of their organization. The topics the course covered included:

• Dynamic roles and competencies of managers
• How to work effectively with different views of people in the workplace
• Methods of delegation and staff motivation
• Building teams through effective communication
• Individual and organizational learning
• Implementing effective appraisal and evaluation systems for staff

Previously Socheat has had little formal training in the field of Management and so he was eager to enhance his capabilities with outside support from specialists. He said the training taught him valuable tools and processes that can make a difference to the effectiveness of the organization as a whole. He said he enjoyed hearing about ways for staff to be motivated, for goal-setting and evaluation, for effective relationship-building and communication from a management perspective, and for staff to build their skills within the workplace and develop as individuals, making for an environment of growth and learning. He came away with a multitude of new perspectives and insights which he was excited to absorb and now implement within his Director role at Aziza’s Place.

AP stepping into the vision of Khmer leadership

Change and transition is the theme of this month’s activities. We are excited to be implementing the long-held vision for Khmer leadership at Aziza’s Place which has been in the works since shortly after our opening in February 2007. The Khmer staff members have always been encouraged to progressively take on added responsibilities while also being provided with oportunities for training and continuing education. We are incredibly proud and happy to see the Khmer staff now feel confident taking owndership and the lead in directing the management, operations and vision for the future. We see a bright future as Soy Socheat steps into the role of Director of Programs, overseeing the running of Aziza’s Place with a particular focus on programs and activities, and in monitoring the childrens’ progress. Socheat has been with Aziza’s Place since we were established and has a firm grasp on the needs and aspirations of each individual child. He is excited to be taking on new responsibilities in his leadership role for Aziza’s Place.

We are also delighted to be introducing a new Khmer staff member, Vong Bopha, who will fill the role of Director of Finance and Operations. Vong Bopha will join the AP team on December 1st and will be working closely with Socheat while taking primary responsibility for financial reporting, budgets and day-to-day cash management. Once comfortable with her new work environment and mastering all the financial administration duties, Bopha will gradually move into the role of managing the daily operations and AP staff. Socheat and Bopha will work together in strategic planning, developing goals and regularly evaluating program effectiveness.

We also welcome Cath Waugh to the permanent staff of Aziza’s Place. Cath is originally from New Zealand but has made her home here in Cambodia, volunteering at Aziza’s Place for the past 17months. As of October Cath morphed into the role of Communications Director and is excited to be able to dedicate herself to a full-time role at AP. Her role as Communications Director will consist of donor communication; e-media updates (including the monthly Aziza's Courtyard Newsletter); and scheduling and coordination of volunteers and visitors. She is passionate about the aspirations and energy of the AP children and is excited by the prospect of communicating all the latest happenings to our wider community of supporters.

Aziza's Place October News

A Note from our Assistant Director

I am pleased to have worked at Aziza’s Place for over two years now. The kids at AP are special, especially in their desire to study. I am happy to see how much our kids have grown. Many had never studied before and in two short years they are ready for high school.

The system of our public school makes it difficult for poor children. Uniforms and books cost a lot of money so many kids are held back in the wrong grade until they can save up money to pay. This is true for almost all students at AP. This year we had nine kids ready to skip into higher grades. We worked hard and advanced seven of them this year. This is a big success for Aziza’s Place in 2009.
Our work to improve the lives of children in Cambodia is possible because of your support. We want our friends and supporters to be invested in our children’s futures and our current events. To help us understand about your needs as a supporter of Aziza’s Place, please take our short survey located below. Thank you for keeping our children healthy and our programs strong. - Soy Socheat

Seven Residents Advance Grades in Khmer Public School

Aziza’s Place education program heralds the beginning of this Khmer public school year a great success as seven resident children advanced into higher grade levels. Accelerating children who have had a late start in public school is the primary goal of the AP education program. Supplemental classes and tutoring–along with the hard work of the students has proven successful for these seven.

In August, the Courtyard highlighted Theara, a 17 year old resident who was enrolled in Grade 2. Had she only advanced to Grade 3 this year (rather than into Grade 7 where she has been placed) she would not have graduated from high school until the age of 27! Early this summer, staff and teachers evaluated which students were most set back in school. Then, AP Assistant Director Soy Socheat set out to establish relationships with the directors of local schools. He successfully located a primary and high school that would place students in a more appropriate grade after paying hefty registration fees and taking an assessment test.

This year marks the first time AP residents have advanced grades. In addition to Theara, AP is happy to announce the placements of Chanthy (15), Chiev (15), Somely (15), and Srey Ny (13). Each began Grade 7 on October 1, the first day of this academic year. Also, Roth (12) and Sengkri (12) both advanced from Grade 3 to Grade 6 in primary school. AP can now proudly say its education program is effectively reaching its goal of advancing its residents through public school with the aid of supplemental classes and tutoring. We wish the students all the best this school year.

Staff Highlight - Soy Socheat

In a typical day at Aziza’s Place, Soy Socheat seems to be in seven places at once. You’ll see him: teaching a class, reviewing the budget and paying bills, playing basketball with the kids, checking the schedules and ringing the bells, or reading the newspaper and joking with staff. Somehow he manages it all seamlessly.

Socheat, formerly the house manager, has taken on the increased role and responsibilities of Assistant Director. Much of the character and stability of Aziza’s Place is a result of the tireless work and dedication of Socheat.

He first came to Aziza’s Place in June of 2007 after answering an ad in the newspaper for an English teacher.

“I thought it was a nice place and I was eager to work here, but assumed it would only last a year or so,” he says. He taught English for 2 or 3 hours a day, but before long he was translating for Nader, the director. “He came to me and said you can be the manager. I was surprised, because I never intended to have that level of responsibility in this place. But by August of 2007 Nader and I were working so well together and I felt like this was the right place for me.”

Socheat graduated high school in Prey Veng Province and came to Phnom Penh to study computers and IT. Phnom Penh is the only city with universities and a job market, he explains. So even though he loved being near his parents, he had to come to the capital to attend school and look for work. He entered school, but found the classes, which were taught in English too difficult with his limited language skills. He took two years off to go on a mission around Cambodia spending three weeks in the Philippines. His English improved drastically and when he returned he was ready to look for work.

After a short time at Aziza’s Place, it became clear that Socheat and Nader made a good team. “Nader was full of ideas and Socheat was able to implement them,” says Missy Washington, the Communication Director, “Socheat’s judgment is spot on; you can just trust things will get done when they are in his hands.”

Socheat eventually took on the day to day operations of Aziza’s Place, including making sure classes were kept on schedule, handling extra-curricular activities, and handling the finances.

He currently attends school for business and finance in the evenings and focusing on Accounting to fully understand and take the lead in the system implemented at Aziza’s Place. I am also trying to get better at writing and speaking English. I want to speak like a native. He says with a grin. Volunteers that come to Aziza’s Place are immediately at home with Socheat. “He was very welcoming and cant do enough to help you,” says Davina Clay a volunteer English teacher from London. “He is so professional, yet so approachable and good with the children.”

“I like him when he gives me advice. He tells me something good,” says Sengkri, 12. “He’s a good teacher. He is very kind. He works hard like Nader.”

“He has learned a lot of responsibilities through working here past two years and is filling a vital role in keeping the place together,” says Dan Haney the new Director from Virginia. “Good majority of his thoughts and life revolve around the kids here at AP. He’s a positive role model for them and certainly a parental figure.”

Socheat and Nader often talked to the children about important subjects. “We always encouraged them and told them that they can be whatever they want. I will continue to say that as well. It is all possible. They have to have the desire and make the right decisions,” he says. “I know the kids will graduate and be trained as good men and women. I expect they will be the ones to help our country develop. I am sure they will help their communities, not just Stung Meanchey, but wherever they go.