GLEF Selects Next School Projects
Non-profit Golden Leaf Education Foundation (GLEF) is pleased to announce that the Board of Directors have chosen to focus on renovating three separate elementary schools in Cambodia over the next 12 months. Each of the schools are in dire condition and unsafe for use. The selection was made at the April Board Meeting. The schools are:
Koh Broteal Elementary School-one of three schools GLEF will rebuild
• Koh Broteal (KOH BRO-TEEL) Elementary School. Located in the small village of Choum Raisse in Pursat province, this single school building serves 142 kids, age six through 11. Approximately 215 students are expected to enter the school in the next year. The school stands on a site where a hospital once stood. It housed those injured or dying as a result of working in what are infamously known as the Khmer Rouge killing fields. Very few who went there survived.
Students of Souer Village standing in front of the main school buildings with Kim Im, GLEF supporter.
• Souer (SUR-ER) Elementary School. This school in Souer Village in Banteay Mancheay Province serves 1,065 students grade one through six. Four buildings are located on the land, but only three are barely operational. Students can only attend half days on account of the limited size of the buildings.
Phoum Bourn Svay Klaing Elementary School from the outside. Inside, open slits in the roof leak water during rain storms.
• Phoum Bourn Svay Klaing (SVIE CLANG) Elementary School. Phoum Bourn Svay Klaing Elementary School is the only school in its village in Kampong Cham Province serving 167 students in kindergarten through grade six. The parents fear the roof will collapse on their children. During the rainy season, students can’t attend on a regular schedule because of this danger. The building needs to be raised onto a concrete base to ensure it won’t flood.
The funds needed to re-build the schools in each area will mainly come from GLEF’s third annual auction gala, “A Magical Night in Cambodia”, on August 4, 2012 at the Scottish Rite Center and donations from GLEF supporters. This event will feature delicious Cambodian food, classical Cambodian Aspara dance performance and silent and oral auctions. This year’s special guest is Cambodian Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Hem Heng. Ms. Oregon Libby Crawford will be the Master of Ceremonies. Items to be auctioned include a ride on a Dragon Boat next spring, a three-night stay at a Lincoln City Beach house right on the beach and a special ride on a Columbia River Christmas Boat for six. Local business people, members of the community and dignitaries will be in attendance at this unique event. Tickets are 10 percent off through June 30.
The Âng School
Golden Leaf Education Foundation’s (GLEF) first renovation project was for The Âng School (Battambang province in Cambodia.) It was completed in November 2011. In January 2011, GLEF Founder Mr. Kilong Ung, President Mr. Norb Murray, and GLEF Building Committee member and President of The Cambodian-American Community of Oregon (CACO) Mr. Chanly Bob visited Cambodia (using their own funds.) H.E. Ambassador Heng Hem (Embassy of Royal Cambodia in Washington D.C.) accompanied the GLEF delegates. The delegation’s primary purpose was to officially kick off the Âng School school building project. Under the guidance of the GLEF Building Committee, the delegates met with the school officials and contractor. The building contract was signed and GLEF enhanced relations and transparent communication protocol with the donors, the school, the GLEF Building Committee in Cambodia, and the government of Cambodia.
While in Cambodia laying foundation for future school building and renovation projects, the delegates met with Governor H.E. Prach, Chan and Vice Governor H.E. El, Say of the Battambang Province, the Rotary Club of Battambang, the Rotary Club of Pursat, and Former Cambodian Ambassador to UN and Secretary of State of Ministry of Foreign Affairs H.E. Ouch, Borith.
The Âng School renovation is was led by the GLEF Building Committee in Portland, Oregon: Mr. Mony Mao (Chair), Mr. Norb Murray (GLEF president), Mr. Chanly Bob (CACO president), Mrs. Sophorn Cheang, Mr. Tom Joyce, Mr. Cheya Mackay, Ms. Kanitha Chan, Mr. David Simas (GLEF treasurer) and Miss Nitiya Sin. This renovation replaced a monsoon-worn, wooden structure with a more sustainable school building. It now includes five classrooms, two restrooms (the school currently had two dilapidated out-houses) and basic classroom furnishings. This enhancement benefits over 400 students (kindergarten-sixth grade) along with a faculty of nine. The Âng School project manager is the President of the Battambang Rotary Club, Saroeun Nouv.
The Âng School renovation is the result of the generous support of GLEF donors. In less than a year, GLEF raised funds for this project. The majority of funds were generated at GLEF’s first fundraising event—“A Magical Night in Cambodia”—in Portland, Oregon. The seed-money for the project came from the founder’s book proceeds and $5,000 donation from an anonymous reader. The third annual fundraiser gala, “A Magical Night in Cambodia”, will be held August 4, 2012 at the Scottish Rite Center. Please join us for this magical night of fun and goodwill. Buy today and receive a 10 % discount!
GLEF is a non-profit founded in 2010 in Portland, Oregon. Its mission, inspired by Kilong Ung’s memoir, Golden Leaf: A Khmer Rouge Genocide Survivor, is to enhance educational opportunities internationally for children in need, in memory of genocide victims, and in honor of survivors—golden leaves. GLEF operates 100 percent on the volunteer efforts of students, business professionals, community members, and community leaders. GLEF is welcoming everyone who is interested in leveraging the history of the Cambodian genocide to make the world a better place through school building and renovation.
