Construction of our fifth school building project, Don Tret School in the Samlot District in Battambang Province in Cambodia is well underway! A three-room school is being built and you can see the progress of phases 1-3 on the GLEF’s Facebook page.

Soeur School Community Greets GLEF at its Groundbreaking Ceremony.

GLEF Executive Director, Sophorn Cheang was present at the January 2017 site visit.

One of the purposes of the visit was to form a construction committee. Five members were nominated and selected: Mr. Puthy Tauch (a representative from Department of Education, Youth and sports in the district), Mr. Pheng Choun (TaSaagn District Chief), Mrs. Khoeun Prak (Village Chief),  Mr. Tola Voeun (Don Tret School Principal), Mr. Nit Khit (member of school committee).

The visit was also an opportunity to connect with the students and faculty and to distribute school supplies.

Mr. Sovanna Sok (Former Principal of Bak Touk High School, GLEF’s Executive Director’s ninth-grade teacher), provided some educational advice and shared his personal knowledge to the current principal. He also donated some of his personal money to the school principal.

It was a joyful day. Please see GLEF’s Facebook page for more photos from the day’s events.

This visit was a partnership between GLEF and UT Crop Protection Company in Cambodia. UT Crop Protection has supported the entire trip to Battambang including school supplies for students (202 students, 2 notebooks, 2 pencils and 1 pen each), calendars and planners for teachers, principal and community leaders.

Thanks to the success of our 2014 “Magical Night in Cambodia” fundraiser, construction of our fourth school building project, Soeur Village Elementary School in Banteay Mancheay Province (Northern Cambodia) began the first week of February, 2015. A three-room school is being built where a worn building was torn down. Nov 2015 Update: The new Soeur School building now completed.  Please check out GLEF’s Facebook page for Soeur School project photos.

Soeur School Community Greets GLEF at its Groundbreaking Ceremony.

Project Lead, Chhunny Sok was present (pictured above) at the ground breaking ceremony, Jan. 9, 2015 in the exact place of the classroom of father, Sok Prang taught years back. During the Khmer Rouge Regime, he endured a multitude of hardships because he was a teacher. No one in the regime wanted to risk having people around that would test their intelligence. The war tried stripping Sok Prang of his compassion for teaching and educating, but he never stopped hanging on to hope. He continued to teach after the war and graced our world until 2005. We are honored to help carry on Prang’s legacy of love for education.

Celebrating GLEF’s Fifth Year, come visit and hear stories from GLEF’s January 2015 trip to Cambodia sucha as the Svay Klaing School dedication ceremony, Soeur School ground breaking ceremony, stories of giving medical supplies, bicycles, uniforms and much more on Saturday, February 7, 2015 starting at 5 p.m.

All are welcome! Please bring friends and family. Children are welcome.
Admission is free!

POTLUCK

Those with a last name starting with A-N:
Please bring salad or dinner dish. Suggestions include salad rolls, pad thai, Cambodian chicken or tofu salad, stew, or whatever is your favorite dish.

Those with a last name starting with O-Z:
Please bring dessert or fruit.

When
Sat, Feb 7, 2015

Where
Oaks Park Pavilion
7805 Southeast Oaks Park Way, Portland, OR 97202

EVENT SCHEDULE

5:00 p.m.
Doors open and potluck buffet will be set up as people arrive. People can eat whenever they wish.

7:00 p.m.
GLEF Introductions
Stories from GLEF’s January trip to Cambodia

8:00 p.m.
Time to Dance!
Sambo Tep, DJ Music

RSVP & MoreInformation
Info@GoldenLeafSchools.org

There are numerous ways you can support students in Cambodia through GLEF. Some ways are:

Buy a Book: GLEF Founder Kilong Ung’s memoir Golden Leaf: A Khmer Rouge Genocide Survivor details his experience of surviving Khmer Rouge Genocide, and immigrating to the U.S. where he grew from a teenager to an adult, overcoming hurdles and achieving rewarding experiences.50% of book sales support GLEF’s mission. $24.95 + shipping.

Buy a Desk:  A $40 donation purchases a brand new desk for students in Cambodia. Desk donations can be dedicated “In Honor of”, or “In Memory of” a special person in your life. (Donate right side of this page; please let GLEF know the dedication information.)

Leave a Legacy: Including GLEF in your estate plan is a powerful way to invest in the future of education. Leave a legacy gift and help empower humanity by enhancing educational opportunities internationally. Contact GLEF for more “Leave a Legacy” information.

Donate to GLEF’s Mission: Donations to GLEF are tax-deductible and can be made here online (right side of this page) or by mail:

Golden Leaf Education Foundation
3439 NE Sandy Blvd. #412
Portland, Oregon 97232

Shop amazon.com: Click on the amazon.com logo (top right side of this page) and shop! It’s as easy as that and amazon.com will then donate a percentage of your purchase to GLEF!

Our third school, Phon Bourn Svay Klaing School in Kampong Cham, Cambodia, opened its new doors on Nov. 3, 2014! The new, five-classroom building is where 150 kindergarten-sixth grade students learn. This new building is a welcome addition to the village. The school’s previous building posed potential danger to the students, faculty and community and it was in desperate need for replacement.

According to Svay Klaing villagers, the original school was built in 1979 immediately following the defeat of the Khmer Rouge regime. School building materials were the remnants of abandoned buildings in the village. The local temple donated land for the school inside the temple compound, but were unable to support the costs of maintaining the building or operating the school. The building was beyond repair. Parents worried that the school’s roof or the walls would collapse, especially during days with heavy rain or wind storms. The school principal reported students were frequently released early in response to potential risks posed by weather conditions and the poor physical structure of the school.

Svay Klaing School Project Lead, Mr. Sokhom Tauch is a Cambodian refugee who had the opportunity to resettle in the U.S. He returns regularly to his home country and community to give back. One of his projects was raising the funds necessary to rebuild the temple that shares its property with the school. Each time he would visit his community, he witnessed the deterioration of the Svay Klaing School, hoping that the government would help. Seeing the children benefitting from the classes taught at the school, and the families who placed education on the top of their priority list gave him the inspiration to rebuild this school. In November 2011, Sokhom and his wife had the chance to see the opening of GLEF’s first school building at Âng School in Battambang, Cambodia. It was an amazing day for them, seeing the newly built school building standing elegantly and ready to serve happy and excited children and their parents. Shortly after, Sokhom submitted a project proposal on behalf of Svay Klaing School to GLEF; it was approved in 2012. In 2013 GLEF raised the funds to build Svay Klaing School a new five-room building. Groundbreaking for the new school was Jan. 15, 2014. With the help of Sophalla Orn, GLEF Project Manager in Cambodia, GLEF received regular construction updates and photos. The original building was torn down and students carried on their studies at the temple next door. The children were able to witness and at times help (see photo) during the construction process! Upon the completion of this project, Mr. Meng Leng the Chief of School Support Committee/ Construction shared, “The school is very beautiful and strong. We are really satisfied and love it. I commit to look after this new school, a valued gift from GLEF.”

GLEF thanks all our supporters for providing opportunities to each and every child who attends our schools in Cambodia! For updates throughout the year, please visit GLEF on Facebook!

What a busy year this has been at Golden Leaf Education Foundation. And for some of us, it has been a very lucky year. It started with the grand opening of our second school build at Koh Broteal. Most don’t know that this site is NOT a holy place — it was a death camp under the Khmer Rouge. Today, these children and their families are living now, in overwhelming poverty.

The students are so eager to learn. The students were all dressed in their uniforms; the parents and family were beaming with joy. This project has given them hope.

Just down the road from the new school, power lines were being laid — bring electricity to the village for the first time. When we build a school in such remote areas, the local officials understand the significance of the school, and bring new service to the village.

A few days after, GLEF celebrated the groundbreaking at our third school, Svay Klaing. These kids are incredible. I wanted to take a picture with this tiny, little student, and then, within a few moments, there was a throng of young people around me. They all wanted to join the fun. And now too, they have a new school.

WE are the lucky ones — like hitting the lottery, except money can never fill you as much as helping kids who truly want to get an education.

With a little bit of time and a little bit of money, GLEF is helping to change the lives of thousands of people. If you would like to participate in GLEF’s endeavors, we are an email or a phone call away.

Sincerely,

David Simas
GLEF President

Thanks to our wonderful sponsors, donors, supporters and volunteers who contributed to the success of this year’s Magical Night in Cambodia (MNIC). Because of so many generous people, MNIC raised $55,000 for building schools and other educational enhancements in rural Cambodia.

During the event, local Cambodian chefs from Ruby Thai served our guests Cambodian Cuisine, while attendees enjoyed local wines, a large silent auction and a market filled with fine, silk dresses, purses, fabric and more — all from Cambodia. Afterward, Auctioneer Brian Bice entertained all during the oral auction, where top bidders walked away with local vacation getaways, group dinners and even a chance to be on “Good Day Oregon.”

Following the auction, GLEF Performance Director Bonnearin Sin and fellow Cambodian classic dancers enchanted the crowd with “Kolap Phnom Penh: Rose of Phnom Penh.” (Originally choreographed by Princess Norodom Bopha Devi, music and lyrics by late King Father Norodom Sihanouk.) It was the first time this dance was performed in Oregon, and it showcased incredible talent. To wrap up the performances, the Cambodian Student Associations of Portland State University and Oregon State University performed the beloved “Coconut Shell Dance”.

MNIC was also a time of recognition, with GLEF awarding both the Interact Club of Sherwood and freshman student Kila Ung with the 2014 Outstanding Award for their generous and essential contributions. The Interact Club of Sherwood raised $2,000 for GLEF from their events this past school year, and Kila Ung, raised $3,550 from her eighth grade project to build a basketball court at Soeur School (completed spring 2014). Both recipients were present to receive their awards, noting “GLEF is not only changing lives of students in Cambodia, but also students here.”

The success of MNIC will allow us to keep changing lives and working toward our mission of fostering peace and goodwill through renovating existing schools, building new schools, and providing educational support.

“Being a part of GLEF, I feel lucky. Kind of like hitting the lottery…It seems for a little bit of time…and a little bit of money…you can change the lives of thousands of people,” said President Dave Simas, reflecting on a photo of a large group of Svay Klaing  (GLEF’s current school building project) students that spontaneously gathered around him early this year.

We invite you to follow our progress and stay up to date on future events and happy highlights on our Facebook page . Photos by volunteers Bette Lee and Tyler Clifton, as well as many more guest contributors.

GLEF is looking forward to celebrating its fifth annual gala benefit, “A Magical Night in Cambodia.” Our goal is to raise enough funds to construct a new school building at Soeur Village School.

New Location: Jesuit High School in Portland, Oregon
When: Sat. Aug. 2, 2014
Doors Open: 4:30 p.m.
Parking: Please use lot off of SW Beaverton/Hillsdale Hwy. This lot is right by the high school’s football field, Cronin Field.

Featuring Traditional Cambodian Food & Dance and much more!

Local Wines • Silent Auction • Cambodian Market Place • Live Auction

Kila Ung, an eighth grade student and daughter of GLEF Founder, Kilong Ung, partnered with GLEF to build a basketball court for students in Cambodia. Kila recognized the potential these courts provide, and chose to focus her school-year project toward raising funds for one. Congratulations to Kila for reaching her goal! The court construction began at Soeur School early this year and is now being enjoyed by the Soeur School students. Check out GLEF on Facebook for more photos of this project.