Newsletters
March - April - May 2011
INTERVIEW
NEWS FROM SALA BAI SCHOOL
GIVE US A HAND
ACTIONS IN FRANCE
- On June 17th, at La Madeleine Church: gospel concert to the benefit of Sala Baï
- Girls' Professionnal integration supported by Raja Foundation
- Charles Péguy School operation
- They run for Sala Baï
Interview: Creating a new future for Supharith
"I want to change my life and getting a job is the first step. I do not want to experience again job uncertainty. sala baï will help me get a well paid job even if I need to work hard to succeed." Supharith Morn, Restaurant student 2010-2011
Supharith is still studying but his new life has already started. He can see. Indeed, the teachers were the first ones who noticed his sight handicap while observing him study and read. A prescription for glasses was given and the glasses have become a necessary feature. Sala Baï does more than teaching a job, it prepares young adults to life and responsibility.
This training, Supharith deserves it. "One day, I heard a message on the radio about the application process for Sala Baï. The application files had to be collected at the school. I went there with the ambition to be selected. I do not want to experience again job uncertainty. Sala Baï will help me get a well paid job even if I need to work hard to succeed.
Then my family (I live with my mother and my two sisters) received the visit of a social worker, like all the other families. He was making sure that I could apply for Sala Baï and that my mother agreed to it. Then I passed my written and oral tests and on 6th September, I finally started the training to become a waiter. I would like to work in a hotel bar. In Siem Reap, there are numerous job opportunities in the hotel industry thanks to the Angkor Temples".
Thanks to your support, we are able to change Supharith and many young Cambodians'life. We need your help to keep offering a free and recognised training.
News from Sala Baï School
Preparing the next promotion
Next year, Sala Baï will train 100 students. 537 application files were received and 414 were preselected. Each applicant's family received the visit of a social worker. This process lasted three months and was performed by the school's social worker team, in twelve provinces of the country.
"During those interviews, we make sure that the economic situation of the household meets the criteria set by Sala Baï and that the parents agree to their child going to Siem Reap to study", says Khemara Kim, in charge of the social workers' team, and who has been working at Sala Baï since 2003. "Living in a city can create fears, especially for girls." Khemara undertakes a thorough interview with the family and the student, during which information is gathered on income sources and expenses of the household, as well as the size of the family, the ability to grow crops and the family's belongings. It allows him to assess the economic situation of the family and determine whether it meets Sala Baï criteria on objective grounds to ensure that the free training benefits to those who most need it. This interview is followed by a visit of the house and its environment.
Following those interviews, 269 applicants attended the written tests in Maths, English, Spelling and Khmer expression. One student could not complete the test due to extreme shaking. Despite her weak physical state -numerous students, coming from extremely poor background, suffer from bad nutrition - she did not want to miss the test, fearing to be unable to join Sala Baï.
News from Sala Baï School
When former students become donors!
"I'm extremely happy. I would like to thank the teachers for organising tonight's event. I don't know how to express my gratitude to Sala Baï." Ky Saley, 5th promotion, a waiter with a monthly income of US$300 now.
On 7th April 2011, Ky Saley was invited to the first Gala Dinner, along 400 other former students from the school, to celebrate the Khmer New Year. All students have expressed their gratitude to the school which helped them emerge from extreme poverty to become self achieved and independents adults.
For most of them Sala Baï has become a second family. The ties created with the teachers and the management team are very strong. Indeed the social workers are the ones who lead the students during 11 months towards a new life. The achievements of those students, coming from rural backgrounds, are impressive in terms of responsibility and income as some of them hold positions as: Chef, Manager, chef de rang? They have succeeded in the professional world. Today the average income of the first promotion is US$250 (excluding tips) and six months after graduating, the income of the last promotion had increased by US$10, reaching US$77.
Sala Baï has achieved its objective of helping every year 100 young Cambodians to come out of extreme poverty. Most of them have now evolved into the middle class, which, according to the last report of the Asian Development Bank, includes households earning between US$60 and US$650 per month.
Extremely aware of the opportunity they were given by following a vocational training, completely free of charge, numerous students responded to the call for solidarity launched on 7th April 2011. The sum of US$800 was collected to support the incoming promotion: when former students become donors.
Give us a hand
The year end trip
One of the central event of each promotion's life is the Year end trip. This is the occasion for the students to discover the sea coast as well as the capital city of their country.
You can help us fund this event which will take place from 1st to 3rd of August
- by making a contribution on our website: www.salabai.com
- by sending your contribution to Agir Pour le Cambodge: 120, avenue de Suffren 75015 Paris.
The tips and service fees collected at the Sala Baï restaurant are also used towards the payment of this trip so that the students actually contribute to their trip.
Actions in France
On June 17th, at La Madeleine Church: gospel concert to the benefit of Sala Baï
In the evening of June 17th, let yourself be drawn by the most famous gospels: Down by the Riverside, Jacob's ladder, Sinner you know, Go tell it on the mountain, Joshua fit the battle of Jericho. For one hour, from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm, in La Madeleine Church in the 8th district of Paris, the sixty choir singers of the Gospel Colors Group will perform a large number of Gospel songs to the benefit of Agir pour le Cambodge.
The entrance fee is open and the profits will be used to financing the vocational training of young Cambodians coming from underprivileged families.
To know more: www.gospelcolors.org
Actions in France
Girls' Professionnal integration supported by Raja Foundation
70% of Sala Baï promotions are composed of girls due to Agir pour le Cambodge's determined will to stress on a female-oriented recruitment to fight human trafficking that is still a reality in Cambodia. Job opportunities for girls trained at Sala Baï have prompted the Raja-Danièle Marcovici Foundation to support five students' tuitions. Already a partner in 2008, this foundation supports all action promoting social, economic and professional integration of women through education and training.
Actions in France
Charles Péguy School operation
Initiatives to support Sala Baï have increased and varied. The last one is the mobilization of all the 8th graders from Charles Péguy School, a Girls School in the 11th district of Paris. Cookbook sales, artifacts made by students, communication on Sala Baï, the mobilization and the generosity of the students and the teachers team have contributed to the training of a young Cambodian, a first step in a new life. Thanks to all of them.
Actions in France
They run for Sala Baï
Sam McGoun (www.touchnetwork.org) vice-president and Manager at American Express International in Singapore has raised funds for Sala Baï in taking part in marathons and half-ironman. Paris marathon, Mount Saint Michel marathon, the Heroes race, other sportsmen follow his path.
Since last April, you as well, can raise funds in taking part in a sports event and create your own page on www.alvarum.fr/agirpourlecambodge. Maxime Dethomas and Arthur Dethomas, who have respectively run the Paris marathon in April and the Mont Saint Michel marathon in May, have raised enough funds to support the training of three students (7,605euros) by calling upon their friends. Thanks for this superb and unusual mobilization!
Next Steps
The Heroes race: We are counting on many of you to run the 6km Heroes race in Meudon on next June 26th and raise funds for Agir pour le Cambodge as well!
Paris-Versailles: in September, Agir pour le Cambodge will set up a team of runners for the Paris-Versailles race. We are requesting runners and ... supporters as well.
For more information: contact(at)agirpourlecambodge.org