School, Oka Tmay

We arrived and all the children we're waiting, very very excited and all wanting to hug Carolyn and Nick. In the Khmer language Oka Tmay means 'new opportunity' and this is the idea for the school.

Children who's families are on the ' very poor' list are eligible to come here. They live here full time and have everything paid for, Carolyn is an amazing woman!

The school building is by far the most stable and generous structure in the village, and clearly the kids love being here. Apparently they do not go home on weekends, even though that was the plan, even though their families are 10 minutes away.  At school they have clean water, lots of food, electricity and health care.

Oh and of course the lessons, they go to school for half a day, little kids in the morning and big kids in the afternoon.  They then have lessons at Oka Tmay.

R

There a boys and a girls dorm, outside wash room, and open air dining. 

Jun, the most dignified Cambodian woman, cooks and stays with the children and rules the roost.

Sadly the school English teacher, a lovely Cambodian man, is barely able to hold a conversation in English. Lessons follow a curriculum and the kids can write very well, but it's all rote learning. I soon figured out that comprehension is very very low.

Apparently most NGOs ( of which there are hundreds) operate on an unspoken rule of 20 min drive from siem reap. So the poor rural areas get little help.

It's all a bit surreal, and overwhelming. God we are so lucky!