Letter from Banteay Prieb

Beginning of New Life Vol. 19 2014. 11 ~ 2015. 02

Days with batch 27 in 2014[January 8th]:School started

[April]:Cambodian New Year’s Day

[July 3rd]:Students went to listen to strategy of Cambodian gov-ernment on people with dis-abilities

[August]:International Environment Day, Planting trees

[March]:International Women’s Day Picnic

[July 18th]:Annual picnic to the ocean

[September]:Cambodian Thanksgiving Day

[December 18th]:Graduation Day

[August 29th]:Homecoming Day

[December 3rd]:Participate in event on In-ternational Day of People with disabilities

[December 7th]:Participate in Angkor Wat International Marathon

One Day before ‘Graduation’

Interview

▶ We talked with students who had only one day left before graduation day.

How was your life in Banteay Prieb while you were living and studying-here?

Phisur: I was very happy. Especially, I could make many friends who are disabled like me. In my village, there are only two people with disabilities includ-ing me. Therefore, neighbors harshly discriminated against us and I was always not confident. However, I have changed since I arrived to Banteay Prieb. I’m confident enough to go to market alone. I think I can continue to go to market when I go back home. Mieun: It was really good to see how people loved each other. Since I came to Banteay Prieb, I began to do many things by myself. Before I came here, I either stayed at home all day or wan-dered outside without knowing where I was going. I also didn’t think deeply about my future. And I was suspicious

and wary of other people. But now I have affection towards others, which came about by living together and help-ing each other. I will really miss Banteay Prieb.

Before entering Banteay Prieb, how was your life and how did you know about Banteay Prieb?

Rang hung: I usually stayed at home alone. My father passed away when I was young and my mother and brothers went to Phnom Penh to work. The-Outreach team visited my house and thatis howI got to know about Banteay Prieb. Bausee: I finished studying in high school. After graduating from high school, my family could no longer sup-port me so I couldn’t go to university. I wanted to support my family. One day, I heard of Banteay Prieb and got the phone number from another NGO. I was really happy to learn techniques which would help me to support my family.

Why did you choose to study elec-tronics?

Phisur: I use a wheelchair because my legs are disabled. I thought studying

-Interviewee: Bausee, Rang hung, Mieun, Phisur

-Interviewer: Fr. Greg, Somin

-Date: 17.12.2014

One Day before ‘Graduation’

electronics would be easierfor me because I could sit down and work. Mieun: When I was 6 years old, I fell down from a running train. The doctor-shad to amputate one leg because of this accident. I chose to study electron-ics for the same reason as Phisur.

What was your favorite program of Banteay Prieb?

Bausee: Playing basketball after school with my friends!Phisur: Gardening every Saturday. Mieun: I also enjoyed gardening. It was physically hard but I felt happy to make our own environment beautiful. Rang hung: I liked playing volleyball and basketball with my friends.

Who is the most memorable person throughout your one year in Banteay Prieb?

Phisur: House teacher is the most memorable person.

Mieun: House teacher and student care teachers. They helped us a lot to be self-supporting.Bausee, Rang hung: Electronics class teacher, house teacher, and friends.

What is your future plan after gradu-ating from Banteay Prieb?

Phisur, Mieun: I’d like to open my own electronics workshop at home. Bausee: I want to come back to Ban-teay Prieb to continue to study phone repairing course.

Lastly, do you want to say anything for Banteay Prieb?

Mieun: I want to say to future students to love one another. Phisur: I hope the tradition of having a homecoming day lasts for a long time. Bausee, Rang hung: There were many explanations in English while we studied electronics course. So it will be really nice if there is an English class for stu-dents and also computer class.

▶From left:Bau-see, Rang hung, Somin, Mieun, Fr. Greg, Phisur

What is thedifference before and after entering Banteay Prieb?

Cheya: I had bad experiences of discrimination against me because I’m disabled. When I went to market, people pointed a finger at me and made fun of me. I was really hurt and became less confident. However, after living in Banteay Prieb, I became confident for almost everything. People still discrimi-nate against people with disabilities but I no longer feel afraid of others. Sina: I became capable of doing many things by myself. When I went back home during holidays, I could hang out with our neighbors and went outside with people. Theara: Me too. I really enjoyed my life in Banteay Prieb. Srey: There are many teachers who take care of us and help us when we are sick. And there are also many friends who went through similar experi-ences as I did. Before I came to Ban-teay Prieb, I was scared of other people and didn’t feel confident to go outside but now I can go to market and I’m not scared of what other people think of my disability.

Which aspect of Banteay Prieb posi-tively affected your life?

Sokjiut: When I was young, I couldn’t

go outside because I didn’t have a wheelchair. Then when I got my wheel-chair, I was already over 20 years old so I didn’t have the courage to go to school and study with younger people. That’s why I never learned how to read. It was really good to learn literacy and numeracy here in Banteay Prieb. Now, I am able to read signs on the road. So I’m not afraid to go outside because now I surely know where I’m going. I also really enjoyed learning sewing techniques.

Which program of Banteay Prieb did you like the most?

Cheya: I liked learning shoe-making techniques and literacy class which was held every morning. Srey: I enjoyed gardening. I think it was very meaningful to take care of our own environment by ourselves. Sokjiut: I liked playing sports. Before entering Banteay Prieb, I have never seen people with disabilities playing sports outside. I really enjoyed watch-ing people playing sports.

Who is the most memorable person throughout the year?

Everyone: House teacher!

What did your house teacher help you?

Srey: Living together as one communi-ty, they taught us how to love others and take care of each other as one family.

If you explain what Banteay Prieb means to you in one sentence, what

-Interviewee: Cheya, Sina, Theara, Srey, Sokjieut

-Interviewer: Fr. Greg, Somin

-Date: 17.12.2014

would it be?

Srey: My second home. Sokjiut: A place where my new life began.

Any suggestions for Banteay Prieb?

Cheya: I hope Banteay Prieb lasts long so that many students can come and study. Sina: I hope Banteay Prieb continues to work with people with disabilities like now.

▲On International Women’s Day picnic,

Srey sitting in the water

▶Annual picnic to the ocean. Left in front row, Sokjiut sitting and smiling in big hat

▲On International Women’s Day. Sina(right) with her friend.

▲Best friends. Chey and Theara.

My name is ‘Nae Di’ The coconut tree that changed my life…

My name is Nea Di. I was born in 1993. I became a person with a disability only 5 years ago when I was 17 years old. I fell down from a tall coconut tree. After this accident, I was sent to ahospital in Phnom Penh and had surgery but my condition was still the same. Because of this accident, my two legs were paralyzed. I was just an ordinary high school boy before the accident. However, I had to stop going to school after the accident because myschool was 7 km from my house. It was really difficult to go to school with paralyzed legs and I didn’t know how to continue to study back then. I was hopeless. Cambodian society really has a strong discrimination against people with disabilities. After the accident, little by little, I lost my friendsand stayed at home most of thetime.

Meeting Banteay Prieb at 22

I got to know about Banteay Prieb from agovernment organization in Kam-pong Speu. At first, I was not confident to come to Banteay Prieb to study but I didn’t want to live in pain and despair so I decided to push through with it. I’m physically disabled but I didn’t want to have disability in my mind. Before entering Banteay Prieb, I thought it would be really difficult to take care of myself with mydisability. But while I stayed in Banteay Prieb, I could study, cook, and go to market. And I made many friends. Especially, teachers and friends encouraged me a lot. My favorite activities in Banteay Prieb were gar-dening, planting trees on environment day, grocery shopping at market, and cooking vegetables which I became capable to make very well.

Healing the mind by writing poems

I first wrote a poem right after coming back to Banteay Prieb from Khmer New Year holiday. Khmer New Year is the happiest moment for Cambodians. During this holiday, families gather together andgo to thetemple to pray for good health and happiness. When I was staying with my family, I suddenly realized that my life can’t be the same as before. I really missed the time when I ran around with my brothers and played with myrelatives. When I came back to Banteay Prieb, I realized that I was really disabled and I have to live with mydisability for the restof my life. I started to write poems to express my sadness. Writing poems helps me to express my feelings that I can’t express by speaking. After writing poems, I felt relieved and atpeace. I want to continue to write poems in the future.

Story

My name is ‘Nae Di’ My dream after graduating from Banteay Prieb

I’m the last child among 3 sons and my parents are old. My parents are very happy about my life in Banteay Prieb. Especially, they were very happy to see me helping them and doing many things by myself when I went back home for holidays. Before entering Banteay Prieb, I was always feeling depressed and sad because I thought that I could no longer help my family. My parents were wor-ried about me a lot. Therefore they were happy to see thepositive changes in my life. I want to open my own electronics workshop and help my family.

▲Nae Di’s poem with his handwriting

▶Picture of Nae Di

I have a new story I can’t say but I can write down

Many or a little not copy from each other I try to write both day and night.

If something wrong Please, forgive me and do not mind me

Because I have immature heartSome words I use are always wrong.

I have a word that I worry aboutBoth day and night of my disability

Lost leg and feet makes difficulty on everyday Never stop thinking about that word.

Disabilities if it touches everyone, Both man and woman

Much or little destroy feet or hand That is the same word which is disabilities.

Like someone says even if my body is disability In my idea not disable I must preserve

Longing for true knowledge So that in my life can move forward.

Physical disability don’t think and worry Don’t degrade

We try very hard plan for new life Don’t be anxious society welcome.

I think the God forgotten me everybody else All of us suffering hurt nearly die

Is this punishment Or from my previous sin.

As I approach god remember the gifts from godPlease help me I make my daily offering

To remind you of my prayer to make a new generation That is without disabilities like this.

Many or few time I try my bestTo share with each other

If I do 100 or 200 times it is better than nothing Do by without ashamed

I am hoping for your blessing. About my offering not light or heavy Not loose or tight not poor or rich

Only that do good tried hard To find at about sin and grace.

+Fr. Sang yong Kim, Dominico S.J. translated Nae Di’s poem beautifully. We thank for your contribution.

2015New Banteay Prieb

January 13rd, 2015, New stu-dents(Batch 28) entered Ban-teay Prieb

On January 13th, new set of stu-dents entered Banteay Prieb. There is a total of 111 students, 30 in Electronics, 26 in Mechanics, 25 in Agriculture, 22 in sewing, and 8 in Phone repairing course. During the first week, we conducted an

Banteay Prieb’s new project, education program for people with intellectual disabilities will be started in March

We are launching an education program for people with intellectual disabili-ties this year. In Cambodia, the number of people with physical disabilities is decreasing and there are a few organizations which are working for people with intellectual disabilities. Reflecting on this changing need of Cambodian society and building on Banteay Prieb’s 23 years of experience working for people with physical disabilities, we are embarking on an education program for people with intellectual disabilities. The vision of this program is inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities into the society. Our mission is to develop the life skills of people with intel-lectual disabilities so they can live independently and be self-reliant. Our goal is to create an environment which is conducive to active participation of people with intellectual disabilities in community life.

orientation introducing each course, all the teachers and volunteers, and life in Banteay Prieb in general. Orientation week aims to help students to understand better life in Banteay Prieb and build friendship. Please, pray for our new students!

Banteay Prieb’s new project, education program for people with intellectual disabilities will be started in March

We are launching an education program for people with intellectual disabili-ties this year. In Cambodia, the number of people with physical disabilities is decreasing and there are a few organizations which are working for people with intellectual disabilities. Reflecting on this changing need of Cambodian society and building on Banteay Prieb’s 23 years of experience working for people with physical disabilities, we are embarking on an education program for people with intellectual disabilities. The vision of this program is inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities into the society. Our mission is to develop the life skills of people with intel-lectual disabilities so they can live independently and be self-reliant. Our goal is to create an environment which is conducive to active participation of people with intellectual disabilities in community life.

Craft Peace Cafe has moved to better place

Craft Peace Cafe which is direct-ly run by Banteay Prieb has moved to Phnom Penh Thmey which is close from Phnom Penh International Airport. New Craft Peace Cafe is located within 30 minutes drive from Banteay Prieb and 5 minutes walk from Jesuit center. Craft Peace Cafe

Preparations for the program started last year by conducting various work-shops about basic understanding people with intellectual disabilities to teachers and staffs of Banteay Prieb. They have also visited other NGOs to learn from their experience. This year, we are planning to have regular workshops for house teachers, staffs, and students to help them better understand and comfortably live with students with intellectual disabilities. We had the first workshop of this year with house teachers last 13th Febru-ary. During the workshop, teachers learned about behavior management. Given various behavior habits of people with intellectual disabilities, the teachers were taught how to react and help students in specific situations. The class for people with intellectual disabilities will commence in March. This is a big challenge for all of us and we need to prepare and learn many things. But we believe that we can do well by drawing lessons from the 23 years experience of working with people with disabilities. With the long experience of education for people with disabilities, cooperation with experts, and trust in each other, we will work hard for both students with physical and intellectual disabilities. Please, keep our new mission in your prayers.

remains to be a place where people can find products of Banteay Prieb, enjoy good food, and serve as a cultural place for meetings and exhibi-tions. Come and enjoy meaningful time in Craft Peace Cafe! ★If you want to follow newly updated news of Craft Peace Cafe, Please visit: www.facebook.com/craftpeacecafe

Special Thanks to...

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