HEARTFELT THANKS FROM VILLAGE KIDS
UNIFORMS, THE KEY TO EDUCATION
Plus
CAMBODIA'S PCHUM BEN FESTIVAL OF ANCESTORS
Some of the 700 students who received a year of school 2023/24 thanks to ODA supporters
Dear friends, supporters,
Your kindness is lighting up young lives! We're overjoyed to share that, thanks to your generous hearts, we're halfway to our uniform goal 2024/25 school year. Each donation brings a bright smile and a world of opportunity to a child who desperately needs it.
See above: A sea of eager, hopeful faces on distribution day. Little and big eyes shining with excitement, hands gently reaching out for their very own school uniform. For many families in our outlying villages, this simple gift is a beacon of hope amidst daily struggles.
2023 Rows on rows of classes from Kindergarten, through Primary to Secondary students eagerly await their ‘gift uniform’ to ensure another year of school.
Every uniform you provide is more than just clothing - it's a ticket to education, a key to a brighter future, and a message that someone believes in these children. Your generosity is truly changing lives, one uniform at a time.
We're half way there and on a roll,
but we need help to keep the momentum going!
If you're considering gifting a year of education through a uniform set, now is the perfect moment. Close your eyes and imagine the child whose life you'll transform - their gratitude, their potential, their dreams now within reach.
Girls who are able to stay in school tend to marry later, and in developing countries,
this reduces the risk of maternal mortality due to the dangers of giving
birth with immature bodies.
Let's work together to ensure no child is left behind. Your donation, no matter the size, makes a world of difference. Act now, and be the reason one of these kids smiles, learns, and grows.
Boys face different futures as machinery takes over farm work, making
education absolutely essential in this evolving environment
Thank you for being the change these children so desperately need. Together, we're weaving a tapestry of hope, one uniform at a time.
P.S. Remember, every uniform is a story of hope. Let's write more beautiful stories together!
Cultural Insight: Pchum Ben
CAMBODIA'S FESTIVAL OF ANCESTORS
Cultural insight: Pchum Ben
Cambodia's Festival of Ancestors
Pchum Ben, one of Cambodia's most significant religious observances, is a 15-day festival culminating on the 15th day of the tenth month in the Khmer calendar. This deeply meaningful celebration, often called the Festival of the Ancestors, holds great importance across the country.
Trailers attached to tractors provides fun exciting transport for
them all in the country surrounding the Pagoda
During Pchum Ben, Cambodians honour their ancestors through prayers and food offerings. This act of devotion is believed to help their departed loved ones find peace and move on to a better existence. It's also a time to seek harmony with the spirits of ancestors who’s souls haven’t passed on to their next life.
A unique aspect of Pchum Ben is the belief that souls with unresolved karma are temporarily released from the spirit world during this time. This offers these souls a chance to seek out their living relatives and find redemption.
Everyone was involved with preparing the cultural and other food before leaving.
They can all cook for 30-40! These kids can handle anything.
ODA students typically participate in this cultural tradition by visiting their chosen pagoda. They engage in customary practices, including cooking all the necessary food and an overnight stay at the temple. A particularly exciting moment for the young kids occurs very early in the morning when monks ring the bell, signalling everyone to wake and walk in circles around the temple, tossing balls of sticky rice for the ancestors. This act symbolizes remembrance and respect, they believe the souls may become angry if they aren’t respected and remembered.
They love taking part in their traditional festivities, it’s very special for them to participate
Another interesting custom involves preparing thin noodle dishes, symbolically offered to ancestors who had their mouths shrunk due to have told lies in their lifetime. This practice reflects the deep compassion and desire for reconciliation that characterises Pchum Ben.
A little tired from the excitement of last night where there wasn’t a lot of sleep, but enjoying lunch before heading for home after an exciting Pchum Ben
Through these observances, ODA Central students maintain strong connections with their heritage and family history, while teaching younger generations about the importance of honouring those who came before us.
Leng and his wife Sry On are proud to help students participate in and understand this significant cultural event, fostering a deep appreciation for Cambodian traditions and values.