Nice association gathering for a long-lasting partnership !

We had the chance to be invited by Flame to visit a new project of theirs: a youth center that they were able to build thanks to very generous donors in one of the poor communities of Phnom Penh. They are also paying the teacher themselves for a period of three years. 

The action of Flame is based on the idea of “The Full Circle”, which represents the process of a child from slums becoming a young leader: “The kids you help emerge as confident leaders in their communities, inspiring others in education, service and leadership.” (https://www.flamecambodia.org/our-mission ). Flame is an association that Shanty Town Spirit is used and very pleased to collaborate with. 

The center we visited is a day-center where the kids of the community mainly come to learn khmer basis. They can also be helped with some school homework and receive support if they have issues with their families.

We came with presents for the kids: each of them would get a pencil-case full of school supplies ! We also had a limited number of backpacks that the children would get if they won little games. 

They therefore played various little games in front of us ! They were all very happy to have some unusual company that morning ! 

At the end of the class, they all went back home in a special tuk-tuk set up by Flame for them ! 

Seeing those kids happily and safely gathering in this environment is such a heartwarming feeling. It is thanks to the generosity of the donors and the hard work of the volunteers of Flame that such things can happen. Thank you to Flame for their trust ! 

                                                        One Spirit, One Heart, One Community                                      

                              You can help us by sponsoring the Shanty Town Spirit program:

                                                        Click on Make a difference

                             OR contact  Ermine Norodom: +855 (0) 17 49 27 19 (French and English)

                                                       norodomermine@gmail.com

                                   Phirun Prak (Arun): +855 (0) 96 663 6666 (English and Khmer)

                                                          arun.aenorodom@gmail.com

                                                          words by Matthieu Membrez

The excellent school results of the Boeung Trabek kids !

We paid another visit to the Boeung Trabek community ! Indeed, we had some donated clothes to distribute, and Ermine needed to see the kids of the community to check on their school results as well ! So we were first welcomed by Sokear, one of the first children that Ermine took care of, and then joined by Srey Net, Srey Nith, Srey Lip, Ron and Terry’s grandmother ! They were all very happy to see us ! 

We first began with the clothes distribution, which were mainly girls’. In these moments, we have to remain as fair as possible so that every child gets about the same amount of things. We let the girls pick what suited them best and they were all delighted with what they received in the end ! Everyone deserves to have decent clothes and to feel good-looking in them ! 

Then, it was time for Ermine to check on the kids’ school results, as she does every month. Everyone handed Ermine their grades of the month and she gave rewards to the children who had worked well and progressed since the previous time. It is important for Shanty Town Spirit to keep a little stringency regarding the school results, so that the children understand the importance of school, education and hard work in life ! Because every kid has the right to go to school ! 

We were very happy to note that almost every child is below 10 in the class ranking !

It is always a very precious and joyful moment to go visit the community of Boeung Trabek a few times a month ! The kids always welcome us with big smiles and warm hugs ! 

                                              One Spirit, One Heart, One Community                                      

                                You can help us by sponsoring the Shanty Town Spirit program:

                                                           Click on Make a difference

                             OR contact  Ermine Norodom: +855 (0) 17 49 27 19 (French and English)

                                                          norodomermine@gmail.com

                                       Phirun Prak (Arun): +855 (0) 96 663 6666 (English and Khmer)

                                                            arun.aenorodom@gmail.com

                                                           words by Matthieu Membrez

A precious afternoon with the kids of Little Hearts !

We came by the foster home of Little Hearts, in the countryside of Phnom Penh. This absolutely marvellous place is held by Tony, who decided to help orphans of the Phnom Penh province in need and give them a future. Without the intervention of an organization like Little Hearts, these children would have a bleak future placing them at risk of malnutrition, exploitation and abuse, severe poverty and at worse, an early death.

38 kids from 5 to 20 gather and play all around the vast green garden ! 

There, we distributed each kid a bag containing hygiene supplies, such as a toothbrush, a large tube of toothpaste and 4 bars of soap. Every child got one of his own !

Right after that, some of the children kindly offered to make us visit the foster home. So they showed us around the rooms where the kids sleep, divided into four different dormitories and beautifully decorated by them ! Then, they showed us the bathrooms, the kitchen, the computer room and finally the classrooms ! 

Some of the oldest girls then explained us the functioning of their aquaponic garden, which was installed a few years back by Koya Project and with the collaboration of Shanty Town Spirit ! Tony made up a special time table so that every kid gets to take care of the aquaponic garden and understand its functioning. This project turned out to be very useful for them ! Indeed, it consists of a fish tank constructed below ground level to keep the fish nice and cool. There is also a vertical garden for leafy green vegetables and 3 media beds which are already yielding bumper crops of the children’s favourites which include ‘morning glory’. (https://koyaproject.org/little-hearts/ )

While some of the kids were happily playing in the garden and others peacefully drawing the classrooms, we were chatting and laughing with a little group of them. They explained about how their life at Little Hearts was great and how they were always having fun all together ! 

This afternoon with the kids of Little Hearts was a precious moment of sharing and joy, and we are forever grateful for the work of associations such as Little Hearts ! 

                                  One Spirit, One Heart, One Community                                      

                   You can help us by sponsoring the Shanty Town Spirit program:

Click on Make a difference

                   OR contact  Ermine Norodom: +855 (0) 17 49 27 19 (French and English)

norodomermine@gmail.com

           Phirun Prak (Arun): +855 (0) 96 663 6666 (English and Khmer)

    arun.aenorodom@gmail.com

    words by Matthieu Membrez

Sokear’s dream job !

Ermine and some other Shanty Town Spirit volunteers including Maïra paid a visit to the Boeung Trabek community: we didn’t come over empty-handed ! Indeed, Nathy has very kindly donated her bike to Sokear, one of the very first kids looked after by Ermine who is now almost 20. Sokear was very happy about that since he was actually in need of a bike to go to work and to school ! 

Sokear took us to his house to see his family and his friends: Srey Nett, her grandmother and Srey Nith were there and they kindly invited us to stay a moment with them. So we talked for a little while: they told us about their school results, their job and how the children of the community were doing. Then, we talked about what they dream to become later. Sokear, for example, wishes to become a lawyer and is about to enter law school ! Thanks to his faith and his determination, and also thanks to the work of the donors and the volunteers, Sokear can get closer to his dreams ! 

After that, we visited a few of the usual families of the community, all always delighted to see us ! On that day, we came with bars of soap, toothbrushes and clothes for the kids ! All the children were able to get themselves one of each ! It really was a wonderful moment ! 

                                     One Spirit, One Heart, One Community                                      

      You can help us by sponsoring the Shanty Town Spirit program:

Click on Make a difference

                   OR contact  Ermine Norodom: +855 (0) 17 49 27 19 (French and English)

norodomermine@gmail.com

           Phirun Prak (Arun): +855 (0) 96 663 6666 (English and Khmer)

    arun.aenorodom@gmail.com

 words by Matthieu Membrez

Every woman deserves the right to feel pretty !

With the help of a few volunteers, we visited Boeung Trabek’s community (which is the first community taken over by Shanty Town Spirit). As usual, all the people were delighted to see us coming with gifts. 

We proceeded to a distribution of various hygiene products, school supplies, clothes and a few jewels that had been donated to the association a few days prior by Nathy. Everybody received something special, the kids as well as the women ! The atmosphere was joyful and everyone was smiling and happy ! 

In the name of all the volunteers working with Shanty Town Spirit and especially the women and kids who were able to benefit her beautiful donations, we thank Nathy very much for her generosity. These kinds of moments with the community are possible thanks to all the donors like Nathy and all the volunteers ! 

As we can see on these pictures, everyone was enchanted by Nathy’s beautiful jewels. All the ladies managed to get one of their own, and it suited them beautifully! Because every woman deserves the right to feel pretty and feminine ! 

                                               One Spirit, One Heart, One Community                                      

      You can help us by sponsoring the Shanty Town Spirit program:

Click on Make a difference

                   OR contact  Ermine Norodom: +855 (0) 17 49 27 19 (French and English)

norodomermine@gmail.com

           Phirun Prak (Arun): +855 (0) 96 663 6666 (English and Khmer)

    arun.aenorodom@gmail.com

  words by Matthieu Membrez

A wonderful afternoon at the Swimming Pool

Thank you to Kathleen Gees, because of her, a very nice afternoon could have been organized at the swimming pool.

All the kids were full of joy and happiness.

Sokear, once again, enjoyed to take the role of organiser.  He took the responsibility to pay attention to all the kids, helped them for the lunch, and took part of all the activities in the pool.

They all played a lot

And the lunch was delightfull

Thank you again to Kathleen, and a special thank you to Maira, who was also an asset during this afternoon.

                                    One Spirit, One Heart, One Community                                      

      You can help us by sponsoring the Shanty Town Spirit program:

Click on Make a difference

                   OR contact  Ermine Norodom: +855 (0) 17 49 27 19 (French and English)

norodomermine@gmail.com

           Phirun Prak (Arun): +855 (0) 96 663 6666 (English and Khmer)

    arun.aenorodom@gmail.com

                                                         words by Nathalie Bonpain

S.O.S RICE CAMBODIA

To give some rice and give a smile.

https://www.facebook.com/SOS-Rice-Cambodia-895491003820480/

In favor of six associations, during those days, a collection of rice will be organized in Phnom Penh, to collect as much as possible rice for kids.

Rice will be donated to :

• Foster Homes
• Children for Peace
•  Clear Friendship 
• The Street Children Restaurant
• The Light of Mercy
• The Charity Committee for the Parish of St Joseph’s

Collection points will be :

• Hotel The Raffles
• La Terraza, Restaurant
• Blue Pumpkin
• Lycée Descartes
•  and more other places check the face book page.

We are all waiting for you and your generosity.

Thank you for them 

Thank you to S.O.S Rice.

https://www.facebook.com/SOS-Rice-Cambodia-895491003820480/

Shanty Town Spirit’s Website

Beginning of January, we had the great opportunity to meet Mr Dell Jullian St Claire.  The CEO of AIM360 and SociMedia360.   Who was looking for a Charity to help, regarding the establishment of a Website.

Very intelligent, quick and pro-active person, he was able to built this site only in 15 days.  

He showed us what we could do, and offered to produce the full website for Shanty Town Spirit.

On 24th January, we received the site. Describing the full activities, and the goal of the Assocation.

The website

https://www.shantytownspirit.com/ is brandly new, and we are very proud to introduce it. It’s straight forward, very pleasant, and very well organized.

On the first page, you can discover the Goal, Vision and Commitment, then you have the words from the Founder, The Princess Ermine Norodom, and how people can get involved at the bottom of the page.  You have the information very fast, and you can commit yourself to either donate, or help in any other ways.

So be curious, go and look on the website, and do not hesitate to send us your comments on it.

And again a big Thank you to Dell Jullian St Claire.

                                       One Spirit, One Heart, One Community                                      

      You can help us by sponsoring the Shanty Town Spirit program:

Click on Make a difference

                   OR contact  Ermine Norodom: +855 (0) 17 49 27 19 (French and English)

norodomermine@gmail.com

           Phirun Prak (Arun): +855 (0) 96 663 6666 (English and Khmer)

    arun.aenorodom@gmail.com

Nathalie Bonpain: +855 (0) 15 652 691 (English and French)

  bonpainnathalie@gmail.com  

https://www.shantytownspirit.com/

                                                         words by Nathalie Bonpain
                                                                   ---------------------

Le site internet de Shanty Town Spirit

Au début de l’année 2019, nous avons eu la formidable opportunité de rencontre Mr Dell Jullian Saint Clair.  Directeur et fondateur de AIM360 et SociMedia360.

Proactif, intelligent, réactif, il a construit le site internet en 15 jours à peine.

Il nous a montré comment l’utiliser, et par quels moyens nous aurons la possibilité à travers le nouveau site, d’obtenir plus de donations.

Nous avons reçu ce site le 24 janvier, décrivant toutes nos activités et objectifs de notre association.

Le site Web

 https://www.shantytownspirit.com/ est tout nouveau, nous sommes très fières de pouvoir l’introduire.  Il est très bien construit, direct et facile à comprendre ce que nous faisons.

Sur la première page, nous découvrons l’objectif, la vision et le dévouement de notre Association.  Puis vous trouvez quelques mots de la Fondatrice, la Princesse Ermine Norodom, ainsi que l’implication des personnes qui font partie de cette Association.  Vous avez l’information rapidement, et vous pouvez ainsi vous impliquer aussi bien en tant que donateur ou physiquement.  

Soyez curieux, et allez visiter ce site.  Nous sommes à votre disposition si vous avez des questions.

Un grand merci à Dell Jullian St Claire.

                                            One Spirit, One Heart, One Community                                      

      You can help us by sponsoring the Shanty Town Spirit program:

Click on Make a difference

                   OR contact  Ermine Norodom: +855 (0) 17 49 27 19 (French and English)

norodomermine@gmail.com

           Phirun Prak (Arun): +855 (0) 96 663 6666 (English and Khmer)

    arun.aenorodom@gmail.com

Nathalie Bonpain: +855 (0) 15 652 691 (English and French)

  bonpainnathalie@gmail.com  

https://www.shantytownspirit.com/

                                                         words by Nathalie Bonpain