A Books-and-Clothes Wish List

January 31, 2009

E-mail from Sheree O'Donnell

Dear Leah,

It's hard to describe just how much joy the books bring to the children at Elma. I love to watch them congregate around a book at break time and try to read out loud, or to choose one to read to them.

I love the idea of a "wish list." The children went crazy for the clothes, so that's definitely a great idea. It's heartbreaking to see the condition of the clothes they come to school in sometimes.

In terms of books, the younger children are always drawn to the colorful ABC style books, with lots of pictures. We also use similar style flash cards which are great fun.

The older children love to learn about different countries and I try to pick stories that they may be able to understand or relate to—I know this is a tall order. Again color, illustrations or photographs always pulls them in. Let me have a think about what other items you could add to the list.

One of the things we are working on is to have a health care worker linked to the school to teach the kids about hygiene, disease control, etc. and I should imagine they are in need of basic resources but I would like to investigate this further.

I'll be in touch soon. Thanks again.

Warm wishes,

Sheree

The Library Takes Shape

January 29, 2009

E-mail from Sheree O'Donnell

Dear Leah,

How are you?

I feel it's a really exciting time at Elma, we are working on lots of ways to improve and move forward and already the library is really started to take shape. Vey and I have brought in new book cases and some mats for the children to use when they are spending time reading.

Before Christmas we all worked on some paintings for the wall and some of the children show real artistic flair! I will send you some photographs. The next step is to introduce a library monitoring system so that the children may take the books home with them, they are all very keen to do this and you can often find them still in the library after class is out!

Love and best wishes,

Sheree

Obamamania in Cambodia

January 22, 2009

E-mail from Vey Lav

Dear Leah,

I am so glad to hear from you and the donors who really like photos. The kids were very joyful with the clothes and books. You and the donors did a great job and are very helpful to Cambodian children at Elma.

All your help is exactly bringing their hopes and bright future. The last box which containing adult clothes arrived, I have been taking my concerning eyes on them, evaluate both the classes and teachers.

It was wonderful evening on Jan 20th. We were watching the inaugural celebration of your new president, Barack Obama. We admire him so much. We feel so excited about seeing him and listening to his speech, promise on CNN, of course, he will bring the positive changes and hope to Americans as well as the people in the rest of the world. Now we have the right person who can positively bring benefit and success in the economy.

I and the Elma students are looking forward to seeing another box and the book about Barack Obama's life.

All the best wishes from Elma Children Cambodia,

Vey

The Inauguration of President Barack Obama

January 20, 2009

Dear Vey and Jacqueline,

How are you? Thank you very much for sending the beautiful photos of the children, and for this update. I forwarded the thank you note to all of the donors who had contributed to those shipments.

Seeing the photos of the children was one of the most touching moments of my week. It is so gratifying for me and for other donors to see them actually getting to enjoy things we've sent. Thank you for taking the effort to send the photos.

I just shipped another box this afternoon (I'm calling it box 7 on the outside for my own record keeping purposes).

Among the donations it includes a special present commemorating that today is Inauguration Day for President Barack Obama. I bought a new children's book about his life story and wrote an inscription. This is such an amazing time of positive change and hope in the United States for this president who we are so excited to see in office.

Thank you for sending updates about the children, and for continuing to communicate when the donations arrive. Closing that communication loop really does make all the difference for the dozens of people who are contributing help.

All my best,

Leah

January 18, 2009

Dear Louise, Fran, Anna, May, Allison, Eric, Cathy, Micaela, Grace, Anthony and Jill:

Thank you so much for all of your warm, kind and generous efforts to help the Cambodian children at the ELMA School. I am including you all on this shortlist because books, clothes or school supplies that you donated made it to Cambodia in a recent shipment (around box 5).

I received this thank you note and recent photos from Vey, one of the school's founders. The children are wearing clothes that you and your families donated. From these photos, I definitely recognize clothing donations from Louise Roberts, Fran Navarro's sister and her family: Millie, Larry, Megan, Mason and Logan Lyon.

I just sent another box today (that I'm calling box 7) that included clothes and books donated by my little siblings, Alliey, Eric and Cathy Lau, and book donations from so many of you.

So much more to come, but I just wanted to send these photos and say a heartfelt thanks for your kindness and generosity.

Frannie, please feel free to forward this e-mail to your sister and her family so that they can see their wonderful donations in action!

Love,

Leah


E-mail from Vey Lav

January 18, 2009

Dear Leah, Jacquie and Donors:

Here are some pictures of Elma kids attached for you. It is impossible to attach more while the system is too slow. Those are the activities in the library and the kids wearing the clothes donated from generous people in America. I have also received another box of books and clothes from you last week. Please let the donors know that everything arrived safely.

Now the students are busy with their written tests in English which identify how they improve in four months. They are satisfied with the test. Their works will tell the progress of Elma.

I was told by a friend who is aware of the U.S. Embassy policy. He said that it is more bureaucratic and less convenient than by the Post. Once you have to contact the Cambodian Embassy or related department in America, either any relevant authority in the U.S. He did not mention the costs.

Rithy helped me contact both the administration and admission center at the Angkor Hospital for Children for Volunteer works. It is possible for your doctor friend to volunteer but she has to inform them the exact time to work and duration. They definitely need her CV in advance. If it is possible she can send the letter of proposal to the Admission directly.

All very best from Elma Cambodia,

Vey, Head of School