AWARD CEREMONY

Dateline:
Kessararam Primary School, Sat, July 30, 2011
Deanna Shimko

I arrived 7 am according to my invitation. I was led across the open courtyard to the front of the ceremony area (no auditorium here) and seated in one of the 8 wood chairs on the platform. I was the first "honored guest" to arrive taking seriously the printed starting time. I noted the second row of plastic chairs flanking the forward wood chairs. (Last year I sat in one of those second row plastic chairs... promotion!?!)

The students, their families and teachers were in the process of organizing the assembly. My heart pounded as I sat facing the gathering of the students who will receive awards today, the teachers and the students' families and photographers. My invitation came without instructions or orientation, and I knew by my seating location that I would be asked to do something.

About 7:45 am the ceremony began, attendees were greeted, the honored guests were introduced, and the Director of the school, Van Marath, spoke for 45 minutes delivering a complete report to the parents and local authorities about school budget, facility repairs and improvements, student demographics including number and gender of students completing the year successfully and those who didn't as well as those who dropped out of school.

Then Village Chief spoke, then the Commune Chief, and a student who thanked the teachers for their good teaching and care of the students.

Then the student awards: the top five students in each classroom in each grade would be called by name to come forward and receive an achievement certificate. In turn, the honored guests would present to a group of 5. A photographer was present taking a picture of the event as well as each student at the award moment, and the student and his/her family would receive a photograph. Some parents took pictures, too, and some parents stood with their student for the photograph.

We watched while dark clouds gathered and hoped we could complete the ceremony without the threatening rain. Everyone is not under shelter, and there is no place to go but into the classrooms.

There is no public transportation to school for students. Many poor families cannot afford bicycles for their children to go to school. Each year the Director of Kessararam Primary School tries to find a donor(s) to contribute 5 bicycles that are presented to the 5 students at the Awards Ceremony. Donors can come from surprising places!

This year a young man from Washington State, USA who is in Siem Reap now for 1 year and working at Shanta Mani Hotel and Spa, organized his co-workers to raise money to donate the 5 bicycles. One by one the 5 bicycles are presented and pictures taken!

At the end, many congratulations and pictures all around. Front row are the top student from each grade. Second row are primary donors; 3rd from right is Van Marath, Director of the school, 2nd from right is assistant to the director.

The efforts of the students and their families for good grades and regular attendance and the contributions of the donors had been recognized very well this morning.

Our Cambodia mission is a primary donor of Kessararam Primary School since 2008 through our clean water well; health, sanitation and first aid and information technology and vocational skills initiatives. I am honored to attend the Awards Ceremony to represent USA people who make this Cambodia mission possible.