Help keep a Cambodian Music and Dance School open

When his mother and SCC’s staff heard the above sentence, they took pity on him because they hoped for his dream to come true and be more than just an idea. 

A young youth named Kamsot, who is 25-year-old lives in one of SCC’s target areas located in Siem Reap province. His family has 5 members of which 4 are females and he is the fifth child. Kamsot is at present is living in Boeng Village, Chreav commune, Siem Reap municipality, Siem Reap province. He has been enrolled in the Khmer Traditional Music program supported by SCC since 2008. SCC’s staff members decided to select him to study at SCC’s Khmer Traditional Music class because his family lives in poverty and had a lot of debts due to the lack of farm land for agriculture and no permanent job. He also was affected by HIV/AIDS because his parent infected by HIV/AIDS. Due to his family’s difficult living conditions, and because Kamsot was incredibly eager study the Khmer Traditional Music, SCC decided to give him the chance to realize his dream and support him in his studies. Significantly, he studied music with SCC’s musician free of charge from 2008 until the end of 2012. The “Free of Charge” by SCC has not only supported Kamsot but all SCC beneficiaries who are willing to study this type of music since 2008. In his family, he is the eldest son; therefore, he also has to spend a lot of his time to look after his sisters while his parents are at work went to earn income for their family.  His musical training gives him the chance to earn some money from his skills, performing Khmer Traditional Music with his friends and his musician. The opportunity of studying with SCC, gave him a lot of experience and skills, as he realized when he did a reflection on both theory and practice. This opportunity made him strong. He has never forgotten his words that, “I want to specialize in Khmer Traditional Music.”

Kamsot spent 6 years studying the music with SCC (2008-2012). In 2013,  seeing his ability and experiences in learning and teaching Khmer Traditional Music, SCC  decided to select him  as a teaching assistant. He has gradually learnt the music and to help to teach other classmates who didn’t know how to play the musical instruments yet. He worked as a teaching assistant for five months. Now he has become a (fulltime) teacher of the Khmer Traditional Music and is very committed to his career. He told us that, “I have had bad experiences in my life; now is the time I can use my skills to help poor children coming to study the Khmer Traditional Music at SCC and give back to the community.” He added that, “I have never forgotten my bad living conditions. I have a better standard of living today because of the support from SCC’s staff members, especially Mr. Thoeun, the SCC Founder and President. He always encourages and supports me both mentally and physically. I have never forgotten his good deeds and it was his heroism that motivated me to help myself and other poor children living in the target areas of this organization. 

Kamsot is able to teach many the Khmer Traditional instruments such as Chhing (Cymbals), Khimm (Dulcimer), Khloy (Bamboo flute), korng thomm (Low-pitched circular frame gongs), roneat aek (Bamboo/wooden xylophone), roneat thung (Large xylophone), Sampho (Small double-headed barrel drum), sralai thomm (Quadruple-reed shawm) and  many Khmer Traditional Songs (pleng pin peat). For instance, Saathukaa, Chheut, Kraonai, Kraonoak, Chongnoak, Tepromdaul, Tepnimett, Seenaunbeychhaann, Kamsansaukea and many more. Beside teaching Khmer Traditional Music at SCC, he also performs the Khmer Traditional Music at restaurants, hotels or different ceremonies when needed. He works permanently at the Department of Culture and Fine Arts in Siem Reap province. His total income per month is 500 USD which he uses for supporting his family.  Closing: SCC’s support really changed his life and gave him a brighter future. The training gave him many skills, not only about music but also about life in general which he used to change his life.

I would very much like to thank for generous people to contribut thier cash to suppor music and dance project in SCC Siem Reap.

Links:

• http://www.scc.org.kh
• https://www.facebook.com/SalvationCentreCambodia/

• 3rd_Global_Giving_report_music_and_dance.pdf (PDF)
  
• 3rd_Global_Giving_report_music_and_dance.docx (DOCX)

 2^ND REPORT ON MUSIC AND DANCE AT SCC SIEM REAP PROVINCE

ABOUT MUSIC AND DANCE PROGRESS PROGRAM  

The first generation learning Khmer Traditional Music at SCC Siem Reap 2018

Music and dance program were established in September 2013 at SCC-Community Centre in Bosh Kralanh village, Chreav commune, Siem Reap district, Siem Reap province. The program has organized and supported two groups of orphans and vulnerable children. One is learning Khmer Traditional Music and another is learning Traditional Khmer Dance (APSARA Dance). The aim of the program is to provide an opportunity for vulnerable children aged 9 to 21 years old living around SCC community Centre and from various villages and communities to learn these vocational skills for the sake of their benefits.

At present, there are 52 children (of which 28 are females) have learned and improved their knowledge on Traditional Arts, culture, morality and loving-kindness through teaching and learning music and dance program. Moreover, they have self-confidence and strong commitment on their studies. It was because the vocational skills give much benefit to them both in the present day and in the future. This program also has reduced expenditure of the parents/caregivers in the field of music and dance education. 

Children practicing dance styles inside SCC Community Centre at Siem Reap province 

From the beginning until now, they come to practice and learn the skills at SCC-Community Centre regularly. Moreover, some of them are be able to perform more than 50 songs and 10 styles of Apsara Dance. Besides, some of them have a chance to perform music and dance at the Five Star SOKHA Hotel and Sofitel Angkor Hotel in Siem Reap town, at the wedding ceremony and at the various ceremonies.  In this reporting period, 40% of the existing children have earned some income from the skills to support their family and themselves. 

HOST VISITING 

We are fortunate to have many visitors come to our music and dance school. Moreover, the visitors who are on a trip can visit the rice field nearby the SCC community Centre as well. We are very grateful to many people for spending their time to support SCC’s children. Our children warmly welcome visitors with the blessing dance (Robam Chun Por). In the reporting period, VBNK staff, Tem Sokchea and team of Protectkids Kambodscha from Germany visited the program and they wish to support and keep the program running.

 Protectkids Kambodscha team visited Khmer Transitional Music inside SCC Community Centre, November 2019, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Protectkids Kambodscha from Germany visited Khmer APSARA dance inside SCC Community Centre, in November 2019 Siem Reap, Cambodia.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 

On behalf of children, musician, and dancing instructor, we would like very much to take this opportunity to acknowledge thanking for generous supporters, Sadeep and Micheal who have supported the program through Global Giving. Their kind support made our musician, dancing instructor have job, and children gain skills for improving their lives both in present and in future and we hope all of you will share and continue to support us. I would like to appreciate the Governing Board, all of my colleagues and SCC’s volunteers for their hardship and energy in work so far.

CHALLENGE

• At present, music and dance classes, funding is insecure. It means we do not have a full budget package for running teaching and learning services. Therefore, SCC would like to ask all generous supporters to save these fruitful vocational skills.     
• The administrative work of music and dance classes not well organized yet. Therefore, SCC needs more time and technical training to improve these. 
• Beside a traditional musician and dancing instructor called “Kru Robam”, we do not have any responsible persons for coordinating this work yet. Therefore, we will coordinate to have a responsible staff with his/her job description in order to improve these vocational skills.  
• Now, both music and dance classes lack of instruments for practicing and learning. For instance, dance class lacks of instruments such as Angre, Angrout, Tralaok, Chhneang and dance clothes for performing Apsara dance. In the meantime, musical class lacks of Sralai Thomm (Quadruple-reed shawm), Sralai Tauch and some musical instruments have broken, but have no budget to repair them.     

Links:

• SCC website

• 2nd_Report_for_Music_and_Dance_in_Siem_Reap_Province.docx (DOCX)
• 2nd_Report_for_Music_and_Dance_in_Siem_Reap_Province.pdf (PDF)