The Cambodia Rural School Project
The Mr. and Mrs. Sak Nhep School
The school donors and local authorities walk to the opening ceremony on December 26, 2005 as school children line up on both sides of the entrance and applaud. Photo: From the left: Mrs. Vanny Clay; Mr. Gerald Clay and Deputy Governor of Ratanakiri province Mr. Chey Sayoeun.
School children and villagers sit under tarpaulin facing a platform where the donors and government official deliver speeches during the ceremony.
School donor Mr. Gerald Clay gives a speech in English that is translated to Khmer by his Cambodian-born American wife Mrs. Vanny Clay. Photo from the left: Mrs. Vanny Clay; Mr. Gerald Clay; Deputy Governor Mr. Chey Sayoeun; Deputy Chief of the Provincial Department of Education Mrs. Kham Kheu; and Lum Phat District Chief Mr. Klaud Son.
During his speech to the school children, Mr. Gerald Clay shows a book of Hawaii, the place where he permanently resides in the United States.
Deputy Governor Mr. Chey Sayoeun presents a letter of thanks’ to the school donors for their efforts and generosity in helping to build a school for Cambodian children in the province.
After the speech, the local authorities and the donors walk to the new school building to cut a ribbon inaugurating the new building. Villagers from four nearby villages, who send their children to learn at the new school building, line up on both sides of the road and welcome the donors.
School donor Mrs. Vanny Clay hold a pair of scissor to cut the red ribbon as her husband stands besides her.
After the main ceremony, school donors give packages containing school supplies and lunch boxes to each child. Photo: Mr. Gerald Clay gives a package to the school children.
After distributing school supplies and lunch boxes to the children, the school donors pose for a souvenir pictures with the students in a classroom.
PICT1649A: English and computer lessons are taught in the new school by the Rural School Project under its additional program in the Ministry of Education’s curriculum. The computer operates by energy from solar panels located on the roof of the school building. The school donors gave a three-piece solar panel that can provide power from four to six hours a day for a computer’s operation. Photo: Computer and English teacher Mr. An Sophak gives a computer lesson to the school children.
At the school dedication ceremony, the villagers, most of whom are Tampuon, one of the eight main tribal minorities living in Ratanakiri province, attended the ceremony and expressed their support and joy at the school’s opening by bringing jars of wine to the ceremony. Photo: School donors pose for a picture with the ethnic minority people in front of 10 jars of wine bought by the villagers.
School donor Mrs. Vanny Clay drinks wine from the jar through a long bamboo straw.
