Rachel Rosenfeld, from New York, gives a speech during the handing over ceremony of the R.S. Rosenfeld school in Srah Khvav village in Siem Reap province, about 230 kilometers (143 miles) northwest of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007. The American teenager who was inspired to help poverty stricken children in Cambodia opened the primary school Wednesday in the rural Cambodian village after raising over US$52,000 (euro 36,000). (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
A Cambodian woman with her children arrives to participate in the handing over ceremony of the R.S. Rosenfeld school in Srah Khvav village in Siem Reap province, about 230 kilometers (143 miles) northwest of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007. Residents of the poor Cambodian village received the new school Wednesday that will be equipped with Internet access, thanks to the US$52,000 (euro 36,132) raised by 17-year-old American girl Rachel Rosenfeld. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
A Cambodian young student looks on during the handing over ceremony of the R.S. Rosenfeld school in Srah Khvav village in Siem Reap province, about 230 kilometers (143 miles) northwest of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007. Rachel Rosenfeld, 17, of Harrison, New York, who was inspired to help poverty stricken children in Cambodia opened the primary school Wednesday in the rural Cambodian village after raising over US$52,000 (euro 36,000). (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
Cambodian young students clap during the handing over ceremony of the R.S. Rosenfeld school in Srah Khvav village in Siem Reap province, about 230 kilometers (143 miles) northwest of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007. Rachel Rosenfeld, 17, of Harrison, New York, who was inspired to help poverty stricken children in Cambodia opened the primary school Wednesday in the rural Cambodian village after raising over US$52,000 (euro 36,000). (AP Photo/Heng Sinith) Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Banteay Srey, Cambodia (AP): Hundreds of Cambodian villagers welcomed the arrival of a new school on Wednesday, a gift from an American teenager who raised US$52,000 (euro36,000) after reading about the hardships of growing up in Cambodia.
Rachel Rosenfeld, 17, made her first visit to the Southeast Asian country for the opening of the R.S. Rosenfeld School, which brings five computers and Internet access to 300 primary school students in a small village of Siem Reap province, a poverty stricken area that is home to the country's famed Angkor Wat temple complex.
Rosenfeld, of Harrison, New York, said she learned about the village of Srah Khvav after reading a newspaper article last year that discussed the plight of poor Cambodian children who often have no access to education. The American said she was horrified to learn that some young Cambodian girls end up being sold into prostitution by their parents.
The teen said she set out to help after spending most of last year battling a stomach disorder that caused her constant pain. She required months of medical treatment that forced her to miss a year of school.
To raise money, Rosenfeld sent out hundreds of fundraising letters, sold T-shirts and offered naming rights for several structures in the school, a statement said. The US$52,000 she raised was supplemented by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, which contributed $10,000 (euro7,000) and $13,000 (euro9,000), respectively, said her mother, Lisa Rosenfeld.
``It makes me feel great to know that I was able to help so many people,'' the teen said when contacted by telephone. ``Just seeing everyone so happy (today). It meant a lot to me.''
She was accompanied by her parents, grandparents and her brother and sister.
Children in white shirts and navy pants, the Cambodian school uniform, stood in two neat lines and clapped as Rosenfeld and her family arrived. The students pressed their palms together in a sign of respect and thanks.
``Going to school is very important to everyone's future,'' Rosenfeld said at the opening ceremony, according to a statement. ``If I can build this school, then each of you can set goals for yourselves that you can reach.''
``Aim very high, and you'll be surprised what you can achieve,'' she said.
Ung Serei Dy, an education official from Siem Reap province, said the school was only one of two in the village.
``The school donated by Rachel Rosenfeld is very important to us,'' he said, adding that she had ``set a standard that all of us should learn from.''
Rachel Rosenfeld, 17, made her first visit to the Southeast Asian country for the opening of the R.S. Rosenfeld School, which brings five computers and Internet access to 300 primary school students in a small village of Siem Reap province, a poverty stricken area that is home to the country's famed Angkor Wat temple complex.
Rosenfeld, of Harrison, New York, said she learned about the village of Srah Khvav after reading a newspaper article last year that discussed the plight of poor Cambodian children who often have no access to education. The American said she was horrified to learn that some young Cambodian girls end up being sold into prostitution by their parents.
The teen said she set out to help after spending most of last year battling a stomach disorder that caused her constant pain. She required months of medical treatment that forced her to miss a year of school.
To raise money, Rosenfeld sent out hundreds of fundraising letters, sold T-shirts and offered naming rights for several structures in the school, a statement said. The US$52,000 she raised was supplemented by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, which contributed $10,000 (euro7,000) and $13,000 (euro9,000), respectively, said her mother, Lisa Rosenfeld.
``It makes me feel great to know that I was able to help so many people,'' the teen said when contacted by telephone. ``Just seeing everyone so happy (today). It meant a lot to me.''
She was accompanied by her parents, grandparents and her brother and sister.
Children in white shirts and navy pants, the Cambodian school uniform, stood in two neat lines and clapped as Rosenfeld and her family arrived. The students pressed their palms together in a sign of respect and thanks.
``Going to school is very important to everyone's future,'' Rosenfeld said at the opening ceremony, according to a statement. ``If I can build this school, then each of you can set goals for yourselves that you can reach.''
``Aim very high, and you'll be surprised what you can achieve,'' she said.
Ung Serei Dy, an education official from Siem Reap province, said the school was only one of two in the village.
``The school donated by Rachel Rosenfeld is very important to us,'' he said, adding that she had ``set a standard that all of us should learn from.''
6 comments:
Happy holidays."ANANIKUM AMERICA RULES!"
what the heck?
why the rich kids in PP not doing that ? they are more occupied with drinking, car racing i guess
Cambodian Leaders are NO shame.
Our children and people THANK YOU!
Thank you Ms.Rachel Rosenfeld and words can not describe what you have done for these dirt poor Cambodian children and please excuse our corrupted leaders for they are blind without shame!
Ms. Rosenfeld is one of our most precious gift from America.
Thank you Miss & God Bless!
Ordinary Khmers
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