Rachel Rosenfeld of Harrison raised about $53,000 to build a school in Cambodia, while out sick a year from the Hackley School. The World Bank matched her contributions. Rachel and her family were to be honored Christmas Day for her contributions. (Photo: Eric Rosenfeld)Cambodian school named in honor of Harrison teen
December 28, 2007
By STACY A. ANDERSON
THE JOURNAL NEWS (Lower Hudson, New York, USA)
HARRISON - A town teenager was honored Wednesday after overcoming her own failing health to help less-advantaged children in Cambodia.
Rachel Rosenfeld, 17, attended the opening ceremony of the R.S. Rosenfeld School, named in her honor, after she raised more than $52,000 to build the school in a small village of the Siem Reap province.
Last year, Rosenfeld was stricken with post-viral gastroparesis, a digestive disorder in which food is not properly processed by the stomach and causes severe stomach pains.
"She missed a year of school, and since she couldn't attend school, she decided to raise money to build a school in Cambodia," said Rosenfeld's father, Eric, before traveling to the Southeast Asian country during the weekend.
Rosenfeld was inspired to raise money after reading an article about young Cambodian girls who lived in villages without schools and were forced into prostitution by their parents, Rosenfeld's father said.
Rosenfeld raised the money by sending fundraising letters and selling t-shirts with smiley face designs that read "Put a Roof Over Their Heads."
Rosenfeld also offered naming rights to items in the school, such as a chair for $25 and a bookcase for $150.
Rosenfeld's contributions were matched by financial institutions including The World Bank.
In addition to her father, Rosenfeld was accompanied by her mother, Lisa; sister Amanda, 19; brother, Jason, 15; and grandparents at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the school, which will serve more than 300 children.
Marcie Klein of Harrison, a friend of the Rosenfeld family, commended the teen for her contribution to the village.
"It's really admirable and special," Klein said. "To make up for lost time, she turned a negative situation - or being out of school for so long - into something positive."
Rosenfeld, an avid squash player, has since returned to the Hackley School as a junior.
Reach Stacy A. Anderson at sanderso1@lohud.com or 914-694-5080.
Rachel Rosenfeld, 17, attended the opening ceremony of the R.S. Rosenfeld School, named in her honor, after she raised more than $52,000 to build the school in a small village of the Siem Reap province.
Last year, Rosenfeld was stricken with post-viral gastroparesis, a digestive disorder in which food is not properly processed by the stomach and causes severe stomach pains.
"She missed a year of school, and since she couldn't attend school, she decided to raise money to build a school in Cambodia," said Rosenfeld's father, Eric, before traveling to the Southeast Asian country during the weekend.
Rosenfeld was inspired to raise money after reading an article about young Cambodian girls who lived in villages without schools and were forced into prostitution by their parents, Rosenfeld's father said.
Rosenfeld raised the money by sending fundraising letters and selling t-shirts with smiley face designs that read "Put a Roof Over Their Heads."
Rosenfeld also offered naming rights to items in the school, such as a chair for $25 and a bookcase for $150.
Rosenfeld's contributions were matched by financial institutions including The World Bank.
In addition to her father, Rosenfeld was accompanied by her mother, Lisa; sister Amanda, 19; brother, Jason, 15; and grandparents at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the school, which will serve more than 300 children.
Marcie Klein of Harrison, a friend of the Rosenfeld family, commended the teen for her contribution to the village.
"It's really admirable and special," Klein said. "To make up for lost time, she turned a negative situation - or being out of school for so long - into something positive."
Rosenfeld, an avid squash player, has since returned to the Hackley School as a junior.
Reach Stacy A. Anderson at sanderso1@lohud.com or 914-694-5080.
8 comments:
My education was interrupted four years during the Khmer Rouge period between April 1975 and January 1979 when I was six or seven years old.
I always appreciate those who have made contributions to Cambodian and other children who have missed the chance to go to school. Rosenfeld's efforts in rasing money to build the school for Cambodian kids is a truely honest contribution to Cambodia.
Many schools here are built in the name of politics with money stolen from the people of Cambodia.
Love,keep in touch from children and people khmer.
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No, you're only 17 years old. But, I can certainly wait for one more year.
That was a joke! Thanks for everything, particularly what you've done for these poor and underprivileged people.
Again, thanks for your generosity and kindness. Our people will remember you forever.
Oh God! Rachel Rosenfeld is only 17 and she made an impact on the world already! Cambodian leaders should be ashamed of themselves especially Mr. Hun Sen.
Cambodia is going backward under Mr. Hun Sen leadership!
The example that is set by this gracious young woman 17-year old Rachel Rosenfeld should be an example for the rest of Cambodian leaders throughout Cambodia to follow.
A true and compassionate leader like Rachel Rosenfel is not born everyday. Yet, she understands the suffering and tribulations and various hardship of the people she encountered and experienced, which led her do what she did.
Again, thank you for your compassion and kindness toward our underprivileged children during these tulmultuous times.
Happy New Year to you, friends and families.
Happy New Year Rachel!!!!
Thank You! may your kindness be good to you and the world!
Rachel,
You have made all of us proud, particularly those underpriveged children, and at the same time, you have made the bulldozer (Hun Sen) and the rest of his clans so disgracefully abashed of your incredibly remarkable leadership.
Also, it is my sincere hope that the leaders throughout in Cambodia will learn the leadership from you as an example. Undoubtedly, you have set an unforgettable example, and I hope these leaders in Cambodia will follow your example for the sake of their people.
Have yourself a good New Year!
Khmer forever! Yuon out of Cambodia!
Rachel,
We need you to hold a leadership class for all the leaders in Cambodia.
Khmer forever! Yuon out of Cambodia!
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