Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Ill for a Year, US Girl Builds Cambodian School


By VOA Khmer, Washington
Video Editor: Manilene Ek
21 January 2008


Hundreds of Cambodian villagers welcomed the arrival of a new primary school recently, a gift from an American teenager who was ill for a year and decided to use her time away from school to help raise 52-thousand US Dollars to open a school in Cambodia. VOA's Ker Yann has the report.

Rachel Rosenfeld, 17, made her first visit to the opening of the R.S. Rosenfeld School, which brings computers and Internet access to 300 primary school students in a small village of Siem Reap province.

Rachel Rosenfeld: "I feel amazing now that its all done, seeing all the kids just makes me feel so good, and I feel like I really did something to help people and it means a lot to me".

Rosenfeld learned about the village of Srah Khvav after reading a newspaper article last year about poor Cambodian children who often have no access to education. She was horrified to learn that some young Cambodian girls end up being sold into prostitution by their parents. Students lined up the road as Rosenfeld arrived at the school.

Heng Thy, student: "I feel very excited because I have a new school to study and make me eager to continue my education."

The 52-thousand dollars she raised was supplemented by funds from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

Information for this report was provided by APTN.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thaks you Rachel Rosenfeld and all of your family and thanks to your government.May Buddha bless you!

Anonymous said...

It is so wonderful to see and hear the teen like Rachel Rosenfeld has a kind hearted to help Cambodians boys and girls who are in need for their education.You are the best model of teenager ever.Thank a lot for your helping hands.
God bless you and your family!

Anonymous said...

American culture and value has produced Rachel Rosenfeld as a good human being!

What about Cambodian culture and value under AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave dictatorship? AH HUN SEN dictator can only produce poor Cambodian, hungary Cambodian, illiterate Cambodian, and Cambodian beggar!

This is such a shame and it is unspeakable under AH HUN SEN leadership!