The Venerable Somnieng, head of the Life and Hope Association in Cambodia, visited La Pietra last year and inspired middle-school girls to develop a cross-cultural exchange with girls in Cambodia. (COURTESY PHOTO)Monday, March 17, 2008
By Maryna Feldberg and Bobbi-jo Katagiri
Seniors, La Pietra
Honolulu Star Bulletin (Hawaii, USA)
La Pietra middle-school students devoted a recent FridayFest, a school social event, to a community service activity. Working with the East-West Center at the University of Hawaii, La Pietra has adopted a sister school in Cambodia through a Buddhist temple located in Siem Reap.
The connection began when La Pietra English teacher Marisa Proctor traveled to Cambodia last summer with the East-West Center's "Travel and Teach" program and volunteered at Wat Damnak, where the Venerable Somnieng, a Buddhist monk, is the head of the Life and Hope Association. LHA sponsors many community outreach programs, including the Program Advancing Children's Education, or PACE. This year, PACE has identified 13 at-risk girls in the community to live together in a boardinghouse and attend the Life & Hope Junior School.
Last October, Somnieng spoke at La Pietra while visiting Honolulu for a conference at UH. Upon arriving, his eyes lit up when he was reminded that La Pietra is an all-girls school, and it wasn't long before he suggested forging a link between the girls at his boarding house and La Pietra's middle schoolers.
Later that day, when social studies teacher and Middle School Congress adviser Tom Robinson heard Somnieng speak, he knew that he had found an opportunity to build a long-term, meaningful connection for his middle-schoolers. This wouldn't be just a one-time community service project, he realized. He wanted something more lasting.
The result became Sisters Setting the PACE, an organization whose mission is to empower girls in Cambodia and Hawaii by building friendships and developing cross-cultural citizenship through support, communication, cultural exchange and lifelong education. Students will learn from and motivate one another to become responsible young women who will bring about positive change in their communities and beyond.
Mutual benefit for both parties is the main goal for this project. By creating this connection, the Cambodian girls have the opportunity to get an education, and La Pietra students get the benefit of cross-cultural communication with people from a country most Americans know little about. Both schools hope to build a solid relationship so that, within a few years, they might even get to meet. While the focus this year is mostly on raising funds to help the girls' transition into the Life & Hope Junior School, long-term plans include donating school supplies and even computer equipment to allow more frequent communication.
La Pietra middle-school students have already raised more than $2,500 and sent disposable cameras to the PACE girls, who will photograph their lives and respond in writing to a questionnaire about themselves. When they send these back, La Pietra girls will be paired up with PACE girls and return the favor with pictures and letters of their own.
La Pietra is working in cooperation with the East-West Center's Schools-Helping-Schools program to help ease the communication and fund the expenses for the exchange between schools. Originally created to aid victims of the 2005 tsunami in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand, Schools-Helping-Schools is now expanding out to other projects. Its involvement ensures that 100 percent of La Pietra's donations go straight to the students of PACE. The East-West Center is a nonprofit organization designed to strengthen relations and understanding among people and nations of Asia, the Pacific and the United States.
The connection began when La Pietra English teacher Marisa Proctor traveled to Cambodia last summer with the East-West Center's "Travel and Teach" program and volunteered at Wat Damnak, where the Venerable Somnieng, a Buddhist monk, is the head of the Life and Hope Association. LHA sponsors many community outreach programs, including the Program Advancing Children's Education, or PACE. This year, PACE has identified 13 at-risk girls in the community to live together in a boardinghouse and attend the Life & Hope Junior School.
Last October, Somnieng spoke at La Pietra while visiting Honolulu for a conference at UH. Upon arriving, his eyes lit up when he was reminded that La Pietra is an all-girls school, and it wasn't long before he suggested forging a link between the girls at his boarding house and La Pietra's middle schoolers.
Later that day, when social studies teacher and Middle School Congress adviser Tom Robinson heard Somnieng speak, he knew that he had found an opportunity to build a long-term, meaningful connection for his middle-schoolers. This wouldn't be just a one-time community service project, he realized. He wanted something more lasting.
The result became Sisters Setting the PACE, an organization whose mission is to empower girls in Cambodia and Hawaii by building friendships and developing cross-cultural citizenship through support, communication, cultural exchange and lifelong education. Students will learn from and motivate one another to become responsible young women who will bring about positive change in their communities and beyond.
Mutual benefit for both parties is the main goal for this project. By creating this connection, the Cambodian girls have the opportunity to get an education, and La Pietra students get the benefit of cross-cultural communication with people from a country most Americans know little about. Both schools hope to build a solid relationship so that, within a few years, they might even get to meet. While the focus this year is mostly on raising funds to help the girls' transition into the Life & Hope Junior School, long-term plans include donating school supplies and even computer equipment to allow more frequent communication.
La Pietra middle-school students have already raised more than $2,500 and sent disposable cameras to the PACE girls, who will photograph their lives and respond in writing to a questionnaire about themselves. When they send these back, La Pietra girls will be paired up with PACE girls and return the favor with pictures and letters of their own.
La Pietra is working in cooperation with the East-West Center's Schools-Helping-Schools program to help ease the communication and fund the expenses for the exchange between schools. Originally created to aid victims of the 2005 tsunami in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand, Schools-Helping-Schools is now expanding out to other projects. Its involvement ensures that 100 percent of La Pietra's donations go straight to the students of PACE. The East-West Center is a nonprofit organization designed to strengthen relations and understanding among people and nations of Asia, the Pacific and the United States.
46 comments:
It's so disturbing when monks love to get involve in the affair of civilians.When they decided to be a monk, they should think about the proper ways which are peace and nipean (nirvana), not karaoke,cvd, cell phone,good looking girls etc....
You should congratulate with Venerable Somnieng about this building the bridge between Cambodian and US schoolers, rather than to pick up some slightest issues of minor misbehavior monks in the intention to abuse or degrade them.
I do think life of a monk is far beyond better than ordinary lives of peoples even though sometime they are not perfect like we expect.
Yes, but building the bridge should be the job of the the civilians not monks.If you have a true democracy which is govt of the people, for the people and by the people, the free world will build their bridge toward you, plus the proper place for monks are monasteries not in the public forum.Monks who love politic should go to work and earn a living like every body else not free food and free shelters .
Monks should be neutral. I have no respect when monks involve in any civilian or political duties. I already lost my faith in Buddha but still have some respects for monks if they are neutral.
4:18am , i couldn't agree more.You know it's very troublesome to all of us when 7th january monk TEP VONG was a communist.
4:31am.. Tep Vong will go to hell for his troublesomes. But somehow this individual cause other monks in Cambodia loosing their respects.
I hope a group of KNSFC will send a warning to Tep Vong.
Dear brothers and Sisters!!
They said: ''Wise persons think of others, helping them as much as they can, and the result is happiness. Love and compassion are beneficial both for you and for others. Through your kindness toward others, your mind and heart will open to peace''.
Another one said ''Each one of us is responsible for all of humankind. We need to think of each other as brothers and sisters, and to be concerned with each other’s welfare. We must seek to lessen the suffering of others. Rather than working solely to acquire wealth, we need to do something meaningful, something seriously directed toward the welfare of humanity as a whole''.
The purpose of the religions is to facilitate love and compassion, patience, tolerance, humanity and forgiveness.
Thanks
Dear Monks, Just do you jobs as assigned by the Buddish rules. Don't get involved in politics.
Thanks.
5:25AM
Yes, tell this to Tep Vong and his teamwork....and also tell Hun Sen and CPP's top advisers not to use Buddhism and monks to spread CPP's propaganda.
Anyway we can get arid of this corrupted monks and only CPP dictators (not all) by not spilling blood?
WatPhnom.
5:10 AM
Religion has done more harm than good; also, religion responsibles for division.
I believe in myself!
6:45AM
Yes, I think that it is the teaching of Buddha encouraging you to believe in yourself, not believe in external power such god or gods.
When it come down to religion , i think islam must be the best one because when you died you will be rewarded 7 virgins. How can you top that ?
7:30am so there is no such thing to believe in Buddha then! What the heck Why we have monks in Cambodia.. Why don't Khmer just beleve on themselves. Khmer Motto should change to: Nation, Myself, Republic.
Open Khmer
8:12 am .
You have forgot two most important things. Money and P....y.
Folks, the people have spoken. They want unity with the CPP to help move Cambodia into the 21st century. They are tired of rhetorics and counter-rhetorics game. We are racing against time. It is a tough race and we need everyone participation.
Hi all,
It is me, Somnieng. I just found out that something is going on here. So, I thank and appreciate all of you very much for your beautiful hearts and intention, to remind me of what i am doing.
I think that we should learn, observe and examine a bit more before we say good or bad about someone. We should try our best to avoid misunderstanding, misinterpretation and misjudgment...etc. Like my case someone here says I am involving in politics or political monk, thanks for say that. But you know I am just afraid that you are doing something inappropriately. I hope you are not gaining poisonous opinions/thoughts which is harmful to you as well as our society.
I also can share with you that if you want to know who i am and what i am doing, please just go simply to Wat Damnak, Siem Reap, and ask whoever you meet around, then, i am sure you will realize yourself....;
Or if you might have found out that i am doing wrong or destroying, harmful to our society, please be my mentors! I would be more than appreciated and happy to learn from you!!
We should learn that
''Neak Dael Chkae Pross Min Maen Soth Tae Jea Jor Te''
''Neak Dael Tha Ke, Ko Min Prar-kord Tha Jea Monoss La-or Dae''
''Learn to be good resources for our society''
Again thank & appreciate!
Somnieng
9:44am... come on how can we work with drunk leader in PP.
Scholar
There's a boundary between religious leaders and political leaders. And if you are a politician, keep doing your political business until you're famished, jailed or gone to the jungle; however, if you are a religious leader, the political arena is not for you -- and, you should not have made inroads into this arena.
This is a perfect illustration as to why these monks got beat up in the past.
Politics have no place for religious party. Period.
I tell you the truth, folks. Our society cannot depend on rule of law alone to survive. The damn thing has lot of limitation.
Our society have been and will be relying on moral teaching from monks to survive. And if our monks are contaminated with politic, our hope are gone. Where will we go from here? Thus, we must not be careless about something that is as vital as this, and that is why most of us is very critical of our monks, not so much for ourself but for the future of our civilization too.
Good religious leaders (like other leaders) set example for others to follow. The Buddhist monks or nuns, on the other hand, have set an abysmal example for the public when these monks elected to foray into political arena, when they should have been seeking spiritual growth. Consequently, the vast majority of the Cambodian people have lost their faith, and others have turned to other religious institutions.
With all due respect, I do have enormous amount for the Buddhist monks; however, if these monks decided to morph themselves into a bunch of gorillas, as a result, they lost a lot of respect from the people who are used to look up to them.
Yes, I know what you are saying, but we can't just let evil to snatch the only key to our survival away from us without a good fight. We don't have no choices, there is no alternative.
My respectful to Venerable Somnieng,
I am always admiring your social work and community involvement. The above comments are only good in speaking, but venerable has tremendously contributed to the society.
In reality, Cambodian Buddhist monks are not going to contaminate politics, but political parties have dragged Buddhism and Buddhist monks into politics and create social-dirty contamination.
For example, Somdech Song Tep Vong is a communist comrade and he has worked tirelessly to favor CPP. Also many other high ranking Buddhist monks in Cambodian Buddhist orders are dragged into politics to help spreading CPP's propaganda irrespectively.
Many those CPP's appointed monks have to contribute part of their wealth receiving from ordinary offerers to sustain CPP. When Hun Sen goes to inaugurate some schools, roads, or temples; the gifts are genuinely contributed by various CPP members including those high ranking, luxury Buddhist monks.
We really don't want our Buddhist monks to get involved with politics if they can avoid; and also we really want our government and political parties not to use monks as their front-liners of spreading propaganda.
Also, the national constitution should not allow monks to vote including policemen and soldiers as well. These 3 social entities must be neutral.
Regards & Respects
Dear all,
Thanks for comments, especially thank to one of the comments above "The purpose of the religions is to facilitate love-kindness and compassion, patience, tolerance, humanity and forgiveness etc..'' Thanks for your understanding.
I think this might also be right understanding and right value among eightfold paths that the Buddha laid down.
1. Right Understanding
2. Right Intention/value
3. Right Speech
4. Right Action
5. Right Livelihood
6. Right Effort
7. Right Right Mindfulness
8. Right Concentration
And last Teachings of the Lord Buddha:
''Not doing any evil,
doing good-deed and
purify our mind''.
If a man enmeshes in delusion, extreme delusion, obstinacy, bigotry, deceit, envy, self-exaltation, disparagement of others and evil intention etc how can he be happy?? How can he be a good resource for his family and society???
Look at ourselves and see what we are doing, speaking and thinking?. Are we on the path which will bring positive results to each of us, our families and country etc?.....
Somnieng
USA
Hey the first writer, you are underestimating the role of a monk in building peace in society. You should learn better words before you can say them right!
Come on, folks, you're not playing fair game -- when everything must relevant and unbiased and fair and balanced -- here, you're egregiously lambasted and berated other monks such as Somdech Tep Vong and other similar figures and other political leaders, while profusely praising other monks.
The bottom line is politicians are politicians and religious leaders are religious leaders, and therefore you must pick and choose which profession is suitable for you.
Moreover, if you find this posting as being egregious dissension among my opponents ... good news, I'm here to raise Cain (if you're confused with your profession).
Remember freedom does come with limitations, and freedom of expression is "double-edged sword."
One-bullet-two-kill policy
Yes, you are rock 1:05PM, but I am still not convinced of what are you intending to dictate?
Okay, it appears here that we have something in common. That is we don't believe monks should associated themselves with politic, such as participating in a political protest or demonstration, passing out propaganda leaflets, bashing any political party and all.
Is that a fair statement?
Yes, it could be fair, but how much you can articulate it?
I do expect that your statement should not be blowing in the wind.
2:29 PM
To put in a plain English language that would facilitate everyone, including yourself, Mr. 2:29 PM ... to easily comprehend my point is that: if you're monk, you should stay at the temple and start praying or seeking other beneficial spiritual growth. If you're, on the other hand, a politician, please keep doing your political business as usual. The bottom line is when the monks decided to use their spiritual will and take it to the street, that when the problem began.
Again, if you're monk, stay away from politics and street!
Listen up, folks!
We're merely attempting to articulate our point of view so that our message is conveyed in a nonviolent and cogent manner; therefore, again, please have all the monks stay away from protests and riots, more importantly, stay off the streets -- it's dangerous for the monks to be out in the street to begin with!
3:14, FYI, active action is much better than passive articulation. Thus, I would not be interested in articulate anything if you know what I mean.
3:56PM
You are getting the point that Buddhist monks should work their do his duty as monks, and politicians should do their duty as politicians. How about yourselves, when you come to command the monks and politicians to do so, are you the commander of all commanders? Or you are just a nonsense commentator?
Otherwise, Buddhist monks naturally have never stepped on politicians, but politicians have tried to invoke monks to help spread their propaganda.
Just read the comment of 4:09AM above, it should give you some light of who are contaminating the monks.
Thanks
Well, 4:09 is on the right track, but on the wrong planet. Tep Vong on earth does not get into politic, and he doesn't want to see any of his monk getting into politic either.
If anyone who drag monks into politic is the troublemaker SRP and his cronies Ah Khmer-Yuons.
5:53PM
This is hilarious that Tep Vong, a permanent member of communist party is not involved in politics.
Of course Tep Vong is lower than politician because Hun Sen consecrated him with water bathing last year on the high ladder among thousand audience and televised throughout the country to annoint him to become a Maha Songareach.
What a mess! and what a pathetic of your comment without showing any reliability and pathology.
Do you think how appropriate when an ordinary person like Hun Sen happened to consecrate a very important Buddhist monk like Tep Vong?
5:33 PM
Absolutely!
.
.
.
.
.
In essence ... yes, I am God!
Listen up, gorilla boys!
There are three kinds of people I trust: me, myself and I. The other three people I do not trust: the meteorologist(weatherman), the politicians (political monks) and the gorillas' spouses.
Dear All,
Thank and appreciate all of you very much!!
''May all of you be happy, and free from physical and mental suffering''
Please keep sharing here!!
Somnieng
6:17, Tep Vong is not a member of any party nor does he campaign for any party, nor does speak against opposition or anything. Thus, it can't be politic.
you are politicizing the national ceremony. Monks entitle to promotion too. How else can this be done? In secret?
That is the communist theory that the "party" is god. Hun Sen is the party's messenger who is able to consecrate and create Songha Reachea like Tep Vong.
Buddha is not Tep Vong's supreme leader.
7:54AM you should spend your time to explore that throughout Cambodia only members of CPP whom can be nominated as province or district chief monk. CPP has succeeded its mission to control Buddhist monks throughout the country. You should be happy about this success.
So who do you preferred to consecrate Tep Vong, 8:44? Give it to me strait, will ya? From what I know in Asia, the leader of the country always consecrated their monks.
And how do you know that Buddha is not Tep Vong's supreme leader?
And No, I don't agree that CPP is promoting monk as they please. That is Tep Vong et Al job, but even so, the question is did monk in anyway influence the public to support CPP and condemn opposition. I see many monks participated in opposition ceremonies, and I never see monk condemn opposition parties, have you? Thus, I don't see how you can say our monks are into politic. It sounds like you preferred our monks to condemn all politicians, and that is impractical. Monks should love all people, including politician, but they don't have to help politician to achieve their goal. Do you know what I mean?
Yes, it no need to publicly disparage the opposition party because from the top monk to the abbot monks are already politically-positioned by government political party.
What theory you have learned that ordinary people can consecrate monk. How much virtue and self-sacrificing those ordinary entities have generated better than monks?
That why I ask you "Buddha or Hun Sen is Tep Vong's supreme leader?"
Come on dude, you are politicizing this whole thing. Our monk is not involve in politic.
As for consecrate monk, I have no objection to who should do it, I just never seen regular people did it, have you? I just hope it won't be like a national election, where you ask our monk to form party and run against each other.
As for the supreme leader, it depends on what we choose. I choose Buddha regardless of who give me raise or position. Some people may choose Hun Sen, Some people may choose the devil. Thus, you'll have to ask Tep Vong yourself as to who is his supreme leader.
7:06PM
Friend! because of your shortcoming of comprehension in Buddhism which led you to a mirage of delusion.
Tep Vong himself has dedicated his life and taken vow for the Buddha and Buddhism. He should straightly concentrate on Buddha's teachings and raise himself higher than those regular peoples especially Hun Sen.
But when he himself doesn't understand what is his status; and he has bent down lower than secular leader such as Hun Sen - is national detrimentally-politicized monk.
WT?
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