 Aid Program Report 2001The 2001 aid from Think the Earth Project was applied to the "Rainbow Project in Cambodia." It is said that only 37% of the people of Cambodia can write their own names or simple sentences, or read newspapers. There are many children who want to attend schools, but cannot. Many such children carry vegetables, fruits, and snacks made from glutinous rice and bananas, in baskets larger than themselves to the markets by balancing these baskets on the top of their heads. Moreover, there are many young girls who cannot leave their homes because they are busy helping out at home and looking after their younger siblings. The Rainbow Project tries to help out such children by decreasing the financial burden of education on families in Cambodia, by augmenting the children's desire to learn, and by helping the children in grade schools and junior high schools both Japan and Cambodia to have a broader perspective through international exchange. |
Achievements
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| Sending school supplies and drawing and art class materials School supplies and art supplies such as paint were collected from grade schools and junior high schools in Japan, and sent to schools subject to the Rainbow Project. In 2001, 288 boxes collected from 140 schools, organizations, and individuals in Japan were distributed to 12 grade schools and 3 junior high schools in the Leuk Dek region of Kandal, Cambodia. Approximately 11,000 children received these supplies. Pencils, erasers, notebooks, color pens, ballpoint pens, art supplies were some of the supplies distributed. By providing such school supplies, the program tries to help lessen the educational financial burden on poor families in Cambodia, and to help more children to attend schools. |
| Communication exchange and international understanding through pictures Drawings by Japanese grade school and junior high school students were enclosed together with the supplies sent to the schools in Cambodia. In return, children in Cambodia sent pictures they drew with the supplies they received to children in Japan. Such exchange of pictures allow the children to feel closer to each other's countries, and provides an opportunity to understand each other's cultures. Lectures and exhibitions were held in some of the schools in Japan that helped Care Japan send supplies to Cambodia, and this helped deepen the people's understanding of the Rainbow Project and of international aid. Aside from the lectures at participating schools, exhibitions and lectures for the general public were also held. The pictures drawn by children were also introduced through the Care Japan webpage. >>> http://www.carejapan.org/specialreport/tenrankai/tenrankaihome.html |
| Art workshop One of the largest events of the Rainbow Project is the art workshop. An art teacher from Japan was sent to Cambodia to hold an art workshop for teachers and children there. In post civil war Cambodia, due to reasons such as lack of educational budget, art classes are commonly not held. And not only are there few children who have the opportunity to learn art, but there are equally few teachers who can teach it. In the year 2001, approximately 20 teachers were taught methods of how to teach art. Afterwards, 351 children from grade schools and 126 female junior high students receiving the Care scholarship from the Leuk Dek region joined and the art workshop was held. |
| Since its implementation in 2000, this program, by holding fun classes such as art and drawing, has offered opportunities for children to become interested in schools. If children who have received school supplies naturally begin to enjoy learning and begin wishing to attend schools, they will most definitely actively attend schools and learn how to read and write, while still helping out at home. |
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Future issues
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| + | How should Care Japan respond to the requests for more substantial art workshops for teachers? | |
| + | Care Japan plans to conduct a research on interest towards and the effects of the program, and to present the effects in a simplified and clearer manner. | |
| + | Care Japan is presently considering linking the scholarship system for girls and the Rainbow Project in respect to female students because have a higher possibility to drop out of school or to repeat the same year due to situations such as the social background. More specifically, Care Japan aims for the graduation of all 126 female junior high school students who are currently receiving Care Japan scholarships. |
The voices of children
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| Run Tola Peam Riang Junior High School, First year female student (age 14) I had a lot of fun today, especially when we made pendants with paper and strings. There have never been classes like this before. I wish there were more art classes like these. The pictures the Japanese children drew made me want to visit Japan some day. Thony Khunthmay Grade School, Fourth year male student (age 13) I attend the afternoon classes. The mornings I spend on the fields helping my dad. I usually plant fruits or till the land. I like going to school better than working. After school, I go home to help my mother. ItÕs my job to cook rice. IÕm not sure what I want the future to be like, but I want to become a great artist and draw lots of pictures. I want everyone in Japan to come visit Cambodia. If you could bring lots of paint with you when you come, I would be very happy. |
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2001 Annual Accounts
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| Total activity expenses: JPY 3,554,265- (Care Japan Program Management Fee = JPY 103,718-) (Management Fee includes the labor, office overhead costs, public relations, and interaction with the cooperating schools in Japan.) |
 Children drawing pictures. |
 Thony shyly shows the picture he's drawn. |
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 This portrait was draw by Lun Tra (junior high school student), a recipient of the Care scholarship. |
 Eagerly engaged teachers. |
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