Updates from the Foster Parent Project in Cambodia

Editor’s Note: The Clifton, New Jersey chapter of WFWP, spearheaded by Chairwoman Hiroko Nitro, has been actively supporting the Foster Parent Project in Cambodia, in partnership with WFWP Japan, since 2015. With the help of foster parents in New Jersey, children in impoverished rural areas of the Southeast Asian country receive ongoing financial and emotional assistance that enables them to obtain quality education. Each foster parent is updated regularly on the development of the children they are sponsoring. 

This year has been especially challenging, with normal schooling disrupted as a result of the pandemic. Yuka Takahashi was able to visit the children in November and shared a report of her experiences.

Since large meetings became restricted due to COVID-19 in the spring, only Mrs. Narry, who is organizing this program, visited the children in spring and distributed the support money. Afterwards, I visited our foster children with souvenirs packed with stationery and toothpaste sets on November 8, 2020. I haven’t seen them for a year, and it was a wonderful gathering to see all our precious children. 

The majority of schools in Cambodia have been shut down for many months, since the spring. Even now, only some schools can be open. I heard that our children’s school reopened in September, and most children stayed in the same grade for the new school year. 

While the schools were shut down, the children were provided with educational programs through television and the Internet. However, not many children had access to such programs. Realizing that the children hadn’t had the chance to write an essay for a while, I decided to have them write an essay this time. I gave them the theme, “What was the most interesting (or the most boring) class you had this school year?” I asked some children to read their essays in front of everyone. However, many of the children are still not good at writing and require more practice. 

I took pictures of each child with their own name plate this time. They had painted and decorated the name plates using their ideas and inspirations last year. 

We are currently supporting Wat Ang Middle School in Kiri Vong, in the Takeo province in southern Cambodia. In the future, we would like to support the expansion of two more schools in this area. I am hoping to report more good news from the Kratie province next time. Thank you so much for your continuous support!

If you are interested to find out more or wish to support this project, please contact Hiroko Nitro at hirokonitro@hotmail.com.