JUNE 2010 NEWSLETTER AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD NOW!
Our June 2010 newsletter is now available to download. If you’d like to be the first to receive CCPP newsletters as soon as they are published, drop us a line and we’ll add you to our mailing list (we promise not to sell your details or send you any spam).
CCPP GETS ANIMATED ABOUT FILMMAKING
The CCPP children recently expanded their artistic horizons even further, with the introduction of a new creative initiative: Young Cambodian Filmmakers. Made possible thanks to kind donations of digital cameras and editing software from expats in South Korea, a talented group of children have been creating their own moving images for the first time. They’ve explored a whole range of filmmaking techniques – adding their own visual effects and soundtracks to stills and video footage, and even creating stop-frame animations using art materials and everyday objects.
Be sure to visit the Young Cambodian Filmmakers website to see the children’s fantastic work.
EUROPEAN TOUR CONTINUES…
Felix Brooks-church of CCPP is on the road again, this time travelling across Europe. Beginning in March 2010, Felix has made his way from city to city with the children’s paintings hosting many exhibitions until July. We have already held successful events in France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Italy Switzerland, Austria, Cyprus, Estonia, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Spain with the help of past volunteers.
It’s not too late to catch the tour, enjoy the children’s art and help the project all at the same time! We still have dates in the UK in June and July:
-
June 12th – 19th - Brighton
-
June 20th – Kent
-
June 25th – London
-
June 27th – Lincoln
-
June 30th – Manchester
-
July 4th – Newcastle
-
July 10th – Glasgow
Check out our Facebook group for more details!
As with Australia, the traveling art events would not be possible without the invaluable efforts of volunteers on the ground. We appreciate any and all forms of assistance, for example, from stretching canvases before the show to arranging entertainment, promoting and marketing events, or supplying accommodation. We are also always willing to add new cities and locations. If you would like to get involved email us at ccppexhibitions@gmail.com.
AUSTRALIAN TOUR A GREAT SUCCESS!…
Felix Brooks Church, GM, travelled across Australia from late August to hold fundraising art exhibitions in Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Byron Bay and Brisbane with the help of previous volunteers.
The trip was to raise money to secure the future of CCPP for the next three years. With the global financial crisis causing a drop in tourism in Cambodia, teamed with a substantial drop in international donor support we are facing some very tough times. For those who know us you would know we don’t receive any government funding and rely solely on the generosity of people like you. We needed to make this touring event a success, and it was, thank you to all those who attended the events and supported the children of Sihanoukville!
OUR TRIP TO ANGKOR WAT…
Thanks to the generosity of our supporters to the project we were able take 52 local underprivileged kids on a trip of a lifetime in February: a four day tour to Siem Reap to visit the famous Angkor temples of Angkor Wat, Bayon and Ta Prohm.
This amazing collection of massive stone temples, built between the 9th and 13th centuries, were rediscovered by French explorers in the Cambodian jungle in the 1860s and have to be seen to be believed. The purpose of our trip was to give these kids a chance to experience these world famous structures and to discover a little more about their Cambodian heritage.
As you can imagine, for many of the kids traveling on a coach was a first time experience. You would think boredom would set in at some stage of the 10 hour trip, but no! Many singalongs later, an “on bus talent show’ and of course a few Ben 10 dvds and we were in Siem Reap and at our hospitable guest house by sundown. We were lucky enough to have 10 volunteer helpers on the trip, as well as our staff. Each adult was responsible for a group of kids. The children were in awe of their rooms, all with en-suite bathrooms, big comfy beds… and tvs! The kids have never been cleaner, showering 4 times a day and enjoying the creature comforts not afforded to them at home in their basic shelters, where many sleep on hardpacked dirt floors and running water is unheard of.
After a restful night’s sleep (well, figuratively speaking) we set off for our first day at the temples. Nothing can prepare you for the impact when you first clap eyes on Angkor Wat. It is a massive square structure covering 500 acres, and as you get closer, it only gets bigger.
The structure represents a Hindu conception of the universe, an earth-bound model of the cosmic world.
The long walk up the causeway across the moat had all the kids silent in awe. Venturing further inward and upward, a central tower shaped like a giant lotus bud more than 200 meters tall had them amazed. Watching them wide eyed, learning about their history is something none of us will forget for a very long time.
Moving on after a huge lunch we walked our way along tree lined paths to Bayon, the temple of a thousand faces. Its many towers feature more than 200 huge faces of the God-King Jayavarman rendered as Boddhisatva – the Buddha — staring down through lidded eyes brimming with beatific confidence. It’s difficult not to be intimidated, and when you see the same facial structures in so many of our kids it leaves you speechless.
After our jungle walk back to the bus it was home time. A few hours of outdoor games after dinner and it was time for bed. We had a big next day ahead of us as we were off to Ta Phrom, made famous by Angelina Jolie in her Tomb Raider films.
While Angkor Wat was preserved by the continuous inhabitation of monks using machetes to keep the jungle at bay, the 12th century temple of Ta Phrom is in the same state as when it was first discovered by the 19th century explorers.
The temple roof caved in hundreds of years back and tree roots have patiently burst through the moss-encrusted stone walls. Visitors must clamber over fallen blocks the size of cars to explore the incredible ruins. And it proved a veritable natural playground for our kids!
After hours of fun we then made our way to visit an arts based NGO on the outskirts of Siem Reap. Operating mainly as a small orphanage, the children were encouraged to paint and under the tutelage of a fantastic Khmer artist the older students were producing incredible work. We were very humbled by our very personal visit and we hope to see our new friends soon.
After lunch we pushed on to visit another NGO, this time in Siem Reap itself. The Rainbow Shack welcomed our kids with cake and a welcome break by putting on a children’s movie. A great relief for all from the heat and sun beating down on us!
Once back at the guesthouse, fed and clean, we were all tinged with a little sadness that we were having to head back to Sihanoukville the next day.
We had a great trip back, lots of laughs and games on the bus, and a few naps as well. The kids were all delivered home exhausted but exhilarated by their experience. The impact of the trip was made all the more clear with the amazing artwork that was produced by the kids over the following weeks. Angkor Wat was definitely a popular theme and continues to be.
We cant wait to do it all again next year with a new group of kids! Click here to see more photos!
|
