Sewing Training & English lessons

So one of the vocational course that BSDA offers 10 OVCs (Orphan and Vulnerable Children), who are over 15, every year is sewing - they can learn all the sewing skills and then can set up their own little shop at the end of it - they sew really well and make great clothes. Here are some of the trainees that we have at the moment

Also another project is that we offer English lessons in the evening for 2 hours to around about 650 students - the scholarship students of BSDA get these for free and then the other students pay a small charge but much less then the usual private lessons - BSDA do not make any profit as we are a non-profit NGO - so the fee that is charge goes back into the project for materials, electric, hiring the rooms and giving the teachers a small incentive to teach the lessons.

The ages range from six to sixteen and all different levels of English, we even have one Chinese lesson.

And all these kids come because they want to learn not because they have to as the lessons are outside school hours.

The amount of bicycles outside of schools is a sight to be seen - during the day there is just a sea of bicycles...

We have a lot of the Monks from the Pagoda who teach the classes as well as lay people most of whom are learning to be teachers so it is good hands on experience for them as well.

Motorbike ride with Ali - 2nd Jan 2012 - Tuk Cha Lakes

Started the year with a great little day trip out on the bikes with Ali - we went up to some lakes about an hours ride outside of Kampong Cham where there are pontoons going out into the lakes with hammocks. Perfect for relaxing and thinking about the year ahead.

My view from my hammock.

My partner in crime for motorbike rides - Ali.

Lots of red dragonflies around the lake along with millions of pond skaters.

Luckily it was dry season as this road is usually under a meter of water in the wet season.

They even had white swans that you could go off on the lake in - we unfortunately didn't have time to do that!

On the way back we went off the beaten track and went through the local banana plantations to get home.

All the new banana trees that have recently been planted.

We found some old ruins of a Buddhist temple on the way back.