16th June 2014

 

Over the last few months we have faced some challenges with the project at VCAO. When we first spoke to the director about building the classrooms in December 2012 he was very happy for us to do so.  The director gave us the building plans of the old classrooms to alter and use for the new building, we then wrote a building contract and had builders ready to start as soon as we got planning permission. However they then changed their minds, since visiting the school in January 2014 we found that they no longer need our support in building classrooms. During our visit we still provided them with more cooking and medical supplies as well as t shirts for the children. We have kept in contact with the director of VCAO since then and offered further support to the school. They recently informed us that funding for the school will end on the 30th June 2014. We have offered to help with funding and have asked for details on where the money will be spent, however they are unable to give us these details or how much funding will be needed. The funds were not raised by Build Bonnie’s Dream to be lost through an organisation; we want the money to benefit the children as much as possible. We have had little cooperation from the director but continue to offer supportin hope that they may want to work with us in the future.

 

Although we initially started Build Bonnie’s Dream to fund classrooms at VCAO the plans have changed. Bonnie always wanted to help the child garbage pickers in Steung Meanchey by giving them an education. We have decided that we can still do this by working with another organisation in the area to carry on her work. The organisation we would like to help fund is ISF (The IndoChina Starfish Foundation). They provide an education programme to underprivileged children fitting two years of schooling into one year, so that the children are at the right ability for their age to enter the public school system. ISF then provide scholarships so that the children can attend government school.

 

The scholarships cover 3 years and cost $1,760.00 (USD) per child.

It includes the following direct and indirect costs:-

• uniforms including shoes, underwear etc

• student education aids – pens, pencils, paper etc

• school bag

• personal hygiene and toiletry products

• school registration costs

• state teacher salary supplement

• contribution to state school building fund

• one bicycle per child

• additional English classes at our Stung Meanchey Education Centre

• annual field excursion (e.g.: visit national museum etc)

• healthcare (access to  ISF’s registered nurse for any medical issues)

• food and sustenance – daily breakfast and lunch plus monthly family food rations which provide nutrition to the child and their family and reduce the risk of the child being removed from education in order to earn an income to support their family.

 

They currently have 216 children who are supported to attend state school and 77 children are unfunded, this is where we would like to help. They also need the following equipment;

• Ten computers costing $550.00 (USD) each - The older students who are integrated into state school normally come back for English class. At the moment they are looking to get some computers for the computer room, for them to learn word, excel and do some research.

• One motorbike $1600.00 (USD) - social workers normally visit teachers at the state schools to check out each student’s performance and attendance. They also visit parents if the students are absent from school or are not concentrating on their school performance.

• One Cabinet for the library $250.00 (USD) - They have a library that all students use every day and plan to get cabinet to store the books.

Please visit the ISF website www.indochinastarfish.org and find out more about their programmes.

 

We have spoken with Bonnie’s family and feel that providing scholarships for the children is the next step for us to take. Given Bonnie’s successful accomplishments arising from winning scholarships in seems fitting that this would be a way to honour her memory. The focus will still be on helping the children in the area where Bonnie volunteered and connected to. Helping VCAO has not been ruled off altogether, if in the future they come to us with a project that needs funding we are happy to consider it if there is a clear indicator of where the money will go.

 

Everyone has done such an amazing job in raising funds and donating to Build Bonnie’s Dream. Inspired by Bonnie’s kindness we will carry on her legacy in giving the children a better education and provide them with more opportunities. We really value your thoughts on this matter so please do not hesitate to contact us at buildbonniesdream@hotmail.com.  

 

Thank you for understanding and all the help so far.