Thursday, May 17, 2012

School Project






 SCHOOL PROJECT $40 per person
(Mixing education with adventure)

Chong Rang village lies 30 kilometres from Sen Monorom and is home to 20 hill tribe families. Due
to the small size of this community, there is no health centre, no well and no primary school
for the children who live there. What they DO have is a picturesque village, situated near a protected forest and waterfalls.Local teacher, Mr Yin Sokunthea, started traveling to the village as a volunteer in 2011 and wants to provide basic reading and writing skills (in Khymer language) to seven children aged 5 – 8 years. Parents support his work by providing a house for him to use as a school, but the children have no books, pens or any other learning materials – and this is where visitors can help. If you would like to visit the school, Yin will organize a motorbike to pick you up from your accommodation (helmet provided) and take you to the school. Once there, you will be invited to join an activity with the children – maybe a sport or traditional dance – or, if you have teaching skills, you could help to run the lesson with the help of the English speaking teacher.You will also be invited to share a very simple Pnong traditional meal, visit the waterfalls and visit a forest that very few foreigners get to see.So, where does the “adventure” fit into this? The village is hard to access, and the road comprises a mix of potholes and rocks. It is not a journey suitable for the unfit or faint-hearted! During the rainy season, the road may not be passable. If you are up for the experience of a lifetime,contact:

Mr. Yin Sokunthea
(+855) 977 559 509
Email: sokunthea.yin@gmail.com

Or, go to the Greenhouse Restaurant in Sen Monorom to make a booking.
Cost US $40 per person (includes moto, helmet, food and water)
Depart 9.30am (Monday, Wednesday and Friday)
Return 4pm
Yin guarantees that $10 of the fee will go direct to support the school.
For the less adventurous, you too can support the school by contacting Yin and donating cash,
pens, pencils or exercise books.

Welcome To Mondulkiri



Mondulkiri was once a part of Chhlong Leu district in Kratie Province. In 1960, it was separated by King Norodom Sihanouk into the new province. Mondulkiri Province is located in the northeast part of Cambodia. It is bordered to the north by Stung Trèng and Rattanakiri, to the east and to the south by Vietnam, and to the west by Kratie. Mondulkiri is a hilly and sparsely populated province. It occupies a total area of 14,288 sq. km and has a population of 60,811 which include 14 races; Khmer 20% and ethnic minorities 80%. These ethnic groups are composed of Phnorng, Stieng, Kuoy, Tompuon, Charay, Kraol, Kroeng, Ra Ong, Thmon, Cham, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Lao. The Khmer people are public servants and merchants, and remnants of them are all farmers. The Mondulkiri province, at an average elevation of 800m above the sea level, has different climates compared to the other parts of Cambodia. It may get warm in daytime, and it turns chilly at night-time. The Mondulkiri province is divided into five districts, Sen Monorom, Kèv Seima, Koh Nhèk, O Reang, and Péch Chenda; and 21 communes, Nang Khi Loek, Or Bun Leu, Roya, Sok San, Srè Huy, Srè Sangkom, Dak Dam, Sen Monorom, Krang Teh, Bouchri, Srè Ampum, Bousra, Monorom, Sokh Dom, Spean Meanchey, Romonea, Chong Phlas, Mé Mang, Srè Chhouk, Srè Khtom, and Srè Preah. Sen Monorom was established the provincial town of Mondulkiri in 1962. There is a quaint small community nestling between lush hills and two small lakes. The area around Sen Monorom has plenty of ethnic minorities’ villages. Along the road of Sen Monorom, tourists can see many Phnorng people from nearby villages come to Sen Monorom to trade, and they can view the distinctive baskets the ethnic groups carry on their backs to make them easily distinguish from the Khmer immigrants at market. Sen Monorom can get quite cool in the evening, especially in the early dry season so it is recommended that you should bring an extra layer of clothes for night-time. The Mondulkiri province is enormously rich in various natural resources to be explored, such as majestic mountains, rainforest, indigenous wildlife, pine plantation, impressive waterfalls, small rivers, waterfront parks, etc. It is now the intended eco-tourism destination for the eco-tourists and the adventurous travelers. They can travel and discover the wildlife in the remote parts of the province, trek up hills/ mountains, ride on elephants, visit the Bou sra waterfall and other waterfalls, and learn about the daily life of the ethnic minorities. They can also savor the famous local wine called “Sra Peang”.