In early December, ISF treated its students to a day of revelry and recognition at its Steung Meanchey campus. Starting at mid-morning on 7th December, hundreds of students thronged the enclosed rooftop space to attend our annual Children’s Party. 

Over the half-day event students were entertained by an array of activities, inspiring speeches, dance performances and gift giving ceremonies. The aim of the event was to end the year on a positive note; showing these disadvantaged and marginalised children how much we appreciate their commitment to learning with us in our programme. Keep reading to find out more about the party.

Youth Role Model Awards

ISF Youth Role Models project aims to empower students to take leadership roles within our institutions. They are all state school students aged 15 to 17 who have graduated from ISF Catch-Up Programme.These passionate and driven young people take on great responsibilities in addition to their studies. While their duties are varied, their greatest responsibility is teaching life and soft-skills to their juniors through football games and activities. On a weekly basis, they conduct training sessions that cover such topics as: good hygiene; gender equality; and personal safety. In honour of their hard work and dedication, they were presented with commemorative plaques and gift bags.

Lively Dance Performances

The event was also an opportunity for our students to show off their talents. Three troupes of young entertainers wowed the audience with two traditional Cambodian dance routines and one very off-beat ode to Christmas. First up was an incredibly skilled group of girls who performed an Apsara dance. This classical Khmer dance was invented in the mid-20th Century by the Royal Ballet of Cambodia, under the patronage of Queen Sisowat Kosamak. It combines deliberate controlled movements and hand gestures, called mudras, to invoke the impression of a heavenly fluidity. The Apsara themselves, whose representations adorn the walls of Angkor Wat, are spirits or angels that represent water and clouds.

Next up was the Coconut Dance, this ancient Cambodian routine honours cooperation between females and males. The movements must be performed by both sexes who clap hardened coconut shells together in a rhythmic dance. Girls held coconuts representing maleness and boys’ coconuts symbolise femaleness. Together they create an interdependent whole.

Finally, ISF Trustee Leo Brogan joined the stage in an inflatable Santa Suit accompanied by a team of young ‘elves’. They performed a wonderfully wacky improvised dance to conjure the Christmas spirit in our little part of Phnom Penh.

Fond Farewells

Our festivities were also bittersweet. In December ISF bids a fond farewell to two long-time family members. Paul Markland, a valued ISF trustee, and Gráinne LeFevre, our Development Manager, have vacated their positions to do good elsewhere. While neither can be truly replaced, we are pleased to announce that former Senior Development Officer Margherita Chirolanza has been promoted to Development Manager and we have welcomed a new trustee to our board, Director and Legal Consultant – Miranda Leung.

Paul had been a part of ISF from the beginning. He is a Master Mariner turned entrepreneur who owns and actively controls a portfolio of companies. In 1982, Paul joined the Swire Group. During his time with Swire he worked in various postings such as Mexico, Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong and was directly involved in the sale and installation of airport and airline equipment in Hong Kong, China and Vietnam. Paul returned to the UK in 1994 to become Chief Executive of a small listed company, Ropner plc. Subsequent to a takeover in 1995 Paul purchased, with the help of 3i Group, three engineering companies. Since this time he has specialised in buying, growing and then selling companies ranging from Garage Equipment, Forecourt Non Oil Products, Polymer Distribution and most recently a Marketing company. Paul was specifically involved in the ISF Education Programme as Chairman and dealt with our UK and Cambodian accounts. He is also acting as Company Secretary. His wife Myra is also a retired Trustee, though remains a Patron of ISF since 2013.

Gráinne joined ISF in 2016, moving directly from Ireland to take the role of Development Manager. With a BA in Anthropology and International Development and a Master of Laws in Gender, Conflict and Human Rights, Gráinne has gained non-profit management and work experience across four continents. At ISF, she oversaw business development, relationship management, fundraising and grant management, marketing, and strategy. Over three years, she has led her team with a mix of nurturance and high standards. And with a dedication to child welfare, she has been a shining steward for the protection of ISF students. We wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors.

But First… Ice Cream!

No party is complete without treats. Our annual Children’s Party culminated in an excited ice cream social. ISF trustees and staff handed out cup after cup of cooling scoops of ice cream to appreciative students.

This years children’s party was a fabulous reminder to all ISF staff of why we do the work we do. The children who benefit from our programmes flourish daily and continually surprise us with their achievements. We’re looking forward to providing them with quality education, healthcare, nutritional support and community outreach projects into 2020 and beyond.