Angelina Jolie said this, after shooting a film in Cambodia and adopting a child from there.
”Kid, you need help not because you are pathetic but because you are the future of this country.”
HUMAN IN LOVE headed to Cambodia with heavy storybooks for kids who are the future of not only Cambodia but the world. The members of Advisory Committee of Global Contents of HUMAN IN LOVE, Chairman Young-hoo KIM, poet Man-Soo KANG, author Jung-Jin LIM and author ¬Susanna KO, visited Cambodia after a five hours and a half of flight. We found the weather was not that hot maybe because Korea was so hot during that time.
[ With Susanna KO who donated her book “Is A Caterpillar Growing Well On Its Own?” and the students of KaukKhnaing Primary School ]
“Three Bears” dance two years ago, “Red Fan Blue Fan” performance this time
Thinking about good memories of singing “Three Bears” in the Laos language two years ago in Laos, we prepared to perform “Red Fan Blue Fan”. The PR team brought a good fake ax, Santa Claus mustache, which turned into Jade Emperor’s mustache, and a compression bandage, which turned into the headband of the woodcutter. We even had a rehearsal three times and made sure every movement is made perfectly and everything was ready.
[ Narration of “Red Fan Blue Fan” ]
Our first visit was made to KaukKhnaing Primary School. We drove an unpaved road from the downtown Siem Reap for more than an hour to arrive the school. There were quite many students and they were divided into two groups; morning class and evening class. We visited a sixth graders’ classroom, where there were only five male students out of around 50. We heard there are getting fewer and fewer male students because they stop going to school to help their parents herding or farming.
Three writers introduced themselves, and poet Man-soo KANG read a children’s poem and all of the five members performed a fairy tale narration. Children’s eyes were shining and we were so pleased that we even talked about making a troupe.
[ Students of KaukKhnaing Primary School are watching a fairy tale narration. ]
We left the school and headed to the second school, hoping that our books will brighten the future of these kids who have to go to school on their bare foot for many minutes and study in the dark without any access to library, books or electricity.
[ Students of Reul Primary School were excited to read books. ]
At the second school, we couldn’t have enough time to perform a fairy tale narration and we could just deliver books and said hello to the teachers. It was 3pm already after visiting two schools. Since Cambodian primary schools give lectures only from 7am to 11am and 1pm to 4pm, we couldn’t visit other schools any more. Even though we really wanted to meet more children, we couldn’t move fast because the roads were not in good condition.
People are raising hopes
From 1969 to 1979, Cambodians had to suffer the pain of Khmer Rouge Killing Fields that took 1.7 million people’s lives. Since then, Cambodia still remains a developing country and education and art are especially going backward. We were shocked to know that there is no class for music, physical education and art in this country.
[ With a Cambodian artist Nussari (Third from the left) ]
After visiting the school, we met with artist Nussari who held an art exhibition even in Korea. He touched our hearts with his amorous glance toward Cambodian farmers in his arts. The poor boy in a developing country went to France to study art and now became a renowned artist running several galleries, whose story itself is an intense and beautiful art piece. In the evening, we met with Professor Mija SEOK from Bill Bright University who helped us a lot. She’s been staying in Cambodia for 10 years and teaching students for free according to her father’s will. He hoped one of his children can help people around the world and that’s how Mija SEOK started teaching.
Many people are helping others in their best way. Some are supporting volunteers and voluntary organizations while others go directly help those in need on behalf of the supporters. All of them are making the world a better place.
We hope our move can help Cambodian kids’ talents and dreams to the next level.
It was a short visit and we suffered from scorching heat, but we learned a lot. We know the books that we donated cannot enrich children’s lives right away. However, this is a seed as well as priming water. Our love will plant a seed that will help children in Cambodia lead their lives and our love will also become priming water that will take their talents and dreams to the next level.
[ With students of Reul Primary School ]
We love to live and live to love. Maybe that’s because we’re all ‘HUMAN IN LOVE’
