Life at Aziza's Place

Aziza’s Place provides a nurturing living and learning community for nine boys and twelve girls, ages 6 to 18. Our low 3 to 1 student to teacher ratio enables an extraordinary amount of attention and care to be given to the emotional, intellectual, and physical growth of each child. Always with the development of the greater community in mind, AP’s teaching philosophy and programs integrate the community as a learning tool. The children are constantly interacting and communicating with the world around them to build their knowledge base. For half of the day, the resident children attend Khmer public school and for the other half of the day they receive supplemental classes in English, Khmer, and computer, and also participate in the arts, dance, and sports offered at Aziza’s Place.

At Aziza's Place, kids can be kids. They have plenty of room to learn, grow, make friends, and have fun. This is possible through our four key program areas - healthy lifestyles, education, community, and visual arts and sports . Click on the following links to learn more about each program area.

• Healthy Lifestyles

  Healthy Lifestyles at AP means children receive their basic human rights of food, shelter, safety and health care. They no longer face a life of hazardous labor or exploitation, but instead have the freedom to thrive physically and emotionally. Many of the children’s individual histories require sensitivity and counseling. For this we have created a forum for open communication for children to have trusted adults. As most of the children do have families, family relations are of the utmost importance. Monthly Family Nights and weekly visits home keep the family bond intact.

• Education

  Access to Education is provided by mandatory public school education, as well as supplemental classes provided at Aziza’s Place. AP’s academic program has the ultimate goal of preparing students with a skill set that will increase their career and higher education opportunities in Cambodia. Residents are challenged to obtain the highest form of education they desire and are required to complete high school before graduating from AP. The Aziza’s Place Academic Program has three components:
  

  • Khmer Education – The goals of the Khmer education program are to 1) accelerate students who come to AP with an inadequate education and 2) advance students into the appropriate grade level for their age in Khmer public school. These goals are met by providing access to Khmer public school and by providing 2 hours of supplemental classes and 2 hours after-school tutoring each day.
    
    
  • English Literacy Education - Daily English lessons are taught by volunteer native English speakers. Volunteers adhere to structured lesson plans that use experiential-based activities to reinforce concepts. The lesson topics are dynamic as they are chosen by volunteers from countries across the globe, ranging from geography, science, art, and history. These subjects expand the children’s world view and understanding of cross-culture communication.
    
    
  • Computer Education – Students receive daily computer classes on PCs and XO laptops. Basic computer functions, typing, and programs such as Microsoft Office Suit and Adobe Photoshop are taught on PCs. Aziza’s Place is a recipient of the One Laptop per Child program that provides each resident with their own XO laptop. Twenty-four hour web access and the XO laptops have transformed the classroom with multimedia and internet tools.

• Community Involvement

  Community Involvement at AP means children are exposed to the realities of the world they live in, with a strong focus on how to contribute in a meaningful way. Community development and involvement is an important factor in the growing phases of Aziza’s Place with hopes to launch community service projects and an internship program for the older residents by the end of this year.
  
  The community learning approach to teaching is at the heart of AP’s philosophy. This method exposes children to the world around them to give a realistic learning base and worldview. Taking children out of the classroom legitimizes their place in the community.

• Visual Arts and Sports

  Access to the visual arts and sports at AP means children are exposed to the culture, art, and music of their country and those from around the world. Revitalization of Khmer art, music, and dance is essential to the growth of a post-conflict country. Aziza’s Place believes that its strong visual arts program unleashes creativity and innovation; key to enterprise and entrepreneurship. Access to sports and Karate are integral for physical development, individual gain, and lessons in teamwork.
  
  Visual Arts Program
  

  • Art technique (sketching, painting, sculpting) taught by a Khmer artist two times per week.
  • Traditional Khmer Apsara dance class takes place two times a week for both male and female residents.
  • Aziza’s Place Film Education Program began in June 2008 thanks to a grant from ArtAction. A select group students take part in this program each year to learn the entire filmmaking process. Each student brings their own story to life by writing and directing a short film as their final project. The film program expanded in 2010 to include 15 students representing four different NGOs. Read about the AP film program in The Phnom Penh post here.
  • Aziza’s Place will begin a traditional Khmer music education program in 2010

  Sports Program
  

  • Karate class is taught two times a week by a Cambodian Karate-Do professional. Students take part in up to five karate competitions per year.
  • Weekly soccer practice sponsored by the Indochina Starfish Foundation football program who provides coaches, uniforms, transportation to fields, and organize soccer competitions.