So here’s the bad news — my week with the children of Anjali House is halfway over.  I can’t believe how fast it is going.  The kids are fantastic. The ones I am working with are in the “Young Adult” group, between 15 and 19.  They are so similar to kids anywhere…silly, scared, bold, timid, bossy.  But they do know the value and crucial importance of education, and they are thirsty to learn English.  Anjali House has a wonderful program where they ensure that these poorest street kids are given the chance to go to school and take lessons all day.  Cambodian schools are halfdays and cost money.  Anjali House provides the school fees and then provides after or pre-school programs in English, photography, general studies, games. My mission is to teach the older ones about poetry and stories.  But really, the goal is to better their English and have them begin to feel comfortable with the idea of expressing their feelings and thoughts in words.  At the end of the week we will publish the first Anjali House Literary Magazine, which will be launched at a fundraising event on Saturday night.

I had no idea what I would find when I first arrived on Monday morning. I barely slept Sunday night for the excitement and the nerves.  But what a wonderful surprise was in store for me.  I’ll show you around: