Monthly Archives: August 2011

We have been suspiciously quiet about our Human-Trafficking Prevention Program, the Lotus Kids’ Club…and that’s because we wanted to introduce it with a BANG!

Since January 2011, the LKC has accelerated from nought to turbo with our dynamic team of local and expat staff:

Project Manager: Mr Sophy

Social Worker: Mr Rotha

Teacher: Ms Chanthoeun (Mrs Rotha)

Program Facilitator: Ms Robyn McIntyre, a retired school principal from Australia

Early Childhood Education Consultant: Mr Steve Mojica, an ECE specialist from the States

Adults from the left: Ms Chanthoeun, Mr Rotha and Mr Sophy with our gorgeous kids holding their latest craft creations!

Mr Steve on the floor with the kiddies!

Ms Robyn with Mr Rotha who was supervising water play...obviously!

With the local and expat staff working side by side, there are ample opportunities to learn from one another: the local staff offer knowledge of the culture and traditions and the expat staff can share their professional experiences and expertise. Together, a rich educative environment is created to facilitate the development of children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

GO LKC TEAM!

Stay tuned for more LKC activities- plenty of gorgeous photos and enlightening insights from our invaluable staff!

Over and Out,

The Field

The brilliant brainchild of Emily Chhen and Lala Truong!

The day finally arrived for our Beautiful Senhoa Blossoms to fully bloom and graduate from the FIRST Senhoa Jewelry Life Skills Program!

It was a whirlwind event of organizing for our wonderful volunteer Office Manager, Emily Chhen and the NMSI team, Jenni, Kristy, Hannah, Kristen, Britney, Britney Sue, and Adam. In an impressive team effort, everyone orchestrated an elaborate half-day event for the Graduates of Senhoa.

Kristy with the abundance of gifts for the graduates

Britney and Kristy

Held in the Gallery of 1961, on July 14th, the girls excitedly filed in dressed in their Sunday best, all wearing earrings they had personally designed and made for the occasion. The girls all beamed with anticipation upon receiving their well-deserved certificates.

1961 packed with graduate and attendees

Receiving a hard earned certificate and fully bloomed Lotus Flower

The graduates all received individualized certificates and were recognized for their personal strengths. They also received intricately folded bloomed origami lotus flowers to symbolize their achievement. We applauded with elation when one of the girls shouted out; ‘Oh! I know why we’re getting these flowers! When we started we were given Lotus Buds…and now that we’re finished we have bloomed flowers…like how WE are now!’

Lisa signing the individual Certificates of Achievement

Basket of Lotus Flowers

For students who have never achieved anything freely before, this was a momentous occasion in their lives. They would have felt blessed to have that day…but it was really Senhoa that is blessed to have the girls.

To further mark the significance of the day, we had VIP guests all the way from the United States to be present for the ceremony; Lisa T.D. Nguyen, Executive Director of Senhoa; Duc Antoine Nguyen, Assistant Director and Editor of Asia Entertainment, Truc Ho, CEO of SBTN- the first Vietnamese cable TV network; his elegant wife Quyen; and their lovely children Lala and Lybach.

Quyen saying a few words to the graduates

 

Our lovely Outreach worker with Quyen

Executive Director, Lisa, describing the significance behind the name ‘Senhoa’

Congratulations Graduates of Senhoa 2011! You have marked our FIRST completion of the Senhoa Jewelry Life Skills program…with, of course, many more to come.

With a doff of the hat,

The Field

In mid August, Coco Rocha flew to Los Angeles to work with Jenny Van, Senhoa’s Creative Director, and the rest of the Senhoa team to finalize the designs for a jewelry line collaboration.  During the finalizing process, Coco sat for hours to string thousands of crystals.  Coco’s mom paid a surprise visit and joined the stringing party.  After working intensely for three days (two all nighters), the Coco Rocha for Senhoa collection is finished!!!

The Coco Rocha for Senhoa collection comprises of five jewelry pieces designed by Coco herself.  This five-piece collection is a marriage between chunky metal chains and dazzling Swarovski crystals.

Jenny Van will fly to Cambodia soon to train the girls on this collection.  We are extremely thrilled for the launch of this collection in the upcoming months.  More details to come…

Again, thank you so much Coco!!! You have put in a tremendous amount of effort to support Senhoa and the victims of human trafficking.  Lastly, many thanks to Coco’s mom and the Senhoa team for your help!!!

SEN-cerely,

Head Office