Buy an ‘Embracelet’ and Support a Cambodian Child’s Education

Naret Duk has a vision – to provide education for children in Cambodia who can’t afford it.

Naret, a university student in Cambodia, is a recipient of ‘Project Enlighten’s’ scholarship program (www.projectenlighten.org). She counts herself very fortunate to have been awarded this scholarship, as she knows quite well that most students in Cambodia can’t afford the few cents it costs everyday to attend government schools, never mind the hundreds it costs to attend university every year. But, Naret has worked and studied hard. She attends university six nights a week, holds down a full-time and a part-time job, and donates countless hours volunteering for micro-lending projects in Bakong district.

Naret doesn’t want to stop there – she wants to do more. She wants to help other Cambodian children have the same educational opportunities – and your purchase of a $6 or $8 ‘Embracelet’ will help her achieve this goal.

This past winter, during my three months in Siem Reap, Cambodia, Olivia Lorge from ‘Project Enlighten’ taught me how to weave a simple bracelet made out of string. I taught this craft to many of the children I was volunteering for in Cambodia. When I passed on this craft idea to Naret, it was not long before she realized that these bracelets could create an opportunity for her own students that she was teaching three days a week at a government elementary school in Siem Reap.

Many of the student girls that Naret teaches come from very poor backgrounds. Some have lost a parent to HIV/AIDS. Some work countless extra hours after school to help with the family finances.

Naret got together ten of her ‘girls’ after school hours, and showed them the bracelet weaving craft. I had decided at that time that I would pay them for their labor involved in making the bracelets. After one month’s time, the students had made 440 BRACELETS! No two bracelets are the same!

Naret told me that the girls wove the bracelets in hopes to make enough money to attend some evening English classes at a private school. The students had decided this is what they wanted to do with the money they made from weaving these bracelets. These classes only cost US$7/month. I paid each girl $14, so they could attend classes for two months – April and May.

Back in Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada, my good friend and supporter, Dan Blix felt compelled to help out these children achieve their educational dreams. Dan, a marketing consultant, and professional graphic designer, took to the task, and created the project name, and designed all the posters and material for this project. We both want to help Naret realize her dream for the children of Cambodia.

In developing countries such as Cambodia, learning English – the universal language - is the key to future educational and professional opportunities. Cambodia, a country with a growing tourism industry, has many job opportunities for those who can speak English. Every young Cambodian person realizes this, but most don’t have the financial means to subsidize extra English tuition.

100% of your ‘Embracelet’ purchase goes towards funding continued English classes for Naret’s students, and for other students also lacking the money to attend. It is Naret’s goal to be able to help some of Cambodia’s street children. She’d like to give them the support they need to get off the streets and into school.

To order your hand-woven ‘Embracelet’, call Lisa McCoy at 705-687-8538, or email at schoolsforcambodia@gmail.com . ‘Embracelets’ are also available by mail order, and will be shipped by Canada Post – the most economical choice. Most ‘Embracelets’ fit in a letter-size envelope. Please add the cost of shipping from Canada to your total. Prices are listed below. Cheques are made out to ‘Lisa McCoy’ – please write ‘Embracelets’ in the memo field, and send to:

‘Embracelets For Books’, Box 53, Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada, P1P 1T5

Shipping Costs for each Embracelet:

Within Canada -- $0.54
To U.S.A. -- $0.98
International -- $1.65

If you wish, please specify a color or color combination preference.

Thank you for helping the children of Cambodia realize and embrace their educational dreams!