On the morning of Sunday, June 15th, we had the pleasure of hosting nine visitors from Arena of Scholars. Founded in December 2024, Arena of Scholars is a youth-led, non-profit organisation that aims to foster young minds in Cambodia, bringing together children of all ages and skill levels to teach them the necessary soft skills to succeed, especially by promoting participation in extracurricular activities. And when we say ‘youth-led’, we really mean it! The organisation’s director, Sophareach Long, is still only in the 11th grade, while two of the co-founders, Dariya Huong and Saraknita Tith, and the founder VyrakTevynt Yem recently graduated from high school.
Our guests arrived at 8:00 a.m., got a tour of our facility, and then engaged our kids in a variety of activities they had prepared especially for this occasion, including artistic endeavours like cookie decorating and painting, and athletic games like Snatch the Leaf and Sack Race. And before leaving, they also unloaded heaps of donations, including everyday essentials like rice, soap, shampoo and toothpaste, as well as school supplies for the kids who attend our community English classes. And they gifted us plushies for our common rooms!
Arena of Scholars reached out to Little Hearts because they were struck by the passion, commitment and love that has been put into its creation by Tony and his staff, and by our institution’s ability to change the lives of Cambodia’s orphaned children in such a thoughtful and caring way. And their interactions with our kids confirmed their first impressions of Little Hearts: “The moment we started the first activity,” said Saraknita, one of the co-founders of Arena of Scholars, “we felt like we were at home – a place where we could have fun, share love and genuinely interact with the kids. Some of our members are a bit awkward themselves (they are teenagers, after all!), but even they were immediately at ease with the children. And the enjoyment on the kids’ faces during each activity stroked our heart strings, especially when we caught one of them eating the cookie icing straight out of a piping bag. It was hilarious!”
Why is community outreach so important for Arena of Scholars? Sophareach explains: “As students, people often see us as individuals focused solely on our studies, striving for academic excellence. But beyond that, we’re committed to community service because it’s a powerful force for good and something that unites us in one common goal – to spread love and care to those around us. Even with all our schoolwork and responsibilities, we still choose to give our time and energy, because we truly care.”
Thank you, Arena of Scholars, for the fun-filled morning you gifted us, and especially for your youthful, energetic commitment to improving the lives of those less fortunate.
And here are Saraknita’s parting words to the children: “Your talents and aspirations are indescribable. Every single one of you has a shining future ahead of them. Your smiles are contagious, and you guys made our whole team very happy. Sunday’s event felt like a treat to us as we were able to experience something so eye-opening, fresh and free.”