All our school-age children began a new academic year last week – at a new school. While Tony and the staff were pleased with their academic progress at their previous school, they felt that they would have better educational opportunities at the new institution, the Sovannaphumi School, a much larger private school that boasts multiple campuses in Phnom Penh. The … Read More
Hello, I’m Llewellyn Van Aarde. Everybody calls me Llew. I was born and raised in the vibrant city of Cape Town, South Africa, surrounded by the beauty of nature and the warmth of a very diverse community. I’m fluent in both English and Afrikaans. My early years were characterized by a passion for learning and adventure. My love for adventure … Read More
As many of you know, Little Hearts is full of talented young artists. Under the tutelage of dedicated art teachers, some of our kids have been taking painting classes for years, and they’re really good at it! Their stylish works have been gifted to sponsors, given as souvenirs to supporters and extended family members, and sold at local fairs. Recently, … Read More
Last Wednesday several doctors and staff from Taoyuan General Hospital (operating under Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare) visited Little Hearts. The visit had been arranged by one of our sponsors, Ms. Yennie Liang, and the purpose was to conduct health checks on all the children. The doctors reported that the kids are in excellent health. “I must commend the … Read More
Since their post-Covid resumption in March 2022, our free community English classes for children from nearby villages have continued without interruption and with much improvement among our young learners. Currently, 20–25 students follow English class here at Little Hearts every morning from 8.00 to 9:30 a.m. with Teacher Zal. (They then attend their regular government schools in the afternoon shift.) … Read More
On June 18 Cambodia celebrated the queen’s birthday, so the kids had the day off from school. To make sure the day was not ruined by chores and homework, the kids themselves suggested a holiday activity: they would prepare dinner that day. After gaining Tony’s approval for the cook-off, the kids split themselves into two teams, with a roughly equal … Read More
As you know, all kids at Little Hearts receive daily English lessons right here on our campus, taught by our two stellar teachers and caretakers, Rosahlee and Roxanne. The students are split into levels according to their age and proficiency in English, and the programme runs throughout the school year (either in the morning or the afternoon, depending on the … Read More
Last week Cambodians celebrated Visak Bochea Day (Buddha Day), an important religious holiday that simultaneously commemorates the birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha. The kids had a day off from school, and as always on these occasions, we tried to make the most of the extra free time by combining productivity with entertainment. In other words, it was a … Read More
The annual Big Little Hearts Garden Party happened again! On Thursday, May 9th, over 300 guests ranging in age from 7 to 87 gathered for an evening of live music, dancing, laughter, drinks, great Cambodian food and loads of goodwill for the cause that keeps us all united – the welfare of the kids at Little Hearts. Following on the … Read More
Year after year in Cambodia, when April comes, the people always look forward to celebrating Khmer New Year, the most important holiday on the calendar, which also coincides with the end of the harvesting season. Usually, it is a three-day festival, but sometimes, like this year, it is stretched to four days. It is an occasion for Cambodian people to … Read More