Gems Holiday Program

Though the holidays have passed awhile ago and the new semester has begun, there are some wonderful pictures and stories to share regarding the Holiday Program that was prepared by Gems International School for the students. The theme for the 6-week program from 21 July to 29 August was "Explore the World Around Us." The kids enjoyed as much as the teachers and here are some pictures to share:

We visited the Emergency Hospital (it specializes in orthopedic treatment) and the children had a brief introduction to the hospital environment, with the doctors, nurses and patients. The older children had the opportunity to visit the children's ward, where they interacted with the patients and gave them a hand-made gift each.

We also managed to visit the Provincial Museum that had relics from the Angkorian days. Among the exhibits were statues of Upsara dancers, nagas, giants and Buddha, classical music instruments, and tools used in ancient Khmer times.

The children particularly enjoyed the visit to the Phare Ponleu Selpak Organization. This NGO assists local children learning artistic skills such as painting, traditional music and dancing, and especially acrobatics! We had the opportunity of witnessing a few children practicing their circus acts, an animated story about drinking clean water (prepared by the film and animations department), as well as girls practicing their dances.

Here are what some of our teachers had to say about this program:

"When we first started preparing this program, I wouldn't believe I could go to the different offices and inquire about the possibility of a visit. I was so afraid but now, I have experience and I realized that in doing things, we must not be restricted by feeling less of ourselves. I have more confidence now." (Ms. Ouern Lum Orng)


"Our schools never had such activities and therefore, we have become afraid of new things and going to new places for fear that we don’t belong there. These children will not feel fear when they are older because they have been exposed to these places." (Mr. Pheng Sareth)

Training Teachers

Part of the objectives of Gems International School is to raise the capabilities of individuals striving to become better teachers and educators. Since before the inception of the school in October 2008, we have carried out training sessions for our teachers, individuals interested in setting up their own kindergartens and volunteers alike. The on-going learning process is an integral part of the effort of Gems International School to provide better education to the Cambodian children. We have had international guest speakers/volunteers from different educational background to assist us in learning the various methods of learning/teaching.

Once again, we conducted a session on the Hidden Gems Character Development and Mathematic Programs (24 - 31 March 2008) for a group of new teachers, substitute teachers and volunteers (local and international). The Hidden Gems Program are prepared by the Badi Foundation, Macau PRC. The subjects for kindergarten levels currently available include Character Development, Mathematic and Science. Gems International School selected this program because it provides an integrated study of subjects and is centered on the development of the human, material and spiritual capabilities of the child from a very young age. The content of the lessons are also interactive and allows for independent/group learning, providing children with opportunities to make choices from the start. Therefore, most of the lesson is taught through games, singing, art activities, role-play and stories. Needless to say, the training of teachers is always an interesting experience for both, the trainers and its participants.

First Batch of Gems teachers (September 2005) - Character Development Program.Second round of training in September 2007 with CORDE volunteers (including young mothers) interested to start kindergartens in the Centres of Learning. Sophea (nearest to the front) has successfully started classes at the Centre of Learning in Okacheay Village.

Introducing the Hidden Gems Mathematics Program, October 2007. Due to the lack of available educational materials for teaching the subject, our teachers spent a lot of time and effort preparing these materials.
Most recent training session.
Contrary to the commonly held mindset that 'children are empty receptacles/blank papers to be filled with knowledge and skills', at Gems International School,
we believe that they are "mines, rich in gems of inestimable value."
Learning through practice

Children's Day

On the bright and sunny morning of 29 February 2008, the children of Gems International School, their family, teachers and invited guests had a splendid celebration on a day dubbed 'Children's Day!' It was held in conjunction with the Ayyam-i-Há, days of charity, gift-giving and fellowship. The program included performances by the students, presentation of gifts from children to their parents, as well as from the school to the students and teachers, followed by games and a lunch of 'Num Benchau'. We all had so much fun!!

Cute backdrop prepared by the teachers at Gems
Students in their new school uniforms, waiting patiently for the program to start
Parents and invited guests
Performances by the students
Gift-giving by students to appreciate their parents
Games for the young kids and the not-so-young ones, too :D
Delicious lunch prepared by Ming and her team!

Guest Speakers

December was a month full of visitors from many different countries. Gems took the opportunity to invite them to share some of their experiences in the field of education among a circle of parents, teachers and the public who are interested in the fields of parenting and education. Here's a summary of the sessions.

On 27 December 2007, Mrs. Jane Goldstone from Japan shared with the crowd her understanding about Good Education, with examples from the basis of education during the pre-war and post-war era of Japan. The crowd was attentive and many questions ensued from among them at the end of the session.

Front row (left to right): Phaly, Chiev Leng, Vathay, Chiev Nan, Vandan, Chai, Chunly, Phallar, Siev Lenh

Back row (left to right): Elyssa, Sokneng, Theary, Kenneth, Jane, Prema and Arisa

The next day, we had the pleasure of two sessions on Moral Leadership. The first session was with Mr. Sherif Rushdy at the Spring Park Hotel, Battambang. It was organized by the Cambodian Organization for Research, Development and Education (CORDE) and the Baha'i Community of Cambodia. While Mr. Sherif Rushdy stressed upon the importance of introducing an integrated educational content based on moral concepts into schools, Mrs Shaku Rushdy laid out the elements of Moral Education in school curriculum during her talk at Gems International School that same afternoon.




On Saturdy, 29 December 2007, Mrs Deborah Hastings addressed a group of young parents in a workshop on Skills in Bringing Up Children. She shared some of her experience and practical lessons in parenting using a language of virtues and it's effectiveness in bringing up children, among many other things.


Gems would like to express our heartful gratitude to the speakers for sharing their time and knowledge with us during their visit to Battambang.