A Newtown Village School For Cambodia

By Eliza Hallabeck

A group of Newtown High School students, ranging from freshmen to seniors, have been meeting once a week for the past couple months to raise funds to build a school in Cambodia with an American Assistance for Cambodia program.

The program matches private donations to fund building schools in rural Cambodia, and the American Assistance for Cambodia is a nonprofit organization working to improve opportunities for youth in rural Cambodia, according to the organization.

At the heart of the Newtown effort, which is calling itself Two Schools One Song, to build a school in Cambodia is brother and sister Dan and Jane Sclafani.

According to both Dan and Jane, a few months ago their mother, Kate Sclafani, discovered an article in “O” magazine about the program. Together the idea was formed to gather friends to create a Newtown effort to build a school in Cambodia. The money raised by the Newtown students will be matched by the World Bank and the Asian Development Fund through the program, according to Ms Sclafani.

The group needs to raise $13,000 to fund a school, and with a couple upcoming events, the group, including Ms Sclafani, are hopeful.

“That $13,000 covers quite a bit,” said Ms Sclafani.

On Monday, April 5, the group of students worked around a table in the Sclafanis’ backyard painting “Gratitude Rocks” for an upcoming fundraising event at The Blue Z Coffeehouse, 127 South Main Street. The “Gratitude Rocks” will be sold by group members at the coffeehouse on Thursday, April 29, from 7 to 9 pm. A portion of the rocks were donated to the cause from Hollandia Nurseries in Bethel.

The rocks were hand painted by the students on Monday, and had sayings, words, or drawings on them to inspire hope and peace.

Tickets are also currently being sold for large event the group has planned at the Rock Ridge Country Club, at 214 Sugar Street, on May 22. The evening event will include live music, dancing, appetizers and entertainment, yet to be announced, and tickets cost $50. Out of the 250 tickets, Dan said there are still 100 tickets to sell. Further donations beyond the $50 are also welcome, he said.

The Rock Ridge Country Club fundraising event will be held from 7 tol 11 pm.

Jane Sclafani said when her mother suggested raising money for the program, both she and Dan told their friends about it.

“It was really easy,” she said, “because they wanted to help.”

While people in the United States, Jane said, have the opportunity to go to school, in Cambodia, there is not always the same opportunity.

“A lot of kids in Cambodia don’t have a school to go to,” said Jane, “and this is just an easy way to raise money to give to them.”

NHS freshman Kimmy Gates took time out of painting rocks to explain that she learned about the program when visiting Jane, her best friend.

“We all donated our time to do this,” said Kimmy. “They don’t have any schools there, they have some, but not very many. Some girls that are there, if they don’t get into schools, if they don’t learn to read and write, they will be sold into prostitution.”

Donating just a little bit of time in Newtown, Kimmy said, gives the potential victims their life. According to Kimmy, the group has been meeting once every other week since January.

“It’s going to be an on-going thing,” she said, “because once we raise this money, we can raise extra money to get a bookshelf full of books, and we can get some more teachers.”

Another student working to paint rocks on Monday, NHS junior Jill Jagoe, said the program allows the students to work for a really great cause.

“I just thought it was a great idea that all of our friends, that go to school together, could have something that we all worked together to do,” said Jill. “Kind of like a lasting memory.”

Jill added the project is great for society as a whole.

“It is incredible the things we can do,” said Jill, “and I think this program is really great because, with just small amounts from so many people, we can do so much. We can help so many lives.”

Lewis Thompson said he is one of Dan’s friends who became involved in the project.

“It’s fun to help people,” Lewis said. “It’s a good time, because most of the time we are watching TV or doing our own thing, so it is nice to get out and help people.”

Parents have been a big help in raising money, according to Lewis.

“Everyone likes to help out,” he said. “So when we ask them, they are usually willing to help out.”

Dan said the main goal is to get one school started, but beyond that the group is hoping to start multiple schools. He also said they are hoping to visit the first school next year after the money is raised and the school is built.

So far, according to Dan, a couple thousand dollars has been raised by selling tickets to the Rock Ridge Country Club event, and a $2,000 donation was made recently by the Ridgefield Police Department.

“A school is $13,000,” said Dan. “So we were hoping for $26,000 or $29,000 within the next year or so.”

Dan and Lewis  said together they have been asking teachers at the school to donate, and going door-to-door telling people donations will go toward a great cause.

“We’re just trying to get this started,” said Dan.

“Everyone has got to do something,” Lewis finished.

For more information on the program visit www.cambodiaschools.com. To donate to the Newtown effort, send checks payable to “Two Schools One Song” to the Sclafanis’ address at 10 Glover Avenue, Newtown CT 06470. For more information on Two Schools One Song or to purchase tickets to the Rock Ridge Country Club event call Kate Sclafani at 203-426-9729.

Donations to the cause are tax-deductible, and Ms Sclafani asked all donors to request a receipt if wanted.