February 2023: X + Y = ?
X + Y = ?
Our community has a seemingly insatiable hunger for knowledge and growth. So it’s essential we stay nimble and fresh in our approach to feeding their progress. No immovable guidelines. No cookie-cutters (outside of the kitchen).
There are no formulas to guarantee specific outcomes in what we do here at Heartprint. We can and do rely on academic research, skills and experience, the lessons of victories and failures. Instinct, sometimes. Often, simply trying a new approach changes an entire dynamic and outcome.
One new approach is an Inclusion Electives pilot program we have just introduced. It’s an expansion of our ID Active program, initially established to better integrate young people with intellectual challenges into our community. We have had great success, but it was time to rethink and refresh.
Now, children with and without special needs can elect to participate in programs designed to introduce new skills to help them care for themselves and become active, successful members of society. They will work alongside each other throughout the elective programs - just as they need to work together in “real life.”
Ultimately, these electives will be turned into workplace training and job prospects. The first elective offered is gardening; the next will be cooking. Individuals will find their niche, even if it means trying their hand at several different electives. And they will deepen their visceral understanding of their shared humanity, their similarities, and the beauty of their differences.
It’s the same with helping the children and youths in our Community Centre find their own best ways of expressing themselves - whether through creative endeavors such as those now writing their own stories and others writing their own songs or through the Youth Group’s impressive English capabilities now enabling them to have lively debates of the day in a new language.
All of this progress results from our original (and continuing) focus on the basics: a safe and sanitary place to live, commitment to education and after-school learning assistance, computers, music basics, creative writing, critical thinking, and good nutrition, among many others.
We want all of our community members to have the basics. After that, we want to keep expanding ways for them to grow into their own space, own their strengths, and create their personal formulas for success.
In math, we can teach them that X + Y = Z.
In the exploration of their own abilities, interests, and skills, they learn a more precious formula: X + Y = ME.
On another front: we have around 20 families (the numbers continue to rise) on our waiting list for a new home build. If you can contribute at all, or would like to explore ways you can help us raise funds right from your home, please contact us directly.
We are so grateful for every dollar.
We are also grateful for the volunteers who continue arriving in Siem Reap to help with our home building and in our Community Centre. If you are interested in being a volunteer, please have a look here.
As always, thank you.
PS: To see our day-to-day activities with great photos and videos, be sure to follow us on Facebook