Dance of the Tarps
by George Grady Grossman
Chrauk Tiek, Cambodia. Everything that happens at the Grady Grossman School seems to be a drama. Teacher Sa Tum has not returned to school after Khmer New Year - rumor has it he is off proposing marriage - what should be the consequence to his monthly bonus? Long discussions over cooking equipment for the workers at the briquette production facility. Everything is about money. In the mean time, I meet with Production Manager Bun Vanna to figure out how to dry briquettes in the rainy season while reviewing the entire business model. We discuss future income-generation and sustainable projects such as dry rice farming and cultivating chilies on the land behind the school.
Sometimes I just have to walk away from all the drama and discussion, and visit the classrooms, just too keep myself focused an why I am here. My favorite is first grade because they are learning the Khmer alphabet.
When I arrived with our Country Director, Yoen Soek, Training Coordinator, Savin Oeun and our guest Alexandra Daniels from Arizona, we were greeted by the new music class. It was drizzling so we crowded into the unfinished “Peter Pisay” Library for two traditional songs and dancing. I’m happy to find Riat, the blind boy, on the drum and the girls dressed in their fancy costumes. The dance was basic compared to what I have seen performed by the Cambodian community in the United States but it’s a start.
Unfortunately since our last visit our master musician and teacher, Em Lout, was forced to quit because of failing health. The three new music teacher came to work for us after we heard them play at teacher Bonna Lida’s wedding in January. After the music and introductions, the leader Mr. Lim requested more instruments. The class is expanding and more students want to learn to play. Another set of traditional instruments costs about $600 and the teachers are eager to turn this little band into an income-generating business for the school, hiring out for local weddings. There is significant local demand for this service.
Our production facility has 18 energetic workers who can produce about 400 kilos of briquettes a day in the dry season but rainy season productivity is hampered by lack of a drying facility. Since we are selling all we can produce, increasing production is a priority. The rainy season in Cambodia means it’s hot and rainy almost every afternoon or evening. Sometimes it rains all night. Drying briquettes is really a dance of the tarps. They come off in the morning, then on again, then off again, all day long as the rain threatens.
Our workers are almost all women and many are widowed or divorced. The rest are girls who are not married and at some point dropped out of school. Several couple walk about 3 kilometers to work everyday. Since it’s so far for many, they don’t go home for lunch and cook together as a group. Chanu, the informal leader of the workers, always comes up to me and starts speaking in Khmer. She seems to think if she just talks slower I’ll somehow understand. Once Savin translates I hear that the group would like some proper cooking equipment. They estimate it will cost about $90 and I suggest they make a written request. Well feed workers make happy workers but we also want to build a partnership so I ask them, “what will you contribute?” First I watch a look of horror on their faces as Savin translates, then there is much discussion. I keep hearing “bprum roy” over and over - 500 Riel. They decide everyone will pitch in 500 Riel, workers and managers alike, and I agree to contribute the rest. Sok Sarith, our assistant manager, signs the request and I hand over the cash thinking they will go buy it in the morning. Much to my surprise within an hour, as the suns sets and we are dragging tarps over briquettes for the night, all the new kitchen equipment arrives. The next day they invited me for lunch.
I met with Bun Vanna, the Smart Choice Fuel production manager, to discuss the long term feasibility of manufacturing briquettes. One of my goals is to shift more ownership of the project from us to the village. Eventually our involvement will simply oversee how profit-sharing supports education projects at the school. Ultimately we hope to create a model whereby all income generating projects at the school will support literacy and life skills education. More local support equals better teachers, better teachers equals a better education for more students. Our goal is for all students to complete a primary education. Some may go on to secondary school. Bun Vanna, without my prompting, proposes such a plan and I am delighted. The plan is…. he is coming to Phnom Penh to discuss it on May 8. So stay tuned.
My last night we had a rousing party of karaoke and beer. Luckily the blasting karaoke is only in Khmer and I don’t have to sing but I danced with everyone. Teachers, musicians, the school director, community leaders, workers, managers and many children all dance and sing and laugh. In Kari’s presentation she always mentions that the “relationship matters as much as the money.” This is that moment.
These are good people who have had a hard go stretching all the way back to the Viet Nam war. Some are former Khmer Rouge, some are Souy hill tribe people, some are from other provinces displaced after the war and came looking for a new home, and some came recently to illegally log in the Aural Wildlife Sanctuary. The problems can be enormous when you are trying to survive. At midnight I dance a wary jig to my room, sneaking away so as not to be pulled back on the dance floor. I’m exhausted and go to sleep. They party for two more hours.
