The Cambodian Children’s Painting Project to exhibit in Newcastle
• Original children’s art for sale to support the education of Cambodian children
The Cambodian Children’s Painting Project (CCPP) is to exhibit a range of original paintings by almost 100 Cambodian children in Newcastle on July 5th at The Biscuit Factory.
The exhibition is part of a 24-city European tour by CCPP this spring and summer to raise money, vital to provide ongoing educational support to more than 100 children in the Sihanoukville region of Cambodia.
The exhibitions opening to the public is from 18:30-21:00 on Monday the 5th of July, with 100 small and 20 large paintings for sale from between 15-150 pounds each.
Felix Brooks-church, General Manager of the Cambodian Children’s Painting Project (CCPP) comments: “The current economic climate has significantly affected tourism numbers in Cambodia, so rather than waiting for the world to come to us, we thought we’d bring the children’s paintings to the world.
“CCPP works directly with families in Cambodia to make it possible for more than 100 children to attend school. We create a safe and supportive place where the children can learn, play and express themselves through daily activities such as painting, drawing and sculpture, as well as sports, English and computing classes. We also provide food, medical care and clean c
lothing – which all plays a part in ensuring that the children stay in school for as long as possible.
“The majority of the children involved in the Project live in terrible conditions and lack regular access to food, clean water and medical care. They have little or no education and make money by collecting cans and plastic bottles. Sadly, they are often the victims of violent abuse and paedophilia.
“Our hope is that education can help counteract the effects of poverty and that the children will go on to become active members of their own communities, helping to shape the future of Cambodia.
“This European tour would not have been possible without the support of past volunteers who have helped us in Cambodia over the past three years. They have been instrumental in organizing each event in their home towns, spending much of their time and money to set up the events. The overall reaction to the exhibitions has been inspiring – it’s truly a global network of people that keeps our doors open.”
For more information:
Rachel E. Brown, The Biscuit Factory
+44 778 999 7636
rachel@thebiscuitfactory.com
www.thebiscuitfactory.com
Felix Brooks-church, CCPP Director
+44 790 337 3881
ccppexhibitions@gmail.com
www.letuscreate.org
Time and Date:
18:30-21:00 Monday the 5th of July
The Biscuit Factory
www.thebiscuitfactory.com
16 Stoddart Street
Shieldfield
Newcastle Upon Tyne
Tyne And Wear
NE2 1AN0191 261 1103
About us:
The Cambodian Children’s Painting Project (CCPP) is a grass roots initiative working with some of the country’s poorest children. Cambodia is one of the very poorest countries of South East Asia and CCPP’s aim is to create a brighter future for these kids through art and education.
CCPP is a continuation of an activity initiated by Roger Dixon, a professional artist, who came to Cambodia to paint on Sihanoukville’s beaches in the early 1990s. The local children were intrigued by this man and his paints and wanted to try it for themselves. So Roger brought the necessary materials with him the following season and the children started to paint. The activity proved so popular and successful that Roger made it into a regular feature during his annual visits to Sihanoukville, financing it from his limited personal means. Backed up by an enthusiastic group of local volunteers the activity grew in size and scope, and diversified.
In April 2006, CCPP was registered as an NGO to provide the project with a legal status and to make it possible to sustain and expand its activities. Since its humble beginnings almost three years ago, over four hundred children have been a part of the initiative. CCPP now provides the children with not only access to painting, craft and sports activities, but also two meals a day, access to medical and dental assistance and most importantly, an opportunity to receive a proper education. CCPP also runs English and computing classes in-house, in addition to sponsoring all the children to attend Khmer school full time.
In 2007 CCPP moved from its modest beach shack to a safer location off the beach, more appropriate for the children and their needs. The new centre has a range of facilities including a large painting studio, clean bathrooms and a full kitchen, as well as an indoor gallery space, education classrooms and volunteer accommodation.
Most of the regularly attending children no longer sell their bracelets and wares along the beach, yet they continue to earn money to help support their families through the sale of their paintings from the CCPP gallery. Paintings are sold for $4. Two dollars go to the child’s family, and $2 goes into CCPP’s communal education fund which we use to offer all our children a chance to attend Khmer school, paying school fees and providing uniforms, bags, books and pens and any ongoing costs such as one-on-one tutoring.
The children now spend their spare time playing, painting and interacting with CCPP’s staff and volunteers at the centre. In a sense, they have been given back their youth, with a chance to be kids again for a couple of hours a day, and are protected, out of harm’s way.