Read about the CEO’s latest trip to Cambodia which included a blessing of the boys dormitory at LaValla school (December, 2017).
As is the custom in the Marists’ LaValla school Cambodia, a blessing of the new dormitory for boys was held in mix of Christian and Kymer traditions. The dormitory’s major donor was the Little King Movement Baranda, QLD so the blessing ceremony involving the LaValla students was help over until the immersion group of Marist College Ashgrove were present on the property. The students of this Australian Marist school have a tradition of volunteering with the Little King Movement (LKM) over many years and were worthy witness on their behalf as fellow Queensland’s of the LKM and their many generous donors.
The dormitory accommodates 30 boys and increases the residential capacity to 95 students who all have access to suitable designed housing and bathrooms to facilitate fully independent living with their diverse physical disabilities.
LaValla school is the only registered primary school in Cambodia solely for children with physical disabilities. Many students arrive to commence their primary education as teenagers, even up to 17 year old, having been excluded from their local schools. The new dormitory will offer them access to accelerated primary education completing if possible two years of education in one and thus graduating for secondary school or vocational training in three years. Some of the current 2017 Year 1 students will move after one semester to Grade 3 as they show promise and work diligently in this homely environment where the dignity of all is at the core of the school’s mission.