Hai (6yrs) looks almost identical to his brother Heang. He is now speaking English almost more clearly than he speaks Khmer and loves going to English school. He’s only a tiny thing but he is very independent and will keep up with any game the other kids play. He knows his manners and shouts “THANK YOU” like a soldier to make sure you’ve heard him. He loves swimming and playing with the dogs but most of all he loves spending time with his older brothers and sister who he had missed for so long.

Heang (7yrs) is bright, helpful and charming little guy who never fails to win the hearts of  CCT’s visitors. He’s small for a seven year old, but wise beyond his years. He’s often found sitting around with the adults having a good old yarn about life …and aeroplanes. Heang is not academic but is passionate about many other things, one of which is aviation. He tells Tara often how much he looks forward to the day he’ll be able to fly her to and from Australia. He is also very keen on horses since the day Tara took him for a ride, and hasn’t given up asking for a pony, or at least a puppy.

Hing (8yrs) is a studious boy and is ranked 4th in his grade, out of 43 students. He’s mad about fish and is always tending to the ‘fish farm’ which has grown into a rather beautiful underwater world, teeming with brightly coloured freshwater fish. Hing is also a talented artist who has amassed quite a spectacular collection of drawings of dragons and other characters from Khmer mythology. He’s a groovy dancer with moves that would put Michael Jackson to shame.

Roua (8yrs) is a quiet, slightly built eight-year-old who tries his best to be well behaved, listen in class and help out at CCT where he can. He has a very gentle nature and rarely gets into any mischief. Like a typical boy he loves cars, boats, trains, motorbikes and anything with an engine that goes boom! He also like to eat… a lot!

Pearon (12yrs) is a very mature 12-year-old who can always be relied on to pull the younger boys into line. His serious face hides a kind and generous boy with a great sense of humour and an infectious laugh. He’s also a talented artist and shows a great aptitude for music and guitar in particular.

Nacha (13yrs) is bright, talented and athletic. Already a gifted artist, singer, and dancer, perhaps his most impressive skill is acrobatics. Nacha studies at circus school six days a week and has mastered such acts as walking on his hands, backflips, riding a unicycle and juggling.He also puts his skills to work at home where Tara's caught him scaling a coconut tree with monkey-like ease, after a fresh coconut. He’s cheeky with a brilliant smile that he’s not afraid to use.

Som Nung (10yrs) is a ten-years-old but looks no older than six or seven. She’s had a extremely hard life but is now doing very well at CCT. She often says how much she loves living at CCT and how she wishes she could have come sooner. She’s sweet-natured and polite to the point of angelic, but don’t be fooled! She’s brave, cheeky and a survivor.She only started school for the first time when she arrived at CCT in 2007 but already loves it. She is very capable, tidy, well organised, conscientious and a pleasure to have around.

Too (12yrs) is extremely clever, boisterous and full of life. She’s currently ranked 2nd in her year of over 40 students and excels at English school too. She’s always well behaved and loves making friends with the visitors to CCT. Unlike many Khmer girls her age, she’s not self conscious and is not afraid to look a little silly in order to have some fun!

Nyite (13yrs) arrived at CCT with her youngest brother Hai. She is a very pretty, sweet natured girl who is sensible, mature and is always helping to look out for her three younger brothers. She arrived at CCT at 12yrs old and had never before been to school. She attends English school with the other kids but studies Khmer at home with a private tutor to help bring her up to speed to start school in 2009. She’s smart and is learning almost too quickly.

Samuie is a sweet, shy young girl who loves to laugh. In fact laughing is her answer to a lot of things in life. She tries hard at school and pulls her weight at CCT. She loves to play with the younger kids and make them laugh. She’s also a huge fan of Khmer cakes!

Premprey is shy and conservative but not afraid to speak her mind or pull the other kids into line. She loves a good joke and a hearty meal. She is a talented masseuse and is the residential knuckle cracker at CCT. She is also takes her Buddhist practices very seriously and is the first to pull you up if your clothes are a little too revealing. She’s a popular member of CCT with an adorable smile.

Torn is a strong-willed, intelligent girl. She started school at 13 but was recently advanced from grade 2 -5. She studies hard and loves to read. She’s also a big fan of food and is delights in having a fuller figure than the rest of the girls. She also loves to have a good laugh with her best friend, Premprey.

Sinet,18 years old, is also on a partial reintegration programme. She’s on basic sponsorship to enable her to live out of the centre and concentrate on finishing her studies, continuing on to university in due course. Sinet started school at eleven but because of her diligent and conscientious attitude has excelled in her studies. For someone who couldn’t read or write before age eleven, Sinet has become an astoundingly avid reader. In fact, there is not a single Khmer novel in the library or bookshop that she hasn’t read. She’s always waiting eagerly for new books to be written. Her love of books stems from her thirst for knowledge. The library is her sanctuary where she’s spent countless hours reading, tidying and caring for the books. She’s a huge fan of the Australian ABC radio station that is translated into Khmer and will sink her teeth into any Khmer newspaper, magazine or website. She’s trying hard to get a better grasp on the English language to open herself up to this limitless source of stories and information. She has great pride in Khmer culture and loves to watch the ancient art form of Apsara Dancing and listen to the Khmer music composed before the Pol Pot regime. Sinet is also a natural leader and often helps care for the younger kids, setting a good example for the older kids. She’s quick-witted, assertive, compassionate, generous and very humble. We all have no doubt she is headed for great things. 

Veasna, 19 years old, is a sweet young man who has just recently transitioned into our community reintegration program. Veasna is lover of music and is very accomplished on a range of traditional Khmer instruments and also recently started learning the guitar. Veasna’s godparents have come into possession of some land in which he will be the manager of the crops grown and sold. He’s very excited to have such an opportunity and has some big plans and aspirations for the future. CCT will continue to provide him support over the next 3 years until he is secured and set up so he can sufficiently take care of himself. We’re all very proud and happy for him.

Sophy, 19 years old, is also apart of the community reintegration programme and is currently studying full-time to be a beautician at the Battambang beauty school. She’s achieving very good grades and has been told if this continues there’ll be a job for her when the course ends.

Siniet,18 years old, is a very pretty girl, who stays upbeat in the face of some serious health issues. She has a beautiful singing voice and loves to sing popular Khmer music. She has lots of friends at her local school and likes to spend her free time with them. She’s smart and likes to practice speaking English with visitors to CCT. Recently her school grades have seen a great improvement. She has a rebellious nature but is innately a kind, caring young woman with a real maternal instinct.

Annie had her first birthday at CCT in 2008 and despite her horribly unfortunate start to life she is now growing into a healthy, beautiful little girl.
Annie keeps everyone entertained at CCT. Her favorite pass time is dancing the head bob or the waltz while listening to anything from a ring tone to Bob Dylan or Bach. Her musical interests don’t stop there. She loves listening to the guitar, playing with the guitar, sitting on the guitar and kissing it too, from time to time. She has a boisterous laugh that is always surprising to hear coming out of such a little person. She loves eating almost anything and playing with her older brothers and sisters.

Jet is a strong little guy who is always a keen competitor in CCT games of marbles, jump rope, shooting hoops and the like. He is very clever and with the help of CCT tutors now usually ranks within the top five of a class of forty. He’s a very competent swimmer and shows off his moves whenever we go out on excursions to the local pool.