Group Seeks to Help US-Cambodian Teens
The Cambodian Reconciliation Committee, which held a ceremony June 21 to mark its 8th anniversary, seeks to show students the support t
A ceremony at MosquedaCommunity Center in Fresno,Calif., was held last week in support ofCambodian teenagers in the US. The Cambodian Reconciliation Committee, which held theceremony June 21 to mark its 8 anniversary, seeks to show studentsthe support they have in the community, said organizer Sopheaktra Nou. The committee helps teens with behavioral problems get backin school and offers family and individual counseling to identify underlyingissues. So far, more than 200 graduates have been helped by thecommittee, and the June 21 event honored 22 former drop-outs who later returnedto school and graduated, as well as 12 graduates from Duncan Poly Tech High,one Fresno City Collegegraduate, and one California State University of Fresno graduate. "We do this to thank both the students and their parents for the hard workand effort of completing high school," Sopheaktra Nou said. "Webelieve that the accomplishments of our Cambodian youths must be recognized bythe entire community, not just their families." Dinny Kim, a Cambodian-American police officer, said young people who don'tcomplete high school face many more problems in later life than people whograduate. "Parents neglected to pay attention to the child's needs for affection, refusalof or failure to provide needed care, and permission of drug or alcohol use bythe child: this parental behavior can lead to the child's poor self-image,"Dinny Kim said. Fresno City Council Blong Xiong said he encouraged the youth to participate andto ask for help. "Don't be afraid, don't be shied," Xiong said. "I let them knowthat we are here for them and that they are not alone. We've gone through thesame thing that they have, and we are here to support them because theirgeneration is very important." "I hope the future Cambodian generation stays out of trouble," saidTola Yang, a Cambodian-American deputy district attorney for Fresno Countysaid. "I want them to make sure that they keep their lives straight andmake sure they are doing well and not committing crimes." Savy Yang, a radiation therapist and former Fresno high school student, said in theneighborhoods where she grew up the main messages were clear. "How do I get rich, or at least do well in life?"she said. "An aspiration for every Cambodian-American is to do well, or atleast to be able to succeed or fail on his or her own steam, and to be able totake care of their respective families and responsibilities."