Butterflies and flowers teach valuable lessons

In the remote village of Chhuk Sar, in northern Cambodia, a small local hall is being used as pre-school centre giving basic education to 35 children from families with poor and busy parents, thanks to a Plan project run in partnership with local organisation Krousar Yoeung.

It is almost 10 o'clock, time to go home for lunch, but the children at the pre-school are avidly watching a play staged by their peers and narrated by the teacher:

"Then the rain began to pour down. The yellow and red butterflies cannot fly on because their wings will get wet, so they need to find a place to take shelter from the rain. The butterflies see a red flower."

Four-year-old Sina who is acting as the red butterfly asks with an unclear voice, "Sister Red Flower, can we both stay under you because we are very tired?"

Pretending to look serious, five-year-old Ten as the red flower answers, "Red Butterfly, you can stay under me but your friend cannot because she is a different colour to us."

Supposed to be disappointed, but unable to suppress a big smile, Sina says, "No, if you don't allow my friend to take shelter with me too, we will both stay out in the rain."

While the two little butterflies are flying around the platform sadly, the teacher continues her narration: "Taking pity on the two poor butterflies, the sun orders the rain to stop falling. The sun starts to shine gently on the butterflies. And the sun scolds the flower."

Morn, a boy of five who is acting as the sun, speaks his part. "Red Flower, you should not discriminate and choose who to help like this. Everyone has an equal right to seek help."

Prior to Plan programme intervention in the Siem Reap province, pre-school attendance was low due to the absence of government funding and a lack of awareness among parents of the importance of education. Plan's pre-school activity, which also includes related awareness raising for parents, is bringing about better physical and mental growth for small children and a change in parent's attitude.

"Parents now are more confident and supportive of the pre-school program because their children are safe here. Small children love games, and through educational games they pick up information about health and morals in addition to drawing, basic calculation and number and hand movement that will prepare them for primary schooling," said Yun Ry, one of the two preschool teachers.

After decades of civil war in Cambodia, fear, violence, discrimination and distrust are still present concerns, but the children of Chhuk Sar pre-school, the next generation of Cambodians, are learning that everyone has a right to protection and charity, no matter their race, religion or sex.