THE COOK, MALEE: ~ Sponsor Needed ($50/mnth)

A note from Heartland: Before the New Start School began, the children had to work all day collecting rubbish to earn enough money for just one bowl of rice. When we asked why they weren't at school, they told us, "If we don't work, we don't eat". We asked them if they would attend a school that provided food for them. They eagerly answered, "Yes!”

Our cook, Malee, has the important role of preparing delicious and nutritious food for the New Start School students each day. On a budget, she manages to provide scrumptious hot meals of rice or noodles, with vegetables and meat. When the meal is ready the kids race to the table and devour every morsel.

Malee, a mother of two, spends time with the kids over lunch, chatting about their day, always smiling and listening. At the end of the meal she clears the table and washes all the dishes, ready for tomorrow. She's one of the few kind, caring and stable adults the children have in their lives.


My name is Malee and I am 35 years old. My husband, Mee-it Bon-Seyng and I have two children, (a son who is 13-years-old and a daughter who is 11-years-old). Jesus has been so good to us.

I have been cooking for the New Start Children for a year now, and before that I was the cook at the Windy Village Feeding Project, so I have worked with Heartland for a long time. I really like my job.

WHO-AN ~ Kindly sponsored by David & Danielle of Newcastle

My name is Who-an and I am a 12 year old boy.

I was born in another village, but I have lived in the slums all my life. I live with my parents who sell balloons to earn money for the family and I have eight older siblings.

My favourite colour is red and my favourite sport is badminton.

What I love about my new school is that I can come and learn to read. I also now know Jesus and He provides food and clothes for me. I am very happy that I can come and learn because in the future I want to be a Doctor.

OWN: Kindly sponsored by Sharon & Craig of St.George.

My name is Own and I am six years old. I live with my Mum (my parents have separated) and my four older siblings in town. When I have free-time I love playing soccer, and my favourite colour is Red.

Before I came to the New Start School I did not attend any school, but I love it here and I enjoy studying and don’t want to stop coming to this school. I want to give thanks to Jesus because He has helped me and my family a lot. In the future I want to be a driver.

BOW VAR: Kindly sponsored by Moira of St.George.

My name is Bow Var and I am a 15 year old boy. My family (all nine of us) live at the slums. I have three older siblings, and three younger siblings. Then there's my Mum, Lim Beau, who cares for the family while my Father Rett collects rubbish for recycling and sometimes he works on the Heartland farm.

I enjoy playing soccer and Badminton on my days off and my favourite colour is Red. In the future I want to be a Truck Driver.

Before I came to the New Start School I would spend all day long rummaging through rubbish bins looking for cans etc and collecting rubbish for recycling. Now that I've started coming to school I don't do this anymore, I can read and write, and I have many friends (although I still enjoy spending time alone sometimes).

I want to thank Jesus because He has changed my life and He has helped my whole family. Jesus also heals. One time I had a sick stomach so I prayed to Jesus and asked Him to heal me and He did!

MAP: Kindly sponsored by Glenys of Sunshine Coast.

My name is Map and I am a 9 year old boy. I live with my family at the Slums.

I have four younger siblings and my Mum (Nang) cares for the family while my Dad (Vot) works loading heavy things into trucks.

My favourite colour is blue and I enjoy playing hide and seek.

Before I came to the New Start School I went to another school, but heavy rain caused a tree to fall over and destroy the school! I love to come and study at my new school where I get to learn about Jesus. Jesus helps me with my studies and I am not scared of the dark anymore. In the future I want to study at Bible College and serve God.

SOTEE-A: Kindly sponsored by Brenda of Townsville.

My name is Sotee-a and I am 8 years old. My favourite colour is red and when I have time off school I love to watch TV (except we don't have a TV so I go and watch it at my neighbour's house).

I live at the slums with my Mum whose name is Rain and my five older siblings. My Mum is unemployed and my Dad died.

Before I came to the New Start School I would beg on the streets all day and if I wanted something I would just steal it, but now I don’t steal because I know that it is wrong and Jesus has changed my heart. I know that Jesus will help my family every day, He always provides food for us. Thank-you Jesus.

Also since coming to the New Start School I can read and write, so I am very happy about this. In the future I want to have a job delivering rice.

JANDAR: Kindly sponsored by Jolie of St.George.

I am a 9-year-old girl and my name is Jandar. I was born at the slums and have lived there all my life. I have been attending the New Start School since it began.

My parents are separated and my Mum, Oo-ung, doesn't work. I have eight siblings (two of which are older). My favourite game is soccer and my favourite colour is red.

Before I came to the New Start School I would just go for walks and I had no purpose, but now I know Jesus and He makes my heart happy. I like my school so much, learning is fun. I love my teacher the most, so in the future I want to be a Teacher too!

CHANRY: KIndly sponsored by Lisa and Anthony of Lennox Head.

My Name is Chanry, I am an 11-year-old girl and I have lived at the slum my whole life.

My Mother (Beau) cares for the children while my Father (Rett) collects rubbish and sometimes works for Heartland. I have five siblings (two are older). My favourite colour is red and I enjoy playing with balloons.

Before I came to the New Start School I looked after my younger siblings, but now I can come to school and learn. I love my school. I also now know Jesus. I am very happy that I can come to school and learn because in the future I want to be a Doctor.

Note from Cherie: “It all started with Chanry! You see in 2007 we went to visit Chanry at her home. As a result of seeing the terrible living conditions of her village (the slum) we made a plea for help. A Sydney-based organisation, "Food For Everyone" (F4E), put their hand up to feed 32 families at the slums for as long as they could. They have managed nearly a full year so far and what an incredible difference it has made in the lives of the families there!

To the F4E team, on behalf of Heartland and all the families at the slum, "Okgun Cherran Na!! " (Thank you so much!!) and a big Thank You to God for setting it all up and making sure that we went to visit Chanry that day."

JAN-TON: Kindly sponsored by Helen of Rockhampton.

My name is Janton, I am a 10 year old boy and I have lived at the slums my whole life. My favourite sport is Badminton, and my favourite colour is red.

My Mum (Mai-lee) cares for our family by doing all the cleaning and cooking, while my Dad (Rett) works as a Builder's labourer. I have two older siblings and two younger.

Before I came to the New Start School I had no purpose, I would just walk around all day and one day I was walking along the road when a moto came toward me swerving all over the road and it hit me! All I remember is that it hurt a lot and I now have several scars on my face.

I like the New Start School heaps and I have a lot of friends here. I also know Jesus now and I'm happy about that because Jesus saves people.

In the future I want to be a Builder’s Labourer just like my Dad.

NAR: Kindly sponsored by Brooke of Townsville.

My real name is Meng, but all my friends call me Nar. I am a 9 year old boy and my Mum, Dad, older sister and I have all lived at the slum for a very long time.

My Mother (Vey) works as a seamstress for an organization, while my Father (Chorn) works as a Policeman and although both my parents have good jobs we don’t have enough money to move because sometimes my parents drink and waste the money.

My favourite colour is red and my favourite game is badminton.

Before I came to the New Start School I would beg at the markets all day. Now I attend school in the day and I still have to beg at the markets until 10pm at night (Nar yawned while saying this) and I give all the money to my Mother. I like coming to school and I am very happy when my Mother says I can come and study, rather than begging all day long. I really want to learn English and I like making friends and I am grateful to know Jesus, because Jesus helps people.

In the future I want a job cleaning motos and cars.

THE TEACHER, NAROM: Kindly sponsored by Brian and Marissa of Hervey Bay.

My name is Narrom and I am 25 years old. I am the youngest in my family, with four older brothers and six older sisters. I love Jesus and know that He can do all things.

I was born and raised in Kampong Cham, went to Teacher's College here and taught at a school for three years before having a change and working in a hotel for a while. Then I came back to teaching and started working for Heartland teaching at the New Start School. I like teaching and really enjoy working for Heartland. The children in the New Start School have had difficult lives, and that can make my job challenging at times, but the rewards are so worth it!

SREY NIC: Kindly sponsored by Kylie of Underwood.

My name is Srey Nic and I am 10 years old. I live with my family in the poor part of town where my Mother (Tee) cares for the family and collects rubbish for recycling, while my Father (Vee) works as a Moto Taxi Driver. I have 11 siblings (who have many different Fathers) and all my brothers and sisters are older than me except for one.

My favourite colour is yellow.

On my days off I help my Mum in the house with the cooking, washing and caring for the other children.

Since I have started coming to the New Start School I have many new friends and now I know Jesus. He helps me. One time my Mother was very angry with me and wanted to hit me so I prayed to Jesus and He changed her heart. I love school and my Mother is very happy that I can study. In the future I want to be a teacher.

SREY VEE: Kindly sponsored by Kelsie of Atherton.

My name is Srey-Vee and I am a 16 year old girl. I live in the poor part of town with my Mother (Sree) and my four siblings of which only one is younger (his name is Own and he also attends the New Start School). When I was a baby my Father died and my Mother re-married (but now they're separated).

We used to be really poor, but Heartland has helped us a lot and now my Mum even has a job as a Cleaner and a Cook at the Provincial Governor’s House, so things are a little easier now. My favourite colour is red, and when we have a holiday from school I enjoy visiting new places and new people.

Before I came to the New Start School I never even thought about the future, but now I have a hope and a future because of Jesus, He has changed my life. I love coming to school, as I have many friends here and I think my teacher is fantastic. In the future I would love to open up my own hair salon. I'm so excited about this I spend all my free time training with my neighbour who is a hairdresser and teaches me without charging.

SREY NEEUNG: Kindly sponsored by Rachel of the Gold Coast.

My name is Srey Nee-ung, I am a 13 year old girl and my favourite colour is red.

I live in the slums with my Mother, Beau, and my four younger siblings. I almost had another sibling, but the baby died before it was born because my parents had a big fight together.

Two months ago we all lived in Memot (between Kampong Cham and the Vietnam Border) but we moved to Kampong Cham because my father came to look for work. A month and a half ago, my Father’s friend invited him to go out and while he was out my Father witnessed two other men fighting. He tried to break the fight up, but they turned on him and beat him to death. My Father’s friend stood by and did nothing. I miss my Father. Now my Mum does her best to care for the family, I help her around the house while she sells vegetables to support us.

Before I came to the New Start School I had to beg in the market place, but now I am very happy because we get dinner at school so I don’t have to beg anymore. I love my school and most of all my teacher. I also know Jesus now and He helps me and answers my prayers. One night I went to sleep and dreamt that Jesus spoke to me saying, “Srey Nee-ung, I will look after you” so I now trust in Jesus. In the future I want to make clothes and help my Mum and family by providing money.

At the New Start School ~ 22.03.09

Class Photo - October '08

Here the students start their first week of schooling at the new Heartland Centre, with new uniforms, new tables and chairs, gorgeous views, a cool breeze and best of all: NO MOSQUITOS! The students are very happy with their new classroom.

Contact Details

New Start School Children Sponsorship: $42/month

For more information, please contact Andrew and Gail Cook of Heartland International: office@heartlandinternational.org.au or visit their website: http://www.heartlandinternational.org.au/