History of BB in Cambodia By Chak Mun on Monday, October 10, 2011 at 2:02pm History of BB in Cambodia In 1994, one Bruce Carlton, a missionary with the Baptist Church in Cambodia learnt from a Singaporean, Mr Bob Yap, a member of Barker Road Methodist Church about the BB Ministry. Mr Bob Yap had been working in Cambodia for several years then. Bruce Carlton then came to visit BB in Singapore, learnt about the ministry and was then, convinced that the BB ministry could do a lot of good for the community in Cambodia. . During his (Bruce) visit, he visited BB Campus, attended an Executive Meeting as observer, visited BB-GB Campsite, the 40th Singapore Company, a Girls’ Brigade Company and GB HQ. From the outset, we determined that we should plant seeds and let the Brigade in Cambodia determine the form best suited to their own situation, and not force them into our image. The first introduction to the Boys’ Brigade was conducted in April 95 at the Church of Christ our Peace, an Anglican Church with Rev Don Cormack who was most supportive of the BB. Cambodian pastors and youth leaders from various indigenous churches came for the induction and the training focus on BB Philosophy and Method, Uniform, Badge System, a typical BB Parade, First Aid and some indoor games.And they were sold on the idea of having the BB. Members of this party were Michael Moorthy ( BBM President ), Pang Seng Hock, Ong Teong Hoon and Richard Tan ( then Captain of the 40th Coy ). Mr. Pang Seng Hock was appointed Cambodia Co-ordinator. With the sudden departures of Bruce and Don, our local ‘Cambodia Brigade’ Committee continued with Pastors Hieng (Anglican Church of Christ our Peace); Nara (Church of Christ), Kakda (Russey Kheo Baptist); Uong Rien (Open Gate Christian Fellowship); and OMF Missionaries Alice Complain, Alvin Tan and Dr. Yew On (ex-BB Malaysia). Our OMF missionary advisors were very dedicated and played vital roles in interpreting, training and guiding our progress and safety. The Girls Brigade was subsequently invited to join us as trainers. However, practical difficulties in the partnership with the Girls Brigade began to surface pretty early in the day. GB trainers tried to implement GB training for Girls only, but this proved impractical due to lack of interpreters and shortage of space. Furthermore, except for the Anglican church, the other 3 churches had resource issues and they were more keen on having a “mixed gender” ministry instead of having two separate ministries catering to both male and female genders. The Girls Brigade was bent on having ministry for Girls only and they had wanted to “carve out” the Girls to be part of the Girls Brigade. On this account, the Girls Brigade decided to disengage from us and they went separate ways in 1998. Regular training for Cambodian pastors and youth leaders from our 4 member churches were conducted by Seng Hock, GB trainers, Alice, Alvin and Dr. Yew On. Our curriculum covered Devotions, Worship, Song Leading, Drama, Bandsmanship, First Aid, Water Safety and Games Leading. The churches keenly applied our training to their youth and children’s work. Uniforms and drill were kept to a minimum, due to the uncertain, tense political situation. In March 1997, 12 people died and more than a hundred were injured in a grenade attack on an opposition rally in Phom Penh. In the July 1997 coup, hostilities broke out in Phnom Penh, with at least 200 people killed as a result. One Brigade member died in the chaos and another was shot but survived. Our July training was cancelled and all Brigade activities were suspended for safety reasons. When peace returned to the country, our regular training resumed in September 1997. In addition to previous trainees, fresh faces surfaced. Mr. Pang began to refer to trainees collectively as ‘Primers’. 4 key Cambodian leaders attended an NCO training in Malaysia with Mr. Pang in January 1999. This trip was a great eye-opener for the Cambodian leaders. Further trainings continued in Phnom Penh. In 2000 Cambodian Primers from various churches gathered for training and emergency sand-bagging during the bad flood season engulfing Phnom Penh. Enthusiasm was high. The Cambodia Brigade committee decided it was a good time to launch uniforms and agreed on a design for officers and Primers. That year, Mr.Pang wrote a review with recommendations (1995 – 2000) to the BB Overseas Extension Committee. Unfortunately, he was away on leave and unable to personally explain the report to the Committee. It was decided that Mr. Pang should be re-assigned as Trainer and a new Cambodia Co-ordinator appointed. In November 2000, hostilities broke again: 8 people were killed and over a dozen injured in a fierce firefight in Phnom Penh. Since then, momentum for Brigade work in Phnom Penh was lost. Boys’ Brigade Learning Centre. It was not until 2002, during the transition from Mr John Tan who was then the President of the BB to Mr Choo Gim Kang, that the idea of establishing a presence in Cambodia was re-visited. This time, it was the Youth Expedition Programme (YEP) that was the catalyst. YEPs were undertaken with the intention of promoting/starting BB in Cambodia; as well as to instill “mission-mindedness” among our young BB leaders. It is worth noting that the first full-time worker we have in Cambodia, Mr Reuben Yong, the teacher in charge of the ……. Coy and his successor, Mr Kong Chak Mun, Captain of 28th Coy, were participants in these YEPs. After several teams of BB Boys had gone to Cambodia on the YEP, the initial ones were led by Mr Albert Ching, then BB Executive Secretary, and facilitated by Choo Gim Kang, it was felt that for their contribution to the Cambodian communities to be more meaningful, a somewhat “permanent” presence should be established instead of merely making trips to Cambodia. It was the strong suggestion by Mr Tay Puan Siong, an Old Boy from the 12th Coy that the efforts were made to secure a “permanent” base in Cambodia. In late 2002 or early 2003, our Mr Albert Ching got in touch with Pastor Lau Pak Soon, a missionary Pastor in late 2002 or early 2003 and they met in Phnom Penh. From this meeting, they learnt about the work that Pastor Lau was involved in and he then mentioned about the piece of land in Siem Reap and that was how the idea of a partnership between Mr Sokreaksa Himm and the BBLC was born. The land upon which BBLC was sited was in the name of Mr Sokreaksa Himm The persistence of Mr Tay in advocating and persuading Mr Albert Ching, the then Executive Secretary of the BB, in establishing a base in Cambodia instead of moving from locations to locations must not be discounted in the establishment of the BB Learning Centre. The master-plan was created by Mr Cheang Kok Keong, who was trained as an architect, and was then, also the Captain of the 44th Co. He was the one to design the BBLC. Mr Osbert Chew, who was then Vice-President for Development, was responsible for seeing the BBLC project through. A paper for the Vision of BBLC was presented and the Exco approved a budget of SGD150,000 over 3 years. It is envisaged that the BBLC will also become an incubator for new Christian ministries, through the following methods: • Provide venue for worship and study for new start-up churches. The churches will grow over time and on to bigger premises and come back to offer help. • Courses provided at the BBLC will attract interests from local government and businesses, and will open up opportunities for further expansion, and collaboration, to further the BB ministry in Cambodia. A single storey building was built at a cost of USD36,000 in 2005 and it provided tuition in English and IT. Since then, on a daily basis, between 60 to 80 students have benefited from their involvement with our Learning Centre. In 2009, an multi-purpose hall was built with donations from Rotary Club .____ and ____ of Thailand, to cater to the increasing number of students using the Centre. A wi-fi has been installed and internet and emailing capabilities were added to the menu of IT learning for the children in addition to learning English. The Centre has been receiving foreigners to interact with the students and these visitors are largely from groups organized by the YMCA Singapore, BB Coys and some churches. Our first missionary to be based there was Mr Reuben Yong. ( Reuben was a teacher in Charge of the _____ Coy in his school and he heard God’s call to be a missionary in the BB Learning Centre. He spent a total of ____ years, during which time, he married another BB Officer, Ms Lim Jia Ying who had been visiting the BBLC with the Boys. Ibn 200___ They left Siem Reap after his wife conceived and his position was taken over by Mr Kong Chak Mun, the Captain of the 28th Coy. 1st Phnom Penh Company In the meantime, whilst the BBLC was functioning, the Principal of The Methodist School in Phnom Penh, Mr. Stephen Yeo who was from Malaysia and is familiar with the BB Movement in Malaysia wanted to introduce the Boys’ Brigade to the school. The Boys’ Brigade was thus formed and operationally running by 5 volunteers teachers. After a few weeks into operation, Mr. Yeo sought assistance from Mr. Chou Fang Soong, Methodist Missionary Society and then LCEC Chairman of Bedok Methodist Church to assist in the planning and running of the Boys Brigade in The Methodist School. After much discussions with the Methodist Missionary Society and the Bedok Methodist Church, Mr. Chou approached Mr. Steven Lee Honorary Captain of 40th and Mr. Eric Cheang Assistant Chaplain of 40th and 97th to explore the opportunity and feasibility of assisting The Methodist School in the formal setting up and running of the company. The delegation was thus formed in early October headed by Mr. Eric Cheang with blessings from Bedok Methodist Church LCEC and The Boys’ Brigade HQ in Singapore. The sequence of events as follows; Date Event Remarks 3 Oct 2009 Forming of Committee for Overseas Extension Project Initiated by LCEC Chairman Mr. Chou Fang Soong and supported by Mr. Steven Lee, the committee was formed, headed by 40th and 97th Assistant Chaplain Mr. Eric Cheang assisted by 97th Captain Mr. Ang Hoe Yong and 97th Training Officer Mr. Abian Heng. 7 Oct 2009 Notification to BBHQ Singapore of intend to start BB Company in Cambodia Support and blessing received from BB Singapore Brigade Executive, Mr. Desmond Koh. 23-25 Oct 2009 Kick Off meeting in Cambodia The following members met up with Principal of The Methodist School in Cambodia, Mr. Stephen Yeo, appointed Assistant Chaplain Mr. Liew Sun Khang and the appointed Captain and Officers in Cambodia; 1. Mr. Eric Cheang, Assistant Chaplain 40th/97th 2. Mr. Ang Hoe Yong, Captain 97th 3. Mr. Abian Heng, Training Officer 97th 4. Ms. Veronica Lim, Treasurer 5. Mrs Amanda Ang, CE Coordinator 40th/97th 13 – 16 Nov 2009 Continuation in BB Knowledge inculcation In continuation of providing logistical support and BB knowledge inculcation, Abian flew up the 2nd trip to follow up on assisting 1st Phnom Penh Company to strengthen their weekly program, routine and discipline. Together with Abian include Primer Aaron and Trevor to provide guidance to current appointed serving officer. 17 – 23 Mar 2010 Training for Cambodian Officer – Officer Cadet Course. Assistant Chaplain Mr. Liew Sun Khang, Captain Mr. Chandra and 3 serving officers together with 2 Senior Boys from 1st Phnom Penh Company attend the combined March Camp and Officer Cadet Course (OCO) conducted by Mr. Ang Hoe Yong from 18 – 21 March in BMC. The curriculum of OCO was promulgated by BBHQ Singapore. The 2 senior boys attended the Leadership Development Course 1, together with 40th and 97th Boys. June 2010 Planning for Year End Program and 1st Enrolment Service and Parade. Abian went up to Cambodia to visit and encourage the 1st Phnom Penh Company and to assist in the planning of the year end combine program with the 97th Boys and the 1st Enrolment Service and Parade. Photo of the center Country Co-ordinator: BB Singapore was appointed by EARF to be responsible for BB extension works in Cambodia. The Boys’ Brigade Learning Centre This is BB Learning Centre – Siem Reap, Cambodia. In 2003, The Boys’ Brigade embraked its long-term project to establish the BB Learning Centre, located in Prayut Village, Puok Commune, Puok District, Siem Reap Province Cambodia. The Boys’ Brigade has since began the construction of the Learning Centre, equipped with classrooms, a library, basic sanitation and accommodation facilities. We have electricity supply from local provider since 2008. In 2009, a Training Shed was completed as part of our ongoing plans to fully develop the BB Learning Centre for training youths. Currently, we have registered under the name of “The Boys’ Brigade, Cambodia” as a Non-Governmental Organisation with one BB Officer and three local staffs serving in the Learning Centre. The Learning Centre is currently offering Basic English Language courses for the youths from grade 7 – 12 in the surrounding communes, moslty from Pouk High School. We also planned to offer IT courses and Chinese enrichment classes for the Grade 11/12 to prepare them for work. We also offers sponsership and scholarship to student that study at our centre. Operation hours (Mon-Fri) Morning from 9 am to 12pm Afternoon from around 2.30pm to 5pm Operation hours (Sat) Morning from 9 am to 12pm Aims of BBLC To meets the felt needs of the young people in Cambodia. The youths are especially eager for any kind of knowledge, especially English and IT skills. It is our goal that we can partner with the local schools to introduce The Boys’ Brigade programmes that will contribute to wholesome development of the youths in Cambodia. Aims of BB Cambodia We seeks to provide a structured BB programme that will help to develop the youths in Cambodia to their fullest potential through the exposure, training, mentorship and service. Through wholesome programmes, we seek to build their self-confidence, leadership skills, life skills and raise their literacy standards. Through this, it is our aim to establish BB Companies in Cambodia and lead the movement to the level of self sufficiency
Posted on: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 04:06:55 +0000
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