Cottrell at Kompong Roteh. “I’m not sure what prompted the students in Kompong Roteh to hold their school supplies packets in the air, but they did. Of course, I couldn’t resist joining in with my excitement with some old fashioned American jazz hands. The kids loved it!”
“The children in these villages are extremely poor, and the Cambodian government requires such purchases as materials and uniforms in order to attend school,” she said. “For example, uniforms are shared between the children that attend school in the morning, and then switched to children who attend in the afternoons. My father visited last year and told me that the teachers – who get paid only $20 a month – were using photocopied materials from the 1960s to teach.” Amanda Glenn-Bradley met Cottrell while both were members of the MSU Famous Maroon Band. A resident of North Carolina, Glenn-Bradley shares the birthday month of September with her friend and said that Your American Cousin stemmed from Cottrell’s desire to put what she calls “Sim-tember” to good use. “I think Simone has been so successful because she’s incredibly passionate and is amazing at elucidating this passion in terms that everyone can understand,” Glenn-Bradley said. “Since I’m out of state now, we keep in contact via social media, so I got to see the social explosion that accompanied the movement. “Also, you can see your effort being put to good use. Sure, someone can donate their monies to a charity, but Simone has kept everyone in the loop and shared where their funds go in order to help these children. For me, at least, I saw a chance to really make a difference through a friend.”
Kompong Luong only source of "fresh" water, a well that is located on the school grounds.
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