Students get message of hope

Sichan Siv takes time out after his talk to meet members of the student audience

Nearly 500 students, monks and teachers at Pannasastra University listened intently to a forty-minute talk from Sichan Siv tonight at the University's Srey Dim Conference Hall on Norodom Boulevard on his life story and the main theme running through his memoir Golden Bones to 'never give up hope.' His is a remarkable story of a Cambodian-born immigrant in the United States to rise to such a prominent level in government and diplomatic circles and to have served two US Presidents with distinction. He answered questions from the assembly before taking time out to chat to individual students, pose for photos and autographs. As an ambassador-in-residence for Troy University in Alabama, Sichan is hopeful of establishing a partnership with Pannasastra, where he previously spoke to students and faculty members more than two years ago. Following the event, I was able to join a very enjoyable dinner party at Malis restaurant in Sichan's honour, hosted by Minister of Education, Youth & Sports, Dr Kol Pheng, who is the founder of Pannasastra. Sichan Siv is due to present a copy of his book to the National Library tomorrow (Friday) at 4pm and on Saturday at 6pm will host a book-signing session for his Golden Bones autobiography at Monument Books on Norodom Boulevard.