Brooklyn Teen Gathers Much-Needed Stationery for Cambodian Students

By Nikhita Venugopal on November 28, 2013

@nkvenugopal

 

 

Anna Malafronte 

 

COBBLE HILL — A Brooklyn high school student is collecting stationery supplies for her Cambodian sister school at a Court Street kids’ shoe shop.

Anna Malafronte, 17, a student at Poly Prep Country Day School, will be visiting the Poly Prep Mitapeap School in Cambodia in December and is taking composition notebooks, pencils and erasers for its students.

Malafronte is a member of her Poly Prep’s Cambodia Club, whose goal is to build a relationship with the Cambodian school, as well as remind her peers that it exists.

“People forget about it,” she said.

Earlier this year, Malafronte, who works at Runnin’ Wild Kids Shoes at 276 Court St., collected about 600 pairs of shoes for the Cambodian students. 

But during her first visit, she saw that many students lacked basic stationery, giving her the idea to bring some to the students.

Students from the club, who will be leaving on Christmas Day, have also raised money for projects at the school, like constructing a well, by selling plants, bracelets and baked goods, she said.

Malafronte will teach music to the students and help them write their own songs – so the additional stationery will come in handy, she said.

Her newfound love for Cambodia has inspired Malafronte to continue traveling and exploring distant places.

“It was just so different than anywhere I’ve ever been to,” she said.

Runnin' Wild Kids Shoes will be accepting stationery donations till Christmas Eve.