PHNOM PENH (Khmer Times) – When teenagers living in New York City slums in the ‘70s started spinning on their heads and dancing in ways never seen before to music never heard before, they had no idea that 40 years later, the culture they started would reach Cambodia and literally save lives.
Tiny Toones, a non-profit based here, has pulled its goals and message straight from the genesis of hip-hop culture.
In the same way kids in the ‘70s used the emergence of hip-hop as an avenue to express frustration about racism and poverty, Tiny Toones uses music, dance and art to turn the energy of at-risk youths into something positive.
US Deportee Brings Breakdance
“It really grew organically,” said Chhoeung “Shhort” Reuth, general manager and creative coordinator of the organization. “It all started with KK.”
In 2004, founder and director Tuy Sobil, known as KK, came to Cambodia after being deported from the US. Growing up in Long Beach, California, breakdancing had been a big part of his life.
Soon after his arrival in Phnom Penh, he rented an apartment near the White Building. Neighborhood kids began showing up at his door asking for dance lessons. He shooed them away at first, but more and more came each day, asking him to teach them breakdancing.
He relented, turning his apartment into a dance studio. Mr. Sobil coined the “Tiny Toones” moniker after seeing children dance, likening them to cartoon characters imitating American breakdancers.
After teaching the kids a couple moves, he started to wonder why they all had so much free time.
“This was 10 or 11 years ago, so a lot of these kids weren’t attending school, some had dropped out, some had been kicked out of their homes, others were dealing with abuse, drugs and alcohol in their households,” Mr. Reuth said.
“At first, KK just wanted these kids to be able to read and write their own names,” he said. “He wasn’t even thinking about all the computing and English language classes we have now.”
A Grant Gets it Going
In 2007, KK won a grant from Bridges Across Borders, an international aid group, and Tiny Toones was born. He opened a studio and slowly expanded his organization beyond just dance. Now, Tiny Toones serves more than 100 kids per day. Half come in the morning and half come in the afternoon. Children range from five to 24 years old.
The morning/afternoon split stems from the fact that Tiny Toones has gotten many kids back into school. Only 20 percent of the kids in the program are not in school. Most of these are children too young to go.
Many children live near the Tiny Toones headquarters in Chbar Ampov Pir in southern Phnom Penh, near National Road No. 1.
The NGO sends vans and tuk-tuks to pick up kids who live too far away. The majority of Tiny Toones’ funding comes from private donors and grants.
Classes in English, Math and Science
Mr. Sobil established educational programs, with courses in math, English and science – all for free.
“Years ago, KK and I asked a lot of these kids what they wanted to be, and almost all of them said they wanted to work in a factory or work in a restaurant,” Mr. Reuth said. “Now, when we ask them the same question, they say they want to be pilots, doctors and teachers.”
On the artistic side, kids pestered him about music, specifically rapping and singing. So he started music-making classes.
“This gave them a platform to express things they’ve always wanted to say,” Mr. Reuth said. But they never had a way of expressing it, until they heard rap lyrics and identified with the struggles in the music. It’s about the world seeing your version of what you’re going through.”
Not satisfied with just music and dance, some kids wanted art, so KK and his team started teaching graffiti and traditional art courses.
“The youth told us what they needed – we just try to provide it,” said Mr. Reuth.
Now that Tiny Toones is gaining worldwide attention through press stories, they hope to one day to provide university scholarships.
But for now, the organization is a vehicle for children to learn from each other.
“These kids think they’re the only ones struggling, the only ones going through what they’re going through,” Mr. Reuth explained. “But then they come here and see kids like them thriving.
“So really, this all has nothing to do with us. Its kids inspiring kids. Youth inspiring youth,” he said.