Mate in Cambodia

Happy Stories

Art as tribute to the most deserving ones

Mate, British street artist, painted the portrait of Tuy “Kay Kay” Sobil, founder of the charity Tiny Toones in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.  Assuredly, when two artists engage for a common cause, the world gets better.

 

Tiny toones, the Hip Hop way to school
In its 10-year existence, Tiny Toones has helped more than 15,000 children through Hip Hop and education with incredibly positive results:
Indeed, 80% of its students, many of whom had dropped out of school or never been, return to public school.
Moreover, 96% have gone on to meaningful employment and thousands have successfully stayed away from gangs, drugs, and crime.

 

Tuy “Kay Kay” Sobil, the man behind the charity Tiny Toones
It started with nine street kids with no future. Tuy “Kay Kay” Sobil who nearly messed up his, began offering these kids breakdancing lessons…

Born at a refugee camp in Thailand that was set up for those fleeing the civil war in Cambodia, Sobil and his family settled in Long Beach, California, in the US.
Despite this hard start, he had good and free education, care from his parents and thus was given many opportunities in America.

When waste opportunities lead to great actions
Sobil explains that it was his disappointment with the wasted opportunities in his life that inspired him to start the hip-hop centre:
“I was given so many opportunities in life after I moved to America. It was my own fault that I messed it up and hung out with the wrong crowd.
When I was deported to Cambodia, I saw that these kids had nothing, not even the good start I had. Everyone used to tell me that I wouldn’t amount to anything, so what chance did they have?” Sobil asked.

“It became my dream to be like a big brother. I wanted to help them cross the street, get to the other side of childhood without falling into the same problems I did”.
With more than 100 children joining the centre every day, no doubt that Sobil is the big brother he wanted to be.

Mate, a committed artist, joins the cause.
Mate’s visit to Cambodia for the 10th anniversary of Tiny Toones was crucial for him to pay the big tribute this inspiring man and his boundless commitment deserves.
The artist worked tirelessly on the school wall under the curious and inquisitive eyes of the children. The gradual discovery of the face and its environment won over the children, who gathered as soon as possible to watch the artist work on his creation.

After days of work, the stunning realistic portrait left everyone, KK first, overwhelmed by the magnitude it emits.

[From Left to right] KK realistic portrait by artist Mate, Tiny Toones children celebrate the new wall of their school – Artwork and photographies by Mate.

Visual impact for wider audience
Instantly, the mural became “iconic” to the center, for the pride of Mate, Sobil and all the children.
As Sobil stressed: “in the future I want Tiny Toones to have a bigger and better facility so we can open our doors to the whole community and train all the kids who need an education, love and support. I want to help more kids get to the other side“.

 

Make your fellow man visible
Maximizing Exposure and public awareness of the hard work done by Sobil is key to achieve greater steps.
Thus, Mate’s painting contributes also to that success path. Indeed, besides the smiles and the happiness on the faces, it helps acquiring wider audience, hence more money.

When friendship, respect and art unite people for a common cause, man is at his best. It simply makes people happy. So we are with such a beautiful story. Bravo.

DRIP’IN commits to the “happiest” stories
DRIP’IN is committed to publishing each artist’s “Happy Story”, with the 3 most positive stories being determined by their number of likes.

The winner will receive a free steel lithograph of their work, and the next 2 winners will receive a free museum quality giclee print of their work.

 

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