Hip Hop & Hope: One Woman’s Journey in the Slums of Cambodia is a beautifully crafted and inspirational narrative that details Romi Grossberg’s real life experiences. It’s about finding hope, resilience, trust and friendship in the face of adversity while working with street kids in the slums of Cambodia from 2010 to 2012.
Romi left Australia to begin a two-year contract in Phnom Penh as manager of Tiny Toones, a non-government drop-in youth centre. It engaged hip-hop culture as a means of educating and fostering empowerment in disadvantaged, impoverished young people.
As Cambodia was still struggling from the pervasive after-effects of the genocide of nearly 2 million citizens by the Khmer Rouge in 1975-1979, Tiny Toones gave hope for the future to those living in survival mode. It offered a safe environment to follow a different life path from the world of drugs, sex and violence.
Romi entered a transformative journey as she became accustomed to this new lifestyle. It was a journey that began as an anxious outsider and ended with her becoming a much-loved “mum” to the young ones she mentored.
She learned to speak Khmer, respected Cambodian customs and threw herself wholeheartedly into the dance moves. When faced with adversity, resilience and love were the overriding forces that held the troupe together. Just LOVE HIM was her mantra, and Romi did indeed come to love all her ‘babies.”
Through her descriptive writing, Romi shares in incredible detail, the Khmer culture with its richly woven tapestry of tradition, spiritual beliefs and history. In fact, the reader is transported to the very heart and soul of Phnom Penh. We come to know the real-life characters, their pain, disappointments, sorrows and struggle against their addiction to the path they want to leave behind. We cry with them, we feel joy in their achievements and honour the bonds which are forged forever.
Eventually, through Romi’s hard work and dedication the hip hop group has become well known as they have showcased their talents internationally, including Australia. So, overall, this is a beautiful and inspiring story, easy to read, emotional, uplifting, and what more can I say — it’s definitely worth your time.
Romi is currently touring Australia. For details visit: https://www.romigrossberg.com/books-memoirs/hip-hop-hope/
A selection of our Beauty and Lace Club members are reading Hip Hop and Hope by Romi Grossberg. You can read their comments below or leave your own review.
Hip Hop & Hope by Romi Grossberg
5/5 Stars
Hip Hop &Hope is an extraordinary blend of inspiration and resilience by the kids from all sorts of backgrounds.
A beautiful written memoir about Romi Grossberg on an adventure of a lifetime at 35 she decides to give up her job as a social worker and head to the slums of Cambodia for a 2 year contract working with children of all ages in a hip hop youth centre .
It’s hot and humid with no aircon just fans .
Tiny Toones is the only hip hop centre in Cambodia and is a safe place for kids to come and get out of the gangs where they can safely learn and have fun.
Hip Hop Hope will make you laugh and cry as Romi brings this thought provoking book to life .
This book is a must read for any age and any one wanting inspiration.
WOW…. what an amazing life Romi Grossberg has had so far.
I delighted in the story of her time in Cambodia working for Tiny Toones. I became attached through her words to the children and teens at the center and like Romi I wanted so badly for them all to feel loved and valued. There were times while reading that I found I had a tear running down my cheek.
I was inspired enough that I searched for her Tedx talk and saw her and the kids in action which was awesome.
This is a book that is inspiring and prrof that if you wirk hard enough towards a goal you can make it happen.
The kids were lucky to have Romi but Romi was so very lucky to have them also.
This is a book that I will pass on to my daughters and its a book that YOU should invest in. 50% of the profits will go to Tiny Toones and they are so very worth it.
I dare you to read this book and say that you are not inspired and longing to make some sort of donation to further their cause.
Romi Grossberg did what many of us have thought about but have never done! Romi, a Social Worker in Australia headed off to Cambodia for a two year contract to work with youth in a hip hop centre. This intrigued me and the story evolved with balance of her work, adventure and growth become paramount through the story. It hits home many times, is educational and sets a scene for self discovery. The challenges, changes, fatigue and respect is well earned as she works to gain the trust of NGO founder and the children she works with.
An amazing and inspiring story. Cambodia will not be forgotten.
As a Social Worker who has worked with vulnerable and disadvantaged children, young people and families offshore, I was very keen to read Hip Hop and Hope by Romi Grossberg.
In her mid-30s, Romi felt the pull to work in Cambodia on a two-year contract with young people attached to a hip-hop youth centre, Tiny Toones. This book is Romi’s experience over that period, the initial culture shock she experienced and personal evolution from having self-doubts and worry about the job she had accepted to a respected and effective Manager of the Tiny Toones centre.
I found the book, really a memoir more than anything, an interesting read and enjoyed the unfolding of Romi’s own development into a competent Social Worker in a challenging environment. Whilst her relationships with the young people at the centre seemed to be more personal than professional, she relayed the social issues in Cambodia and highs and lows of her experience in a readable and engaging way.
Thank you, Beauty and Lace, for the opportunity to read and review Hip, Hop and Hope.
Hip Hop Hope by Romi Grossberg, her memoir of her time working in the slums of Cambodia 2010 to 2012 is exceptionally interesting, well written, inspirational but also at times heartbreaking.
Non Government Organisation Tiny Toones is famous for its alternative approach of using hip hop to connect and work with street kids.
Romi was the manager of the Centre.
Street kids teaching street kids, attending school, learn , heal, mentor and pass the baton on to the next generation.
She has formed amazing relationships with the staff and kids and made a difference to so many lives.
It was especially nice to read the follow up on those she had worked with and what they are doing in the current day.
A book well worth reading. Five stars.
Hip Hop & Hop is an inspirational engaging memoir about just how much difference one woman can make.
You can just tell that this has been written from the heart. The connections made with the people dances throughout the pages. It was heartwarming to read people’s stories as they triumphed against themselves, others and their world,
I would have loved to read more of the Where Are They Noe section as so many people played a part in the book, it’s inspiring to see where the world has taken them.
What an amazing woman, organisation and experience.