Cambodia

Guy spent several weeks travelling around Cambodia during the summer of 2011 and was fascinated by the country and impressed with the people's warmth and resilience.

In Cambodia, although 95% of children are enrolled in school, only 61% complete primary education. There are problems with overcrowded classes, absent teachers and lack of disaster planning. Parents often feel their children's time is better spent working at home or in the fields to support their family and this has resulted in the country having the least educated population in the region.

Guy's Trust, in partnership with ActionAid, has funded the construction of new classroom blocks, toilets and playgrounds in five primary schools in Cambodia and a library in a sixth.

We have also recently provided clean drinking water systems in three of the schools. During the lockdown we funded emergency food supplies for families in three of the villages where Guy's Trust's schools are located.

The Schools

Chikor Leu commune, Koh Kong province

In the school in Chikor Leu Commune 67 children aged three to eight were being taught by just one teacher in a one-roomed wooden annex, 3km from the main primary school. We provided a new three-classroom block, toilet facilities, a playground and two additional teachers. The school opened in February 2016 and there was a significantly increased attendance. We also provided 50 bicycles for the older children so they no longer had to walk the long distance to school.

Koh Toch commune, Kampot province

The school, serving 328 children aged four to thirteen, had one concrete building with four classrooms and a wooden structure with only one safe classroom. The children were being taught 50 to a class in two shifts. The old wooden structure was removed and in February 2016 a group of twenty Guy's Trust supporters helped construct a new concrete five-classroom building in its place, as well as a toilet block, basins with running water and a playground. Now the children are able to attend school all day.

Botum Sakor commune, Koh Kong province

Whilst in Cambodia we visited this village school, a dilapidated wooden two-roomed building and a lean-to for over 100 children who had to attend in shifts. Guy's Trust has constructed and equipped a new five-classroom brick building, two toilet blocks and a playground. The new facilities opened in 2017.

Chhroy Svay commune, Koh Kong province

The construction of a new three-classroom school block, toilet facilities and a playground in Chhroy Svay commune was completed early in 2019.

Andong Teuk commune, Koh Kong province

This five-classroom school was opened in January 2021. The new building and facilities will help more than 105 children to access quality education and will replace the unsafe building and lack of handwashing facilities, recreational areas and basic classroom equipment, which until now has resulted in over 30% of children dropping out.

The Library

The new library and garbage incinerator at Kok Khpos commune school, Oddar Meanchey province were also completed in March 2019.

Clean Water Project

At the end of 2021 we provided clean drinking water systems at three of 'our' schools and then in 2022 at a further nine schools in Koh Kong Province. This project provided safe drinking water for 4,246 children and also dramatically reduced the use of plastics in the local environment..

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