Schools for Children of Cambodia

SCC Announces Programme Changes

Georgina McLaren — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 14:33:00 GMT

Over the past year, SCC has evaluated its programmes, refined its mission, assessed Cambodia's most pressing education needs, and researched the work of Cambodia's Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The result is an improved strategy designed to address current education needs and contribute to long-term, sustainable development.

SCC's improved strategy immediately impacts the charity's current School Adoption, Teacher Sponsorship, and Child Sponsorship Programmes. We hope you will find these programme modifications and improvements as exciting as we do.

From Primary School Adoption to Primary School Development

As SCC moves into its seventh year of operation, we are pleased to announce a NEW and exciting Primary School Development Programme to replace the current School Adoption Programme.

Since its foundation, SCC has adopted needy primary schools, provided them with essentials for education and been there to ensure that these are used well and that children go to school. Now, rather than continue this top-down adoption approach, we want the communities in which we work to be able to continue to develop and govern their schools long after we have left. We want to empower local people with the skills and confidence to tackle their own educational problems unassisted by charity.

We will talk and listen to communities and let them tell us what is important to them, what they can contribute, and what educational resources or activities they are willing to maintain, independently, without outside help. This requires an investment in people: in SCC staff to work with the schools and communities, and in the schools and communities themselves. We believe that this capacity-building approach will make a sustainable difference to the access and quality of education and is an exciting way for SCC to grow and take our work forward.

To learn more about the Primary School Development Programme please click on this link or access the document from the Downloads page.

Withdrawal of Teacher Sponsorship Programme

With implementation of the Primary School Development Programme, SCC will withdraw its Teacher Sponsorship Programme, namely supplementation of teacher and school administrator salaries. New strategies, such as teacher capacity-building and school resource provision, will provide alternative motivation to teachers and administrators while better catering to long-term sustainable development.

A Refined Student Sponsorship Programme

SCC is also pleased to announce a new Student Sponsorship Programme to replace the Child Sponsorship Programme. The new programme is designed to maximise impact and ensure the most vulnerable students from the most disadvantaged areas have the opportunity of a secondary education.

SCC is committed to continuing the sponsorship of students in the current programme for the duration of their secondary education.

New students to the SSP will be selected based on objective criteria which will include parental support, previous educational success and commitment. Sponsorship will initially cover lower secondary education but students will then have the opportunity to apply for a further three years of support for upper secondary school.

To learn more about the new Student Sponsorship Programme please click on this link or access the document from the Downloads page.

SCC awarded Goldman Sachs Fellow

Georgina McLaren — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 12:52:00 GMT

Goldman Sachs employee Andy Hill has been awarded a 2007 Goldman Sachs Public Service Fellowship. The Goldman Sachs Public Service Program is a global initiative which provides a unique opportunity for top performing employees to serve the public by working for a charity of their choice.

Andy will work for Schools for Children of Cambodia (SCC) for one year from December 2007. He will be responsible for developing a medium-term strategy to help SCC maximise their impact and address sustainability. This will include a risk assessment as well as developing a plan for mitigating expansion risks including an estimation of SCC's medium to long-term financial needs that will enable us to meet strategic goals.

Having previously supported SCC in 2006 by fundraising to build new classrooms for Khnar School, Andy is familiar with our organisation and its core aims. He chose to work for SCC as he is passionate about education and felt he would be able to make a lasting impression within the duration of his secondment.

Getting crafty in the classroom

Georgina McLaren — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 21:16:00 GMT

I visited Cambodia In October 2007 and went to Svay Dungkum (SDK) Primary School, as my son was doing some volunteer work there. The manger of Schools for Children in Cambodia (SCC) arranged for us to have a craft lesson with the children, we had taken over with us some stickers, glitter and pipe cleaner, very simple things, the children loved the stickers and pipe cleaners, we had some real fun, I made a pair of glitter glasses out of the pipe cleaner and the children went mad for them, so we had to go around the class which was full to the brim and make everyone a pair of glasses with these pipe cleaners, simple but the children had so much fun, just being children. These children are lovely they have nothing and ask for nothing, but they really do need our help in fund raising to get the simple things we all take for granted. If it was not for SCC these children would be working on the streets or in the fields and not getting an education, that we take so much for granted, and that everyone deserves. Please if you are visiting Cambodia, please get in touch with SCC to see if there is anyway you can help them, I assure you it will make you feel great.

Carole Duffy
October 2007

SCC schools open for class, with increased enrolment

Georgina McLaren — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:25:00 GMT

The week of October 1 marked the first week of school of the 2007-08 school year in Cambodia. To open the week, SCC hosted a ceremony at Svay Dungkum Primary School, re-introducing the organization to community leaders, villagers and students. Nearly 50 mothers, a few fathers and 150 students turned out to the event, where the village chief, PTA leader, head monk, school director, commune council leader and SCC staff all made addresses. Entertainment was provided by fifteen Svay Dungkum dance students who performed traditional Khmer dances that they have learned under dance instruction funded by SCC. It was a sight for all to enjoy, particularly the incoming first-graders who flocked around the performers so as not to miss a move.

On Tuesday, students donned their white-collared shirts and navy blue skirts and trousers and anxiously headed back to class. Bicycles once again filled the courtyard and the teachers' raised voices could be heard from outside the classrooms. The children are clearly joyful to be back in class after nearly 3 months of holiday. And, SCC is clearly happy to see more joyful children than in years past. Although the final 2007-08 enrolment numbers have not been tabulated, there is an obvious increase in enrolment -- nearly 4 more classrooms worth of students!

SCC seeks enthusiastic volunteers to teach English

Georgina McLaren — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:24:00 GMT

SCC is seeking enthusiastic and creative volunteers to teach English to primary school students at SCC-supported public schools in Siem Reap Province, Cambodia. Our new and improved volunteer program, which launches January 1, 2008, provides opportunities for volunteers to stay with host families while teaching at schools in the countryside. For those more keen on having access to the conveniences of town, opportunities to stay in Siem Reap are available, too. SCC's volunteer program continues to be administration fee-free, although we do request a minimum commitment of 3 months. If you or someone you know is looking for a culturally-enriching and rewarding experience, this is the opportunity for you! Request more information by emailing volunteer@schools4cambodia.org.

SCC adopts its fifth school, Phoum Stung

Georgina McLaren — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:21:00 GMT

Eighteen kilometers outside of Siem Reap, on a flooded field stands two thatched roofs, serving as make-shift classrooms, butted up against a concrete block of 5 additional rooms. This is Phoum Stung Primary School, a school which provides education to over 500 students from four neighboring villages. Phoum Stung has a shortage of space and cannot accommodate all of the students who would like to study here. The school's six teachers work double-shift, spending eight hours per day on their feet in front of a class. The flooded school grounds present health risks and certainly are not an ideal playground. And, community leaders and villagers worry about the futures of their children, as many are forced to drop out of school to support the basic needs of their poor families.

In mid-September, SCC met with community leaders, school staff, students and villagers to better understand the community's education-related problems and to announce that Phoum Stung would come under SCC adoption in October. Under SCC support, the charity and community will work together to address the school's issues and improve the access and quality of education. The Phoum Stung community is eager to get started and even in our initial meeting, started drawing plans for a school grounds drainage system in the dirt. The school staff is equally happy, as SCC's teacher salary supplementation program will enable them to earn living wages for their work. SCC's adoption of Phoum Stung brings the number of SCC-supported schools in Siem Reap province to five.

SCC selects 23 6th grade graduates to sponsor in secondary school, bringing sponsored student total to 29

Georgina McLaren — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:20:00 GMT

Only 26% of Cambodian children who are of official age for secondary education are enrolled in school.¹ Although there are a variety of reasons why students may drop out, in the areas of Siem Reap where SCC works, the most notable reason is a shortage of money. For families who struggle to support their most basic needs, the cost of a secondary education is out of the question. School uniforms and supplies alone cost upwards of $30, and then there are monthly costs for exam papers and private-time² fees.

SCC's student sponsorship program helps graduates from SCC-supported schools continue their secondary education, providing them with supplies and monthly stipends for class fees. Students' attendance and performance are monitored in partnership with school teachers and students receive encouragement, which oftentimes their uneducated parents cannot provide, from SCC staff through regular home visits. This year, SCC is proud to support 29 students across three secondary/high schools to pursue their education - that's nearly four times as many students as the charity supported in the 2006-07 school year!

¹UN Human Development Report, 2006

²Private-time refers to classes that are taught outside of normal school hours, usually at teachers' homes or alternate locations in the community. Key lessons are taught during private-time, and students who do not attend often find it difficult to pass class exams. Private-time comes at a cost - typically $2.50 - $4.00 per month per subject - and it is a way for teacher's to supplement their low wages.

Jay joins SCC as full-time project coordinator (Sept 07)

Georgina McLaren — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 11:08:00 GMT

Jay Chea Lim, SCC's prized local staff member who has been with the charity since April 2006, has been promoted to full-time Project Coordinator. At a young age of 26, Jay has an unmatched passion for education and helping his country's children. In fact, when he's not supporting SCC school staff and students, he's running "Jay's School," a fee-free educational program out of his own home. Working alongside SCC's General Manager, Jay is instrumental in implementing and monitoring SCC programs and maintaining relationships between SCC, its schools, and Cambodia's Ministry of Education. Jay's promotion is a big step for SCC and aligns with the charity's announcement of stepping up its operations by adopting additional schools, increasing the number of sponsored students, and expanding its English-teaching volunteer program.