Grade 5 and 6 students at Phoum Stung Primary School have had a very special opportunity the past 6 months. Through hands-on classes taught by a community volunteer, students have learned how to plant and care for mango trees, a skill that is important to livelihoods in their village. As part of the SCC-supported life skills class, students have planted 20 trees, 10 of them on school grounds and 10 more in their community.

Nearly 40 students convened for the last practical class of the year, on 3 July. Accompanied by their classroom teacher, students trekked one kilometer to the home of Mr. Soum, a community volunteer teacher and dedicated member of the School Support Committee. In the final lesson of the year, Mr. Soum taught students about grafting and cutting/cloning as means for propagation. Students had the opportunity to practice what they learned in Mr. Soum's garden.

The mango-tree growing class is an initiative of the Phoum Stung School Support Committee. It is designed to provide students with practical skills that they can use to contribute to the livelihood of their families. In doing so, the School Support Committee hopes that the class will also lead to parents' increased appreciation for education.

SCC contributed 7 buckets and 10 mango trees to this project.