CAMBODIA
25 January 2012
AAI Partners with Local Cambodian Grass Roots Organisation to Assist with Rural School for Underprivileged Children.
Australian Aid International (AAI) prepares to launch its Get Involved program in Cambodia after a successful year in Mae Sot, Thailand. AAIs Get Involved Thailand program continues to deliver high quality programs in partnership with local NGO- Women with a Mission. The education program enables migrant school Hway Ka Loke to equip its students with the necessary English skills to succeed with their education and improve their employment prospects in the future. Through the education program children are not only equipped with language skills but also develop the confidence, skills and capacity to grow and flourish in all areas of their lives.
In April 2011, AAI conducted a scoping mission to Cambodia and a team recently returned from Cambodia to finalize the Get Involved Cambodia program. AAI will be working in partnership with Child Hope Organisation (CHO), a local Cambodian NGO founded and run by Executive Director Phong Socheath. The organisation has founded two learning centres, one located in Pailin and the other in Battambang province, Cambodia. Children at the centre are provided a safe space to develop their English language skills as well as their computer skills, human rights knowledge and much more.
AAI recognises the importance of capacity building and education and through its partnership with CHO, the program will be able to deliver high quality community based education that aligns with AAI's mission and values of sustainable outcomes. AAI understands that the value of education extend far beyond the classroom and through education health is improved and poverty is reduced.
AAI will be providing volunteers to Battambang School on a rotational basis in order to assist the children with English language classes.
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| Children sing a welcome song. | AAI's Project Officer with CHO's CEO Phoung Socheath. |
10 April 2011
AAI conducts Village Assessment in support of a Rural School Project in the remote Pailin Province of Cambodia
Pailin is a province at the northern edge of the Cardamom Mountains, in the west of Cambodia near the border of Thailand. This province is surrounded by Battambang Province, and was officially carved out of Battambang to become a separate administrative division after the surrender of the Ieng Sary faction of the Khmer Rouge in 1996. Pailin is known to much of the world for having long been a stronghold of the Khmer Rouge, remaining under their control long after they were defeated in 1979.
The Pailin Province is divided into the two Districts of 2401 Pailin and 2402 Sala Krau.
Sala Krau is is subdivided into 4 Sangkats and 43 Kroms.According to the 1998 census of Cambodia, it had a population of 7,106.
Sangkat (Communes) |
Krom (Villages) |
Sala Krau |
Spung, Veal, Tuol, Leav, Kuy, Ou Ressey Kroam, Kok Keo, Sre An Tak |
Stueng Trang |
Thnol Bat, Stoeng Trang, Phnum Krenh, Ou Kunthy Dova, Bay Sei, Phnom Prial, Dei Saeit, Ou Doun Ta Kroam, Ou Don Ta Loeu, Prey Chun Teas, Pteas Sboav, Koan Dam Rei, Toul Khos, Anlong Rak Sa, Tom Nob, Dei Sa Thmor |
Stueng Kach |
Kngak, Ta Ngen Kraom, Ou Beng, Bos S'am, Doung, Stueng Kach, Boeng Prolit, Sla, Rathkraoh Chheh, Tuek Chenh, Ou Ro El, Psar Prum, Ou Chheu Kram |
Ou Andoung |
Thnal Totueng, Koun Phnum, Thnal Kaeng, Boeng Trakuon, O Andoang, Ou Ressey Loeu |
AAI has recently partnered with the Australian NGO, Save the Cambodian Children’s Fund Australia (SCCFA), to build a primary school in the village of Tom Nob in the Sangat of Stueng Trang.
During April 2011, AAI CEO, Marc Preston and Saruoun Khuon the Chairperson of SCCFA visited the remote village of Tom Nob to confirm earlier planning and preparation for the proposed construction of the school.
SCCFA has already undertaken extensive community engagement on the desired location of the school, the number of supported beneficiaries and the ongoing sustainment of the project once completed. It has coordinated with relevant government agencies including the District Governor and the Ministry of Education to obtain the necessary approvals for construction and also commissioned building plans and competitive building quotations.
As a preliminary project to the construction of the school, it has already installed a water hand pump with funds generously donated by the Rotary Club of Bentleigh and Moorabbin Central from Victoria which now provides clean and safe drinking water to this impoverished community.
The purpose of the recent visit was to meet with Community Leaders to:
- Confirm the current status of the project.
- Confirm that the building site had been de-mined and was safe for the commencement of construction.
- Reconfirm village data including supported beneficiaries, sustainment of the project, project costings and timelines.
AAI will be providing Project Management advice and guidance to the project as well as assisting with Monitoring & Evaluation to ensure that all key outcomes are met. AAI looks forward to supporting SCCFA in this project and the opportunity for further initiatives in this underserved area of rural Cambodia
Marc Preston - CEO