Cambodia
On our first visit to Cambodia in 2004, we discovered an unmandated, government-run education system with numerous children unable to consider going to school. Even those fortunate enough to attend school for the half-day offered were subjected to an experience more akin to babysitting than actual teaching. The curriculum focused on learning to write their names and grasp the most basic mathematical concepts. The system was inadequate to foster social advancement and to provide a means of escaping systematic poverty.
English Immersion
Technology Center
Women’s Empowerment
Traditional Arts
Kaleidoscope’s journey
Inspired by the best practices of other Cambodian NGOs, we established two learning centers. Our main campus is located in the heart of Siem Reap, while the second is situated in a rural village named Nokor Krau. We’ve adopted and tested multiple inclusive curricula for students learning English as an additional language, essential life skills, scientific principles, technological advancements, and mathematical concepts. Together, these schools serve over 600 children from these areas and the surrounding villages.
Today
The future in Cambodia is bright! Our supplementary education programs, beyond the conventional government school experience, are equipping students with crucial skills. Since our arrival in 2004, the country has undergone remarkable modernization. Tourism has provided local English-speaking children with diverse career opportunities, spanning various fields such as commerce, business administration, architecture, graphic design, hotel management, and hospitality.
Teachers: Finding the Very Best
While recruiting the best teachers in India is relatively easy, the process in Cambodia is more challenging. Lured by higher salaries in the tourism industry, finding and retaining excellent teachers is an ongoing struggle. Consequently, when we find good teachers, we continuously work with them to nurture and maintain their commitment.
Next Steps
In collaboration with the promising young minds at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, we have developed our long-term strategy for sustained success. Our recommendations aim to enhance our educational services and address the potential challenges associated with our program delivery.
Cambodia Spotlights
Chantheany Leng
School Administrator
– A first-generation survivor of the Khmer Rouge, “Theany” (tee-in-ay) has served as Kaleidoscope Child Foundation’s administrator and principal director in Cambodia since 2009. Her tireless devotion to quality education and her longtime partnership with founder David Ault have been vital to the foundation’s growth and impact.
Words from Theany
ការបានឱកាសបង្កើតនូវអត្ថន័យដ៏វែងឆ្ងាយនៅក្នុងជីវិតកុមារច្រើនពាន់នាក់ គឺជារឿងលើសពីអ្វីដែលពួកយើងធ្លាប់គិតថាអាចកើតឡើង។ ប្រទេសកម្ពុជា បានទទួលពរដោយសារជារួមចំណែករបស់អ្នកទាំងអស់ក្នុងអង្គការមូលនិធិកុមារកាឡេដូស្កូប (Kaleidoscope Child Foundation) ហើយខ្ញុំសង្ឃឹមថា អ្នកដែលបានមកទស្សនា និងធ្វើការជាមួយពួកយើង ក៏មានអារម្មណ៍ដូចគ្នា។
ការបានឱកាសបង្កើតនូវអត្ថន័យដ៏វែងឆ្ងាយនៅក្នុងជីវិតកុមារច្រើនពាន់នាក់ គឺជារឿងលើសពីអ្វីដែលពួកយើងធ្លាប់គិតថាអាចកើតឡើង។ ប្រទេសកម្ពុជា បានទទួលពរដោយសារជារួមចំណែករបស់អ្នកទាំងអស់ក្នុងអង្គការមូលនិធិកុមារកាឡេដូស្កូប (Kaleidoscope Child Foundation) ហើយខ្ញុំសង្ឃឹមថា អ្នកដែលបានមកទស្សនា និងធ្វើការជាមួយពួកយើង ក៏មានអារម្មណ៍ដូចគ្នា។
In Translation
“To have the opportunity to create such lasting meaning in the lives of thousands of children is beyond what we ever thought possible. Cambodia has been blessed by the contributions of everyone involved with Kaleidoscope Child Foundation, and I hope that those who visited and worked alongside us feel the same.”
