Pursat Province (Nov 15, 2012) –Life with Dignity (LWD) today inaugurated 3 new concrete school buildings worth about US$150,000 in three different remote villages in Phnom Kravanh district of Pursat province.
The three buildings were built to replace the deteriorated wooden thatched-roof buildings. Two of them have 4 classrooms each, while the other has 5 and one of which will be used as the library. The first 4-room-building was built in Chrey Krem Primary School in Chrey Krem village, Phteah Rung commune of Phnom Kravanh, some 22 km from the district town and was funded by Finn Church Aid (FCA). The second 5-room building was constructed in Chungruk Primary School in Chungruk village of the same commune and funded by Church of Sweden, while the third 4-room building in Veal Primary School in Veal village, Samraong commune and funded by the Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS).
The school project also included teachers’ desks and chairs, students’ tables, three latrines, a flag pole, school gate and barbed-wire fence, deep well, furniture for library including reading books, and children playthings. The project aimed to contribute to improving the access to primary education in rural remote areas.
About 1,000 students at the 3 villages had access to new education facilities today. However, there are many more children in Phnom Kravanh yet having no proper schools for study and many others have no access to education.
Speaking at the ceremony at Chrey Krem Primary School, LWD Executive Director Dr. Sam Inn expressed his profound thanks to all donors for their generous support to empower the rural poor in Cambodia.
Dr. Inn highlighted the importance of education and encouraged parents of school-age children to send their kids to school. “If you don’t send your children to school today, you make a big mistake for their future,” he said.
He said to the students that education was a good opportunity to become a leader, businessperson, doctor, engineer, and so on. “Study today, success is waiting for you tomorrow. Please, study hard to make your dreams come true,” he added.
Ms. Anu Riikonen, FCA Regional Representative for Asia, said “We, Finn Church Aid, believe that every boy and girl has the right to an equal opportunity to access quality education. Investing in education, particularly for girls, is one of the most effective ways to break the cycle of poverty and bring about development and change in communities.”
“Supporting education is an integral part of the integrated rural development activities that Finn Church Aid supports through our long-standing development partner, Life With Dignity. Our focus is on improving education in a holistic way where the need is the most urgent,” Ms. Anu said.
“Providing education opportunity to all Cambodia children is of central importance. The children and youth are the future of the country. A skilled workforce will be needed for Cambodia to continue on the path of social and economic development,” she said.
“I want to encourage you all to ensure that your new school remains in active teaching and learning space by taking good care of the school facilities, making sure that both students and teachers attend lessons regularly and work hard so the school may bring a better future for the children of Chrey Krem village, their families and future generations.”
Lok Chum Teav Chuk Sophany, Deputy Governor of Pursat province, deeply thanked LWD for its effort to mobilize resources from FCA to build the schools in the communities. She highly appreciated LWD that plays an important role in rural development in the province.
She requested the local authorities at all levels and the communities to maintain the school facilities for long-term use for the next generations.
LWD supports the government policy to improve access to education. In 2012, LWD planned to build 59 concrete classrooms across its target areas in four provinces of Kampong Speu, Kampong Chhnang, Pursat and Battambang.
For more information, please, contact Leak Ratna (Mr.), LWD Communication Coordinator | E-mail:ratna@lwd.org.kh | Phone: 012 819 121