Kampong Speu Province (June 21, 2013) –Life with Dignity (LWD) today inaugurated 3 new concrete school buildings worth US$156,580 in three different remote villages in Aoral district of Kampong Speu province.
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The first school building has three classrooms, funded by the Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS)/AusAID. It was constructed in Kraing Koki village of Haong Samnom commune. The second building has five classrooms, funded by Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF)/World Bank. It was built in Prey Thom village of Reaksmei Sameakki commune. The third one has five classrooms, funded by Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) through Church of Sweden (CoS). It was built in Chea Sim High School in Kork village of Sangkae Satob commune.
The three buildings were equipped with latrines, student’s tables, teacher’s chairs and desks, furniture, deep wells and children playthings.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony at Chea Sim High 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, especially on education sector.
Dr. Inn said that improving access to education was one of the key components of LWD’s Integrated Rural Development through Empowerment Program. As of June 2013, LWD supported the construction of 18 concrete school buildings (equaled to 67 classrooms) in Aoral district. Of the total, 16 buildings (or 57 classrooms) were funded by ALWS/AusAID, while the latest two buildings inaugurated today were funded by Sida/CoS and JSDF/World Bank, respectively.
“These achievements came from the strong collaboration and cooperation between LWD and all concerned stakeholders such as village development committees, school principals, commune councils, especially related government institutions and donors.
He said investment in education sector was the right decision for the future of Cambodia to move out poverty. “I hope the government will pay more attention on improving this sector,” he said.
There were one thousand people attending the ceremony. They included parents, students, teachers, local authorities, education officials and related institutions.
Dr. Inn highly appreciated the key tasks of the teachers and encouraged them to keep up the good work. He asked the parents be good models for their children, give them love and hope, and send them to school. Another important place for children to learn was their home, he said.
He also advised the school children to study hard so that they could have a better future. “Please, don’t think that you are the children of a farmer, you cannot become a leader of the country. Please, don’t think that you are the children of a poor family, you cannot become a rich man in the future,” Dr. Inn said. “The important thing is you must have your own vision. What do you want to be in the future? You must be confident that you will reach your goal,” he said.
H.E Im Sithy, Minister for the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, who presided over the ceremony, expressed his deep thanks to LWD and its donors for their active contributions to supporting the government’s policy to improve the education sector in Cambodia.
For more information, please, contact Leak Ratna (Mr.), LWD Communication Coordinator | E-mail:ratna@lwd.org.kh | Phone: 012 819 121