Overview:
Mondulkiri province is situated in the north-eastern highlands of Cambodia and is home to a large population of indigenous groups, primarily the Bunong people, who are among the most impoverished in the nation. Our partner works to empower the poorest of the poor to become agents of change within their communities. This project aims to enhance the quality of primary education, strengthen community involvement and improve the learning environment for Bunong ethnic children living along the wildlife conservation area in Mondulkiri. This includes provision of upgraded facilities, learning materials as well as engagement with community and women’s groups to promote safety and well-being of children.
Why Support This:
Results from the pilot stages of the project showed a marked increase in enrolments and significant improvement in retention rates and academic performance. Our partner takes a holistic approach, working at the community level to not only strengthen infrastructure and learning environment but also to build relational investment by empowering and activating community groups. This way the broader community takes an interest in the educational welfare of children to see entrenched drop- out rates decline and positive social changes sustained for the long- term.
Budget: Year 3 $30,000 (total budget for 3 years $90,000).
The Need:
The Bunong are amongst the poorest people in Cambodia, marginalised by decades of war and displacement, with forest and biodiversity losses exacerbating this poverty. Mondulkiri, identified by the Cambodian Government as a priority province for education development, bears a higher than national average school drop-out rate and lower than national average completion rate. One in four men and one in three women have never been to school.
Expected Life Change:
