Give Cambodian Children an Education

Reflecting on the last time we got in contact with you in November, it seems ironic that we were celebrating our students’ return to our schools. Little did we know that in the next few months we would have to close the school again, not just once, but multiple times over the next few months.

The last few months have been challenging for ISF’s teachers and students, as outbreaks of the COVID-19 virus have forced us to switch back and forth from remote to in-person learning due to frequent government-enforced school closures. Whilst we want to do everything we can to protect our students and staff, we are very much looking forward to a time when we can deliver uninterrupted teaching with a visible smile on everyone’s faces!

Despite these challenges, we have been reflecting on the incredible things we achieved in 2020 thanks to your support. Here some highlights:

• 97% of catch-up students have passed to the next grade
• 98% of state school students have passed to their next grade as well
• 432 students are completing state school education and 13 are supported in tertiary education
• 7,404 monthly food parcels were distributed with 1,209 extra parcels given to those families most in need
• 6,309 readers visited ISF's community and mobile libraries 14,658 times and borrowed 6,750 books
• 3,339 bars of soap were distributed to poor families promoting hygiene and sanitation

As you can see from the numbers above, even though 2020 was fraught with challenges, ISF teachers and staff were able to keep students engaged, learning, and progressing on to the next chapter of their lives. We are continuing to support the families of our students with nutrition, healthcare, and employment support and conduct regular needs assessments to identify the most pressing needs of the communities we work with.

Going above and beyond this #InternationalWomensDay

Not only do we have lots of positives to reflect on, but we also have some exciting events coming up in 2021. Next week, on Monday 8^th March, we will be launching our five-day International Women’s Day campaign where we will be spending the week celebrating the inspiring females that take part in our projects.

In Cambodia, cultural and social norms often dictate that women should be at home looking after the family, instead of getting an education, pursuing a career, or playing sport. This institutional sexism has resulted in a severe lack of sporting opportunities for women, making ISF the first, and biggest, provider of football training and events for females in the whole country. We know from experience that so many girls long to play sport and improve their physical wellbeing, just like their male counterparts.

We have set ourselves the ambitious goal of raising $4000 by Friday 12^th March so that we can provide weekly football training sessions to 20 girls from disadvantaged areas in Phnom Penh. Our social impact football lessons will educate these girls on important social issues such as addiction, gambling, disability and HIV, to empower them to make positive life choices and avoid negative behaviours. They will also learn about women’s rights, gender-based violence, and gender equality to reinforce the idea that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities, in all areas of life, work, and home.

If you are thinking of showing your support for International Women’s Day, please consider helping us to achieve our target so that we can make our players’ dreams a reality. And don’t worry if you can’t afford to give much. From Monday 8^th to Friday 12^th March 50% of all donations under $50 donated to our ‘Fight for Girls Equality Through Football’ page will be matched by GlobalGiving! From the girls in our programme, thank you in advance for your continued support and generosity. And Happy International Women's Day!

Links:

• For more updates, check out our website
• It's all happening on Facebook!
• Have you followed us on Instagram?

After eight months of online lessons, homework drop-offs, and social-distanced physical education, our education centres have finally reopened their gates! On Tuesday 3^rd November, over 600 excited students were welcomed back by our staff – all of whom were as thrilled as our students be back in school.

However, things may look a little different to how our budding learners remember it. Our Education team have been working tirelessly to prepare for a new way of teaching that is both safe and practical for our students. Some of the key changes will likely be recognisable from wherever you are in the world – such as the use of face masks, temperature checks, and hand sanitiser. Other changes are a little more creative and child-friendly, like colourful footprints painted on the floors of our corridors and stairwells to guide students’ movements around the school and encourage social distancing. Lessons also look a little different than before. Class sizes have been halved and a new timetable is in place to ensure students are not coming into close contact of each other during lessons.

Whilst these changes may take some getting used to for our students, the feeling around our centres is ultimately one of gratitude and enthusiasm to be returning to school and reunited with friends after what has been a very challenging period of time for families in Phnom Penh.

How did the children in your area spend their time during school closures?

Other children around the world may not be so excited to go back to school after an extended time at home, but there are many ways in which the lives of Cambodian children differ to others more fortunate than themselves.

One of the children who skipped back through the school gates this week was 10-year-old Kunthea. When asked how she spent her time during lockdown, she responded “I always stay inside and don't go out to socialise with other children. I only go out to collect recyclable waste with my grandmother, and when I do, I always keep proper distance from others and wash my hands regularly.” This is the unfortunate reality for many of the children from our Education Programme, who have been forced to contribute to the family income during a period of widespread job losses and increased poverty. Kunthea credited her understanding of the importance of personal hygiene and social distancing to the informative health education sessions she received from ISF nurses during this period – sessions which may have helped to prevent any COVID-19 cases in our students and their families.

Despite her protection from the spread of COVID-19, Kunthea has still experienced some ill health during the last few months and has relied on the valuable treatment provided by our school nurses. But we are pleased to report that Kunthea is now fit and healthy and happier than ever to be back in school.

*Names of children under 18 years old have been changed to protect their privacy.

The Importance of your support

We would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you who pledged a donation to us during this challenging time! With your help, we were able to provide food parcels, health education, check-ups, long-distanced learning, and physical education to our vulnerable students and their families.

However, the battle against COVID-19 is not won yet. The huge economic impact of the pandemic in Cambodia has resulted in widespread job losses and increased poverty – widening the gap between the rich and poor. With our students’ families under more pressure than ever to remove their children from school so that they can contribute to the family income, we must do everything we can to support our students to stay in education and achieve their dreams. However, reduced fundraising opportunities has had a huge impact on our income and we are now facing a difficult few months as we plan to adhere to our commitment to these families with fast-depleting resources.

This December, the annual #GivingTuesday event falls on the 1^st of the month. On a day that was introduced in response to one of the biggest seasons of consumerism - peaking at the global discounted spending day of ‘Black Friday’ - we wish to embrace and encourage the spirit of generosity to our valued supporters. This #GivingTuesday, GlobalGiving are establishing a $1,000,000 incentive fund whereby funds will be distributed to organisations who attract significant amount of donations on this day specifically – so we need your help to be in with a chance of winning!

If you have connected with the stories from our students at all, please consider making a one-off or recurring donation so that we can continue to provide essential services in the vulnerable communities of Phnom Penh. But whether you donate on #GivingTuesday or any other day of the festive period, we want to thank you in advance for helping us to help the next generation of Cambodian superstars achieve their dreams. We value your support now more than ever!

Links:

• For more updates, check out ISF's website
• Have you followed us on Facebook?
• It's all happening over at ISF's Instagram