School 135 poor Cambodian children to prosperity.

Children’s educational situation:

Most of the poor target students of SCC-CBE enrolled to study in either public school or SCC-CBE school even though the Covid-19 affects their livelihood. In the period of all schools in Cambodia were closed because of the Covid-19 outbreak, SCC-CBE teachers were still strengthening their target students’ capacity through online training and also pushing them to pay more attention to public school online training programs to be sure their education is still in progress. Also, teachers conducted the home visit activities in order to monitor/follow up health, livelihood, and the education of their students and encourage parents/guardians to push their children to focus on their education with both the public schools and SCC-CBE School. As the result, more than 80% of target children between the ages range of 6 to14 years old were enrolled for the new school academic year 2022-2023 to start in January 2022 with public schools, while 20% of equal and under 5-year-olds are not allowed because of unvaccinated. In this regard, the government has mobilized all 5-year-olds to be vaccinated so that all children will be allowed to attend school. In the meantime, SCC in alignment with the announcement of the government has been re-opened its CBE school in grades 1 and 2 in Phnom Penh with 94 students included 47 females. In short, working closely with parents/guardians through the home visit, online training during school close, and encouraging is enable target students to continue their education for their better future.     

Living conditions of children and their families

The poor people including SCC target children’s families in Cambodia have been facing livelihood problems during the Covid-19 outbreak and lockdown. Starting from January 2020 when the Covid-19 started pandemic in Cambodia, the government closed education institutions, garment factories, entertainment venues, restriction, and a curfew, affected the life of the people, especially food shortage for the poor families while they could not earn income as normal due to unemployment, lockdown, and food price increased. SCC in participation with the government to respond to the emergency needs of our target poor families by using the money, donated by the generous sponsors to support the basic need of the poor families in our target area of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap province. Obviously, 50 poorest families in the slum area of Phnom Penh were provided food and material support on 16th December 2021 at SCC-CBE School. Each family received a kit that included 40 kilograms of rice, 6 bottles of soy sauce, 1 liter of alcohol and material, 6 soaps for washing hands, and 1 box of facial masks (50 masks). Meanwhile, 20 poor families most in need in Siem Reap province were provided nutrition and Covid-19 material support on 6th January 2022, the kits included 50 Kg, 1box of face masks, and 0.5 liters of alcohol at SCC-CBE Christine school. Nutrition and material support are a very significant contribution to their daily life since they would have time and space to make more income after this difficult situation.

The situation of COVID-19 in Cambodia:

COVID-19 pandemic remains a hot issue in Cambodia.  As of the first week of January 2022, 195 Omicron cases have been detected, of which 4 were local community transmission. Meanwhile, the government decided to administer the second booster 4th dose for designated target groups. Though the Royal Government has opened up the country for its people to do small, medium, and large businesses, three prevention of covid-19 included hygiene, social distancing, and mask-wearing are adhered to by the public. Meanwhile, both public and private schools have been operating since January 2022, but must strictly follow the guidelines of the Ministry of Health. At the same time, SCC-CBE has been opened the classed for children who are studying at level 3; on the other hand, children who are at level 2 and level 1, come to school getting lessons and assignments to do at home. At this time, some students still have been receiving lessons through online learning. Generally, Omicron cases are the new concern of Cambodians.