THE PROJECT
The Cambridge Cambodia School Project began in 2007 with the goal of raising money to build a school in rural Cambodia. The long-term effects of the American war in Vietnam and the genocide of the 1970’s are clear when examining the state of education in Cambodia. The genocide targeted both educators and the educated so as one can imagine Cambodia post-genocide still suffers as a resul
t. As an educational hub of the United States Cambridge, Massachusetts has a large community of historians, activists, and global citizens committed to doing what they can to spread literacy, create economic opportunities, and deter human trafficking. The Cambridge - Cambodia School Project reflects this in its aim to be a two-way street for global education. THE SCHOOL
The Cambridge - Cambodia School is the 405th school constructed by the Rural Schools Project of the American Assistance for Cambodia (AAfC). The Rural Schools Project identifies villages in Cambodia where a school does not exist and seeks to implement places of learning through matching funds programs at The Asian Development Bank, Cambodia’s Social Fund, and Cambodia’s Ministry of Education. The Cambridge - Cambodia School serves more than 100 students who otherwise would not have access to a place of learning. The Cambridge - Cambodia School Project funds teachers to teach students in grades 7 - 9 and is operated by the Cambodian Ministry of Education. The school is sustained annually through yearly fundraising efforts of Cambridge volunteers, community donations, and business sponsorships attained by the Cambridge community. THE PEOPLE
Those who have contributed to the Cambridge - Cambodia School Project are students, teachers, restauranteurs, City Council members, librarians, graphic designers, chocolatiers, State Representatives, entrepreneurs, lemonade stand holders, and spare change collectors. Everyone involved with the Cambridge - Cambodia School Project understands the importance of not just being involved in one’s own community, but in the global community at large. This means contributing how one can, whether that be big or small. Fact: Over $3,000 of the money needed to build the Cambridge - Cambodia School in Cambodia was raised through penny drives in the Cambridge Public Schools. It’s not about giving money, but about aiding the global community and raising a fellow global citizen’s quality of life where and when you can. For us, this comes in the form of education. CAMBRIDGE - CAMBODIA TRIP 2010
In 2010 a group of students and teachers at Cambridge’s public high school, Cambridge Rindge and Latin, fundraised to travel across the globe to Cambodia. They visited the Cambridge - Cambodia School during their travels, but also made key visits to people and places in the area. This was the first visit of members of Cambridge, MA to Cambodia. On the ground the group met with leaders in innovation in Cambodia’s future. This included Somaly Mam (http://www.somaly.org/) at the forefront of of fighting the international sex-trade, human rights activists such as Arn Chorn Pond (http://www.facinghistory.org/node/1055), and NGO’s. In addition to their own luggage, the ambassadors from the Cambridge community also brought 12 duffel bags of medical supplies which was donated from Cambridge and Boston hospitals to be given to clinics and hospitals in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. WE ARE THE WORLD KIDS
We Are the World Kids (WAWK), a group of Boston-area high school students, raised $15,000 during the 2011-2012 school year, to build a library for The Cambridge - Cambodia School. Some members of the group visited our school in March 2011 and from that trip were inspired to act to do something for the children of the Cambridge - Cambodia School they had met. They decided to raise money to build a library and in July 2012 eleven WAWK students traveled to Kauk Rovieng to visit both the library and the school. They did teaching at the school and also attended the very first graduation of 9th grade students at our school. In addition, school supplies was brought over and donated. The 9th graders who graduated comprised the first 7th grade class at the Cambridge - Cambodia School in Cambodia when it first opened in 2009. These students will be continuing their education and attending high school next year. Congratulations to the graduating class of 2012!
