Some facts about the country
Cambodia is a South-East Asian country with a population of 16 million, three-quarters of whom live in rural areas. The tensions, violence and political instability that have characterized the country for several decades have left their mark on Cambodian society and weakened its educational system. The quality of education is a challenge, especially in rural areas where lack of opportunities leads to significant migration to larger cities and other countries, thus depriving these regions of human resources essential for their development. This is where our partner CORDE comes in.
Our partner
CORDE (Cambodian Organization for Research, Development and Education) was created in 1994 by a group of refugees who returned to Cambodia to help educate children and youth who were deprived from school during the war. Since then, the organization has been committed to supporting the opening of community schools in rural areas and educating young people to lead a life of service to their community and to promote its well-being through the Preparation for Social Action (PSA) program. CORDE’s actions have been supported by Unity Foundation since 2015.
CORDE’s contributions to Cambodia’s development are recognized by government authorities, who appreciate the effectiveness of the Preparation for Social Action (PSA) program, which allows students to immediately apply the knowledge acquired during the training to meet the needs of their communities. In 2011, CORDE signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, stipulating that the Ministry recognizes the value of CORDE’s programs for the youth.
As for the community schools, their role in the education of the younger generation is greatly appreciated by parents and communities. CORDE regularly organizes dialogue meetings with the parents of students in these schools. During these meetings, parents discuss the importance of education and the encouragement they need to give their children so that they attend school regularly. Parents also express satisfaction that their children’s attitudes are improving, which they see as a result of the teachers’ efforts.
Goals
Some of the numerical goals of the five-year project (2022-2026) supported by Unity Foundation are as follows:
- 600 children enrolled in 29 schools and accompanied by 52 teachers,
- 350 participants in the PSA program accompanied by 42 tutors,
- 3 agricultural plots cultivated.
Updates & stories from the field
LINES OF ACTION
Community Schools & Preparation for Social Action (PSA) program
LOCATION
Battambang and Kampong Thom provinces in Cambodia
LOCAL PARTNER
Cambodian Organization for Research, Development and Education (CORDE)
COLLABORATION WITH UNITY FOUNDATION
Since 2015
DURATION
Framework agreement “accord-cadre” 2022-2026
TOTAL BUDGET
€495,403.89