Chumkriel Language School NGO Cambodia
CHUMKRIEL LANGUAGE SCHOOL
KAMPOT NGO
A super brief introduction and snapshot to the wonderful programs within Chumkriel Language School.
Chumkriel Language School and Social Cycles
We’re proud to connect with Chumkriel Language School and allow socially conscious travellers the opportunity to learn more about CLS. Social Cycles believes that the best way to truly understand a country and its culture is to simply ask questions to local experts. Museums and monuments can tell you about yesterday, but only people from organizations like CLS can tell you what tomorrow looks like.
What challenges are CLS trying to solve?
The aim of Chumkriel Language School is to provide quality education for students and to improve the living standards of the salt field community. We want to raise healthy, happy, self-confident members of Chumkriel and neighbouring communities. Education is the key to breaking the poverty cycle that many residents of Chumkriel Commune face daily. The average income is less than $5 per day for a family as most work as labourers, or on the salt fields. The philosophy of CLS is a hand up not a hand out.
History: How and why CLS began…
CLS began as a dream of Mr Thy, the Director of CLS. Mr Thy grew up in a remote village with little access to education. From personal experience he realized that many of life’s opportunities are missed by rural Cambodians due to lack of education. He moved to Kampot to pursue a teaching career where he noticed a difference in quality of education between rural and city schools. Without access to additional education, rural children had poor job prospects. So in 2005 Mr Thy established CLS to give rural children that extra education, with an underlying philosophy of helping people to help themselves. Offering English lessons at night in a small and dilapidated room, he expected just a handful of enrolments. But on the first night 100 students arrived keen to learn!
Impact: 5 Key Facts
- Created 2 education centres giving 600 students access to remedial education daily
- Built a library, volleyball court and soccer pitch for recreational and community participation
- Created a playground and classroom for 30 families working in remote areas in the salt fields
- Assisted in the construction of homes for over 100 local beneficiaries
- Installed three water tanks in remote areas, benefitting over 225 families
The videos that explain everything
Fast Facts
Most frequent questions and answers
What programs do you run?
- Daily classes in Khmer subjects, health & hygiene, and basic English for over 100 primary-age children.
- A library where reading skills are fostered.
- Computer classes for secondary students.
- English classes attended by over 500 children.
- A sports field for informal recreation and organized sports
- A garden to teach children and their families how to grow their own vegetables.
- A Soup Kitchen providing daily lunch for 31 children.
- Cooperation with an adjoining government school, sharing facilities and resources to improve opportunities for its students.
- Free transport from the salt fields to the government school for up to 30 local children.
- Scholarships for children to attend high school or university
How big is the NGO?
- School Board – 4 Cambodians (inc the school director) & 1 Australian: Meets twice a year.
- CLS Leadership Team: Director, Manager Learning Centre, Volunteers & Angprey Evening School, Manager Evening School, Sport, Manager Finance
- Staff: There are 14 staff members and 9 part time staff members
How are you funded?
CLS is funded by donations primarily from Australia through individuals and Rotary clubs. Two registered tax deductible organisations (Chumkriel Supporters and Rotary Australia World Community Service) provide secure donation payment facilities. CLS received no funding from the Cambodian national government.
What difference would a US$150 donation make?
- USD$50 (approx. AUD$70) can buy a bike so a child can get to school
- USD$40 (approx. AUD$55) can buy a uniform and school supplies for a child for a year
- USD$90 (approx. AUD$125) can pay for a year’s lessons for a student at our Learning Centre
Regular donations
- USD$15 a month (approx. AUD$20) can buy fruit for the students after they have lunch so they can keep for a snack when the class starts in the afternoon.
- USD$50 a month (approx. AUD$70) a month could provide English lessons to 30 children
- USD$175 a month (approx. AUD$240) could pay the salary for a teacher or librarian to teach 80 students every day.
What difference would US$1000 make?
14 bicycles
18 students can attend school
8 students can attend the Learning Centre
50 students can have fruit for a year
30 students can attend English language classes for a year
Pays a teacher’s salary for four months