By Katie Humphries | Grants and Fundraising Officer
After eight months of online lessons, homework drop-offs, and social-distanced physical education, our education centres have finally reopened their gates! On Tuesday 3rd 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 1st 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!
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