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In rural communities in Cambodia, many children miss out on a quality education.
This not only denies them future employment opportunities, but can result in high-risk activities, such as migrating to neighbouring countries for work where they are vulnerable to exploitation.
ChildFund Cambodia is helping to address this issue through its education projects in Battambang, which is close to the border of Thailand.
By working in partnership with local communities, ChildFund’s education team is helping to implement child and youth-led groups which empower young people in decision-making.
These youth groups help to report child-related abuse cases, monitor students’ school attendance, assist students who are falling behind their peers, and collect essential survey data that is used to make informed decisions.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, these youth groups have also played a leading role in raising awareness about the virus and ensuring children understand the measures they need to take to stay safe.
Young people are helping each other stay on track
Vy, 26, was 15 years old when he finished his education because his school was too far away.
It’s a decision he has regretted since, which is why he dedicates his time to ensuring that other young people have the opportunity to stay in school.
Vy volunteers in ChildFund’s youth group, where he helps mentor the younger generation of children in his community.
“I am happy to see positive change in my community from the work we have done together with ChildFund,” Vy says.
Vy barely recognises the school he left a decade ago, and the attitude of young people has changed too.
Vy said teenagers used to be disillusioned with education and often turned to harmful activities.
“The schools today have a nice environment, modern learning materials and dedicated teachers,” Vy said. “If ChildFund was here when I was younger I would have finished school.”
Vy has noticed a difference in the new generation of youth in the Battambang communities where ChildFund works.
Teenagers like 16-year-old Sreyroeun (pictured above) are more empowered and want to give back to their community.
“During my break time, I teach a few of the younger kids at school who could not read well,” she said.
Sreyroeun is also part of the youth-led group, and she sees it as her duty to help improve her community.
The group has committed members like Ramy (pictured below), who often travels 20 or 30km by motorbike to teach children at school.
“I don’t get paid, but I get a lot of experience and knowledge that no school would teach.
“I am happy to do such volunteering because it helps improve my society,” she says.
“I’ve learned a lot doing this too.”
Growing up with five siblings in a small
village in Cambodia, Tey often faced discrimination and was not given the same
opportunities as her brothers.
When she was about to begin Grade 7 her
parents ordered her to drop out of school. They told her she didn’t need an
education because she would get married and become a housewife and her husband
would provide for her.
Tey was a promising student and the school
principal told her parents that she should stay in school, but they would not
change their minds.
After she was taken out of school, Tey took
it upon herself to make the best out of her situation.
“Women have to build their own capacity and
get involved in social work,” Tey says.
“Men should be open to this and recognise, support and provide opportunity to women.”
Women in remote communities in Cambodia can
face discrimination and are often overlooked for leadership roles.
ChildFund Cambodia is working to support
women and disadvantaged groups to have more opportunities in taking a lead in
their communities.
Commune councils are local government
bodies in Cambodia, which have historically had very low levels of female
representation.
Tey found ways to prove herself while
helping her father, who was a village chief. She showed she had a special skill
for conflict resolution, which is one of the main duties of the commune
council.
In 2012 she was elected as a member of the
council, the only woman alongside six men. Despite the challenges, Tey never
doubted her ability to get the job done.
“I performed my tasks well and even better
than the male members,” Tey says.
After eight years on the council Tey (pictured above) still sees gender equality as a key issue in her village. Many women from Tey’s generation were not given the opportunity to finish school and go on to higher education.
Kalyan, 24, is a commune developing officer at ChildFund Cambodia. She works in villages like Tey’s to ensure girls and young women are given chances.
“I think women’s roles in society are as important as men’s,” Kalyan (pictured above) says. “And society must say yes to women.”
Kalyan believes that a major change will
come from changing the way girls and young women in Cambodia view their role in
society.
“We, women, should think that everything
starts from ourselves,” Kalyan says.
She believes change starts at home.
“I think family plays an immense role in a
daughter’s mindset,” Kalyan says. “If you teach a daughter to believe in
herself and always be supportive, she will grow up to be an independent woman.”
Tey’s daughter is studying her master’s
degree in English literature in Phnom Penh, and more women are getting the
chance to finish school.
“I believe higher education is important
because it brings higher capacity and it will change old attitudes,” she said.
In Tey’s village, girls and young women look up to her as a reason for why attitudes are changing. Lima and Hanfy, both age 28, say that Tey’s influence is being felt by new generations of girls in their village.
“She’s a very focused person,” Lima says.
“She is our idol and she will always be our role model.”
Kalyan believes it is important that people
are able to see change because this will lead to people changing their minds.
“If we think about gender equality and we do not act on it, then it is nothing,” she says.
