Our Goal:

We are aiming to raise enough funds to support the school for the upcoming two years. The funds listed here are divided in order to focus on the key requirements to supply a salary and professional development to teachers, along with electricity for students to work into the evenings and general school supplies.

We are very fortunate to have four of the brightest Khmer educators teaching at our School and Vocational centre. We are committed to giving every conceivable option to these brilliant individuals for their personal and professional development. As educators, we whole-heartedly believe that our teachers are the pillars of this school. In order to create a sustainable initiative to support free and dynamic education at the Phum Ou School and Vocational Centre, we invest in our local staff for both short and long-term development.

We do this by paying a monthly wage, hosting free monthly professional development seminars, allocating valuable donated teaching resources, and coordinating teaching assistants. The effect that one of these educators has is incalculable, and we believe that investing our energy, time, and resources in these amazing individuals is an absolutely integral part to providing the best environment for the community of Phum Ou.

How you will help:

Your assistance will enable the teachers to impact hundreds of families in the community, and together we will continue to work towards the goal of educating underprivileged communities in Cambodia. Listed here are a number of options for a once off payment to support the teachers of Phum Ou School and Vocational Centre.

We will continue to work tirelessly to uphold our responsibilities to ensure that the Phum Ou School and Vocational Centre continues to achieve its desired outcomes and progresses towards its goals, which are outlined below. We can assure you that your hard-earned money will be going directly to where it can be used best, and we will work hard to connect you as much as possible with the project so that you can see its ongoing development and the impact your funds are having on this community.

Click here, to watch a video that will provide further insight into the work we are doing at the School and Vocational Centre.

Looking through the eyes of a young student:

Dina (D–ee-na) is a six-year-old boy growing up in the shadows of a looming wave of societal change. This brilliant child lives with his mother, father, and 12-year-old sister Moomi just 100 meters from our School and Vocational Centre. Dina and his family benefit directly from our school, located in the center of Phum Ou village. It is exciting to see that this little mind has already progressed in his language development, along with his critical thinking capabilities, since the school opened only one year ago. Daily, Dina is inquisitively lurking around the school and always looking to engage, to play, and to learn.

Dina spent months slowly warming up, before engaging with the foreigners who joined his community to assist with the building of the school. Initially, he was somewhat shy, although soon enough he was a part of every little step and excitedly following our every movement. From laying down the first pieces of land to building desks, creating a garden bed or stacking school resources, he was there to help. His innate hunger for learning and cheeky nature is exciting to see. With the right opportunities, the future is bright for Dina.

Without this centre of learning however, Dina would have no other options for free extracurricular learning in areas such as: language development, computer skill development, and scientific reasoning. Dina’s generation is sandwiched in-between lifestyles: traditional subsistence farming versus modern globalization.

Communities surrounding Phum Ou and Cambodia as a whole are entering a new stage of modernization: farmland is being sold to property developers for expansion of the ever-growing tourism industry. As a result, there will no longer be enough land to support Dina and his generation to continue the tradition of subsistence farming. Without preparative education and awareness of the economic and environmental issues affecting modern Cambodia, the Khmer people will be forced into low income jobs, continuing the vicious cycle of poverty. The children we are working with are experiencing the entire weight of Cambodia’s industrial awakening.Our aim as an organization is to provide individuals of the Phum Ou community with auxiliary skill sets, which will strengthen and promote learning -To broaden, enrich, and deepen their understanding of their community, country, and world.

Class is about to start! Dina comes running around the corner carrying a small plastic bag filled with a notebook for class in one hand and the biggest smile I have ever seen on his bright face. This is who we are working for. Together, we are learning and growing, providing a safe, cultivating arena for education.

Meet our Educators:

Sea Sophana

At 22, our youngest teacher, Miss. Sophana, lives in Phum Ou Village, and is growing fast as an educator. She has been under direct mentorship from our senior teaching staff for one year. When asked why she teaches at the Phum Ou School and Vocational Centre she states:

“It is important to educate the children of our community so students can learn how to speak, read, write, and teach others about their culture and lives”

Saang Tip

Mr. Tip is our most senior educator. He has graduated with his bachelor’s degree in primary and secondary education, and is not just a great educator, but a true cultural innovator. His future goal is to continue teaching English, along with utilizing art as a medium to teach through.

“I am so proud to be a teacher, it is the only job where I can learn all day and help build a better country for my children”

Chhon Tola

Mr. Tola has been teaching English for two years, and is currently working on his bachelor’s degree in English literature. When asked why he works at Phum Ou School and Vocational Centre he stated

“I feel passionate about teaching and empowering the children in my community through English language. If no one teaches our children they will have very little opportunity in the future. Education is power.”

Prouen Sarath

Mr. Prouen is the Director of the school and community centre. He feels passionately about breaking the vicious cyclic nature of poverty and giving the children of his community the opportunity to empower themselves and their families. He is a true leader in his community and is absolutely integral for the development of community involvement for the Phum Ou School and Vocational Centre. Mr. Prouen has taught English as a Second Language (ESL) for five years, and is currently studying educational development and English literature.

Developmental Goals:

Moving forward we have some significant developmental goals for this educational institution and would love to share them with you. If you have any further questions, or feel that you can provide any assistance with this project, please don't hesitate to contact Jamie Christopherson at jamie@edventureintl.com.

Attached is a link to our school constitution, which outlines our collective ambitions for Phum Ou School and Vocational Centre. You can access this document via this link.

Media Content related to the development of Phum Ou School and Vocational Centre: Click Below

Insight into our Cambodian EDventure Program

Thank You

We would like to say a massive thank you to all of our EDventure Cambodian participants who have been a part of this project so far. Without your motivation, drive, and passion we would not be able to complete this project. Funding provided from fees for your program have also been paramount to establish the 'building blocks' of what will be an incredible education facility. This has enabled the set up of this project, training of local contractors, planning and documentation required to create something of this scope and calibre, and furthermore its ongoing execution as an educational institution.

For their significant assistance we would also like to thank our wonderful supporters, who have enabled the school to benefit so many since it was opened only one year ago.  

LendCare Capital, Toronto, Canada

Melbourne Orthodontic Group, Victoria, Australia

Eat-Train-Love

XL Catlin Insurance

IVC Insurance

La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia

Gumdale State School, Queensland, Australia

St Peters School, Victoria Australia

Dalton Elementary Idaho, USA

Eoghan Tracey, Joanne Maddick and many many more.

• Why are fees in USD? This is the currency of Cambodia. If you'd like to transfer via bank transfer in AUD for the USD equivalent please contact Jamie at jamie@edventureintl.com and he can provide any details or information required.