Krabei Riel

2010-2011

In July and August 2010, This Life Cambodia conducted Participatory Rural Appraisals (PRAs) with 12 villages in the Krabei Riel Commune. Parent representatives, students and teachers were involved in the process to determine their needs. Between 6 and 12 people participated in each group discussion. Each group was asked to identify the problems they faced in relation to education, in order to find out the root causes of these problems and to determine effective solutions to the issues.

The first issue prioritised by the groups was the need for school infrastructure to be improved in order to get students involved in and enjoying school. Groups found that one of the root causes of students dropping out from school is that many do not go to school regularly. Other issues raised were the lack of facilities at the school, including a school garden, a sports site and a fence to protect the school from external factors.

The groups also explained that there are many students in one class and there are not enough tables for them all. Many of the tables they do have a very old, and are sometimes unsafe for students to use.

The PRA process in the Krabei Riel Commune, found:

  1. Students drop out
  2. Students are absent and learn slow
  3. Parents don’t have enough money to send their children to school

With funding from Everest of Apple and World Youth International, as well as volunteer support from World Youth International, This Life Cambodia was able to build a school fence at the front of Krabei Riel school in order to protect the infrastructure inside the school. A football and volleyball sport site was constructed to get students involved in sporting activities to increase their life skills and social interactions. Desks were built for students and teachers to make school more attractive for students to enjoy their lessons and also to increase the safety of sitting in the classroom.

2009-2010

During August/September 2009, This Life Cambodia conducted PRAs within the Krabei Riel Commune. PRA’s were conducted with the 11 villages that make up the commune and a large section of students studying at Krabei Riel Lower Secondary School. Our purpose of conducting PRA’s was to learn what problems the community face regarding to access and quality of education. 12 members selected from a cross section of their community represented each village. Each group was asked to identify educational problems, the root cause and a solution to improve the situation.
The process of the student needs assessment was to select students from grade 7 (academic year 2008-2009). The students were divided into 2 groups. Each group had clever, slow learners, regular and irregular attendance students from 11 villages in Krabei Riel commune. The same process was undertaken with the students to identify problems, the root cause and a solution.

After conducting PRA’s in Krabei Riel Commune it became apparent that the community recognised the need for Life Skills programs to be implemented at the Lower Secondary School. Teachers, Community members and students all identified the problem that students were not studying Life Skills as part of the school curriculum. The reasons behind this were due to the fact that their lower secondary school lacked the resources needed to conduct these classes.

Following our meeting with the school support committee it has been recommended the construction a Life Skills Building be the next construction priority after the construction of a toilet block. This Life Cambodia once again partnered with World Youth International and hosted their Overseas Action Program.

The long-term benefits of this project are a main focus. It is also reported that Life Skills in schools helps to facilitate child centered learning and also prepares students for employment after they complete their education.

The construction of the Life Skills Building supported Krabei Riel Secondary School and This Life Cambodia’s LSSDP. The Life Skills building was funded by World Youth International, Everest of Apples and the Community of Krabei Riel.

As well as the need for a Life Skills Building, the PRAs conducted also listed a lack of toilets at the Lower Secondary School as a major problem. Students answered they have one old toilet for many students, it was dirty and it can’t be used properly. They said, “We want to have a good toilet and also a healthy toilet”.

Students then prioritised their problems in the following order:

  1. Toilet
  2. Some girls do not come to school
  3. They don’t have enough exercise at home
  4. They don’t have hand washing place after toilet
  5. They don’t have first aid materials

Following our meeting with the school support committee it was recommended the construction of a toilet block to be the first construction priority. This Life Cambodia partnered with World Youth International and hosted their Overseas Action Program. The program was the first joint venture between Western Australia TAFE and World Youth International, supported by the Endeavour scholarship from AusAID to fund and complete the construction of a block of toilets, 3 for girls and 2 for boys.

The long term benefits of this project are a main focus, educating children on the importance of health and sanitation, and teaching that good health leads to children attending school more regularly, allowing them to continue with education. It is also reported that clean and available toilets in secondary school encourages teenage girls who have reached puberty to continue their education.

The construction of this toilet block supported Krabei Riel Secondary School and This Life Cambodia’s LSSDP. The toilet block was funded by World Youth International.