A brighter future starts with early childhood education. Investing in our youngest learners builds the foundation for lifelong success and breaks the cycle of poverty. When the right to education is truly universal, no one is left behind. We are committed to ensuring that every child, from every corner of Cambodia, has an equal chance to learn.
In Kep’s remote districts, early childhood education is essential but often limited due to logistical, economic, and resource challenges. Many children in fishing communities are at risk of missing out on foundational learning.
As Cheang Sophy, working for the District of Education (DoE), notes at O’Krasar community pre-school: “This school is important. Early childhood education is especially crucial for children in rural areas. We need more community pre-schools in Kep, but we lack land.” The scarcity of educational infrastructure in rural areas worsens the disparities between urban and rural regions, where schooling is more accessible.
Many parents in rural Cambodia work long hours and face transportation issues, making it difficult to send their children to school. Sophy explains: “Parents are often busy with work. They can’t take children to school every day. Sometimes, a family has only one motorbike, and the parent can’t return to pick up the child.”
Co-Action: Strengthening Early Learning
Action Education / Aide et Action (AEA) works on improving early childhood education in coastal regions under the CO-SAVED project, co-funded by the European Union. As early childhood education builds the foundation of learning, it’s an area of focus for CO-SAVED partners, committed to SDG 4 on quality education and poverty reduction.
“In this area, AEA has covered the teacher training costs, contributed to teachers’ salaries, and supported quarterly technical meetings for teachers,” says Cheang Sophy. “Furthermore, AEA has built schools, constructed latrines, created safe playgrounds, and provided essential school materials.”
Community involvement is also central to the success of the program. Regular co-parenting meetings help engage parents in their children’s education. One of the most appreciated aspects of the program is the school feeding initiative, which ensures children have access to nutritious meals during the school day.
Geva, a local mother, shares her experience: “Food at school is healthy and good. I give her food in the morning, and she receives more at school.” Her daughter, Heng Sivin, 4 years old, echoes her words: “I like food at school. I eat rice at home and snacks at school.”
For many families, the provision of meals is a key incentive that encourages parents to send their children to school. Sophal, who came to pick up his 4-year-old daughter, Sreyngin, agrees: “Food is good for my daughter!”
Co-Impact: The Future Starts Now
Children who once faced the prospect of missing out on early childhood education now have access to schooling that equips them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in life. Children like 5-year-old Sreyroth, who loves painting in school, and Nania, whose father is a fisherman, are able to engage in activities that stimulate their creativity and intellectual growth.
“What I like doing in school? Painting!” says Buntheng, a 5-year-old boy whose family faces economic hardship but values the opportunity for their child to learn.
The education program has also strengthened the community. Parents like Geva, who herself is busy running a small beauty product business at the local market, have seen the value in early childhood education for their children. For Sophal, “this school is a blessing. It’s close to my house. I only live 2 kilometers from here.”
Despite the positive changes, there are still many challenges. Cheang Sophy is hopeful for the future: “My dream is that every child will go to school. I hope AEA can continue to help us. Here, for example, O’Krasar community pre-school needs some flooring and better roads to access school.”
For the dream of universal education to become a reality in coastal Cambodia, more resources and attention are needed. The disparities between rural and urban areas remain stark, but there is hope that the gap can be bridged. For children like Heang Sivin, Sreyngin, and many others, the road ahead requires continued investment to ensure no child is left behind.
Education is the key to sustainable development. Together, let’s make sure every child has access to early childhood education.
