When parents learn, children thrive. Action Education / Aide et Action engages caregivers and parents in early childhood education — ensuring that child-centred solutions are grounded in Cambodia’s local realities.
At first glance, it is just another morning at the community preschool in Damnak Chang Eur, a peaceful village in Kep. Sunlight filters through the windows as the cheerful voices of children fill the air, and tiny fingers eagerly point to the whiteboard.
Just beyond the circle of young learners, a small group of mothers quietly observe.
Among them is Phern, her eyes gently following her four-year-old son, Chirn Davin, as he participates alongside his classmates. For Phern, this moment represents more than childcare — it is part of a shared journey of learning and growing together as a parent.
Parents and Children: Learning Side by Side
“I am a housewife, and my husband works in construction,” Phern shares with a quiet smile. For her, motherhood means learning alongside her child — a journey that starts at monthly co-parenting meetings supported by Action Education / Aide et Action.
These sessions bring together parents, grandparents, and caregivers to share stories, ask questions, and learn together.
“At the meetings, I learnt the importance of avoiding alcohol during pregnancy and eating healthily to protect our babies. I also learnt how to feed children — I prepare Khmer noodles, Khmer desserts, and rice with meat and vegetables for my son.”
Each time she attends a co-parenting meeting, Phern gains more than advice — she takes home confidence.
For many caregivers like Phern, who did not have access to early education themselves, these sessions open a door to healthier, more connected parenting. “There is a meeting every month,” she says. “I try to attend regularly, though sometimes my son is sick and I can’t come. Still, I always try to apply what I learn.”
This quiet change — from uncertainty to empowerment — makes a difference in community circles.
Early Childhood Education: A Community of Support
In Cambodia’s coastal provinces, co-parenting initiatives are addressing gaps in early childhood care and education. Many children grow up in households where income is unstable and access to information is limited.
Yet, through the Consortium for Sustainable Alternatives and Voice for Equitable Development (CO-SAVED), co-funded by the European Union, positive change is underway.
Sharing parenting experiences not only builds peer support in community circles but also supports nutrition and health, leading to stronger growth and cognitive development in the early years.
Ann Channy, Action Education / Aide et Action Field Officer, explains: “The parenting meeting provides parents with the knowledge they need to properly care for and positively interact with their young children aged 0–6,” she says.
“But it’s more than just information — it also encourages them to participate in preschool life. They help clean the school compound, decorate the classroom… It’s about building a community around the child.”
At Damnak Chang Eur, the preschool gate is always open — not just for children, but for their mothers, fathers, and grandparents too.
Because informed parents raise happier children and build brighter futures.
