On 27 December 2025, after 20 days of fighting along the Cambodia–Thailand border, a ceasefire brought a fragile but welcome sense of calm to families in Koh Kong. Amid the calm coastal waters, education emerged as a quiet anchor for children—nurturing hope for a peaceful future.
The renewed conflict, which started on 7 December and had spread to coastal Cambodia, forced thousands to flee their homes as shelling near Koh Yor Island prompted mass evacuations. Public services—including schools—were suspended, leaving children without access to education and their families in fear and uncertainty.
While the ceasefire marks a critical step towards stabilising the region, the scars of displacement and disrupted education remain vivid.
Colours Against the Storm: Learning Lights the Way
Amid this chaos, Action Education / Aide et Action Cambodia stepped in to restore hope and a sense of normality.
On 27 December, our teams actively called on displaced children to return to learning.
We established temporary learning spaces in displacement camps where children could once again open books, write in notebooks, and reclaim a fragment of childhood stolen by war.
Through community outreach and mobilisation, families were encouraged to bring their children back to school despite the uncertainty. We also provided school materials, such as colouring books and reading books as well as essential items, including tents, mats and blankets to displaced children and their families.
Resilience Starts With Education
For these children, education is not just about learning—it is a lifeline, offering structure, safety, and the possibility of a future beyond conflict.
By providing essential school supplies and creating safe learning environments, we affirm that even after upheaval, children’s dreams can endure and their resilience can grow—carried forward by education.
