Ratana KAO, 11 years old, lives with two older brothers and an older sister. Being one of the youngest in the family, she lives in Andong Teouk village of the Botumsakor district, Koh Kong province ( most southwestern province of Cambodia). Ratana’s mother, Chanthou HORN, 37 years old, is a farmer. Her father, Chan TUON, 45 years old, is a house construction contractor added to his farming job.
The Cambodian Consortium for Out Of School Children (CCOSC) granted Andong Teouk Primary School in early 2021 for refurbishing classrooms and furniture/equipment. Ratana said her school was very despairing regarding roofs, doors, windows, blackboards, chairs in the classroom, and school paint.
Ratana said, “I feel so happy and proud of myself for ranking in first place every month. I have gradually changed my thinking, mathematics, and reading, daring to ask teachers, solve problems, and make more friends.
Ratana added, “After school refurbishing, it gives a better environment. And I started to like my school because I felt refreshed when I saw that my school was clean. It is not like before, and I see my school scared of danger, such as falling tiles, dirty whiteboards, chairs that are difficult to sit on, a lot of broken windows, and the school does not paint.”
Ratana KAO expressed profound gratitude to the CO-SAVED project and the Buddhism for Social Development Action (BSDA) for supporting the school.
