WELCOME TO ABOUTASIA SCHOOLS!!
IAMCambodia has recently been renamed ABOUTAsia Schools to reflect better the regional ambitions of the rural schools
project and convey more clearly the close relationship with ABOUTAsia Travel.
We are a progressive non-profit organization that provides immediate, targeted aid to Cambodian children and schools.
Our mission is to help provide the poorest and most vulnerable individuals with an education - a basic but priceless
foundation - that opens up opportunities and makes life choices possible. We do this by providing direct, onsite support
throughout the Siem Reap area.
Our work is concentrated in three specific areas:
1. We provide volunteer teachers and assistants to schools.
2. We provide classroom supplies, uniforms, and facility support to existing schools to strengthen and sustain
educational programs.
3. We provide free English lessons to rural primary schools through our English programme.
We currently provide volunteer teachers, supplies, uniforms and computers to forty-eight different schools and 26,000 students.
Our target is 36,000 students by December 2011.
1. ABOUTAsia Schools Provides VOLUNTEERS to Schools
Our volunteers are vital to the success of the mission and as such, are respected members of the ABOUTAsia Schools
organization. Their roles are crucial to establishing successful schools and inspiring students of all ages.
We therefore do not charge our volunteers for their valuable time and efforts. Although no experience is required, we
do require a minimum commitment of two weeks for a teaching assignment. Also, all volunteers must possess a genuine
desire to help the less fortunate, bring with them open minds and hearts and arrive ready to work. There is much to
accomplish and the need for caring, committed individuals is great (for more information, see Volunteers and
Accommodations).
2. ABOUTAsia Schools SUPPLIES AND SUSTAINS SCHOOLS
In recent years, many schools have been built with private funds and donated to the Cambodian government with the
hope that public funds would be earmarked to outfit and maintain them. Sadly, this struggling and impoverished
country has been unable to provide adequate support. Today, most schools-as well as students-desperately need
additional help to function and cover basic expenses.
To help bridge the gap, ABOUTAsia Schools provides thousands of essential school supplies-like pencils, chalk and paper -
as well as books, desks, uniforms, computers, and facility repairs and renovations. We evaluate each situation carefully and
determine what individual schools and students require to succeed. The needs are vast and ever-changing in such a poor
country (Cambodia is ranked 129th out of 177 countries in the UN Human Development Report).
Our latest initiative provides uniforms to needy students. According to Cambodian law, every student must wear a
uniform to attend school. The purchase price of $5.00 is an impossible sum for many of these brutally poor families.
But imagine the look on a child's face upon receiving a brand-new uniform-an admission ticket to school. It is
absolutely priceless! (SEE Supplying and maintaining schools).
3. ABOUTAsia Schools ENGLISH PROGRAMME
Up to the present, the Cambodian government has not included an English curriculum into its primary schools.
Believing that learning a new language should start at an early age, ABOUTAsia Schools started its English programme
in three rural primary schools at Prey Chrouk, Sarsarsdom, and Phum Svay. We employ the Cambodian English teachers, and
supply curriculum textbooks and tests to all the children in our programme.
We hope to expand this programme to more rural schools within 2012.
OTHER WAYS TO HELP
ABOUTAsia Schools is supported by private funds, donations and AboutAsia Travel whose originator, Andrew Booth,
is also a founder of ABOUTAsia Schools (see Our Staff).
ABOUTAsia Travel is a travel company based in Siem Reap specializing in Cambodian travel. Please look at their website
if planning to visit Angkor Wat, Siem Reap or travel in Cambodia, South East Asia.
We are committed to the safety and security of all Cambodian children and students. Please read more about our
child protection policy.
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