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Phnom Penh and Kep. We are currently inthe process of acquiring land for our firstschool in Kep Municipality, as we collaboratewith M
ICHIELS
A
RCHITECTURE
&
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ARTNERS
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in theconstruction and green plans for our firstschool. Our model is currently a case studyat Columbia University's School ofEngineering course,
Engineering for Developing Countries
, as overseen by Dr.Patricia Culligan. Over the summer 2009,our team from Columbia University graduateschools will further develop teacher andstudent training in preparation for our school'sopening in late 2009-early 2010. We are alsodeveloping our comprehensive health andeconomic sustainability plans to furtherimplement our vision.
[[NNPP]]::
HHaavveeyyoouuaallwwaayyssbbeeeenniinntteerreesstteeddiinn wwoorrkkiinnggiinntthheerruurraall--eedduuccaattiioonnsseeccttoorr?? HHoowwddiiddyyoouuggeettiinnvvoollvveeddiinntthhiissaarreeaaaanndd ssuucccceessssffuullllyymmoobbiilliizzeeaatteeaammttoossuuppppoorrtt yyoouurrvviissiioonn??
[[JJ--MM]]::
As a student at Columbia University, Ihelped to organize a Tsunami Fundraiser in2005 that drew my attention to SoutheastAsia. A friend who founded an orphanage forgirls trafficked in the sex trade in Cambodiainvited me to join her in her work in PhnomPenh. From traveling to Cambodia andmeeting with rural school children, principals,and village chiefs, I witnessed a dearth ofeducation opportunities at the secondaryeducation level particularly. The Cambodiangovernment, NGOs, and U.N. agencies, whilefocusing on primary education, do not expendmuch energy on secondary education,particularly back in 2006, which we find iscritical for improving Cambodia’s humanresource base and bridging economic growth
[[NNPP]]
::
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T T h h e e C C a a m m b b o o d d i i a a P P r r o o j j e e c c t t
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[[JJ--MM]]::
The Cambodia Project
is anonprofit organization committed toproviding high-quality secondaryeducation and sustainable developmentopportunities for under-served children inrural Cambodia. In response to a nation'sneed for educational & professionaldevelopment after the Khmer Rougegenocide, where today only 30% of boys& 22% of girls are enrolled in secondaryschool, and with the encouragement ofthe local government and community,
The Cambodia Project
presents a modelthat develops secondary education froma holistic and inclusive approach with afocus on green technology in our schoolconstructions and maintenance
.
In addition to providing child-friendlyeducation, teacher training andprofessional development to our staff, ourtuition model reaches out to the localschool system where we look to hireteachers to work part-time with
The Cambodia Project
, enabling a spill-overeffect that impacts the lives of children inpublic secondary schools. We havedeveloped an innovative approach tophilanthropic education with a for-profitminded business model that, fromestablishing viable sources of revenuegeneration and collaboration with thelocal leadership in the decision-makingprocess, ensures sustainability as wetransition to hand the schools over to alocal NGO and the local communitybeginning year five of our operations. Webelieve this to be a sustained approach toeconomic prosperity.Over the past two years,
The Cambodia Proj
ect has sent three field missions toand social development. In working from
Columbia University in New York, we benefitfrom tremendous resources and a studenttalent base that I find is second to none inensuring the success of our mission.
[[NNPP]]::
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During the genocide in Cambodiaperpetrated by the ruling Khmer Rouge, anentire generation of educators was murdered;the academic infrastructure and professionalculture were destroyed. The resulting glaringgap in the education system where only 30%of boys & 22% of girls are enrolled insecondary school proves a dire need ofprogrammatic reform, as reflected inendorsements
The Cambodia Project
hasreceived support from the Governor of KepMunicipality, the Director of Education forTakeo Province, and the Secretary of State forCommerce, among many others. Cambodia isthe 4
th
poorest country in the world and 136
th
out of 179 countries on the HumanDevelopment Index, based on life expectancyfigures, levels of education, and standard ofliving (
www.hdr.undp.org
).Initially,
The Cambodia Project
will work withthree separate communities: the first in Kepmunicipality, the second and third in Takeoand Kandal provinces respectively.
The Cambodia Project
will directly benefit 980secondary school students in each community:2,940 students per year with an expectedretention rate of above 75%. The first schoolis strategically located in order to allow tuitionpaid by wealthier families to subsidize tuitionfor those under-served. The government ofCambodia and the World Food Programrecognize the populations in these areas assome of the country’s most vulnerable;specifically, Kep maintains the nation’s lowesttest scores. We estimate that within five years
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