As we wrap up our 3rd year of running our school at full capacity, we are thrilled to have celebrated the success of our students last weekend, when they Graduated from one more level of their educational journey at REACH!
It has been truly heartwarming to see the children in our organisation develop and grow, not just academically but also on a personal level. From our little ones -finishing their first-ever starter English class- all the way up to our youth, who are building upon their interpersonal skills in preparation for the next chapter of their adult lives.
One of our Blue Room students taking notes in English.
Anyone who’s been involved in the children’s journey will agree with the immensely rewarding feeling of seeing them blossom, gain confidence, and discover their unique talents and passions. As our students move forward, we know they are prepared not just with knowledge but with the strength of character to succeed in whatever path they choose.
During our Graduation ceremony, our entire community clapped and cheered for our students when they received their certificates and awards. Inspirational speeches from our youths evoked pride amongst our team, and we all smiled along with the children who took over the stage to perform their end-of-the-year dances and songs.
A REACH family enjoying the Graduation Ceremony 2023-2024.
Each year, as a result of our holistic approach, parental engagement continues to strengthen. Thanks to ongoing efforts by our social workers and the guardian volunteer programs, connections between caregivers and our team are getting stronger. By continuing to work hand-in-hand alongside the families, our shared vision is steadily becoming a reality.
We were thrilled to share this special day not only with our beneficiaries but also with a few of our valued in-country partners: the South East Asia Foundation and Journeys Within Our Community. Together, we celebrated a year of growth and achievement in true REACH style… with loud music, certificates, a lot of food, and no shortage of dance routines.
Here are some of our favourite photos from the day:
Our school was bursting with joy!
Guardians, team members and guests celebrated our student’s achievements at our Cambodia charity!
This year marked a milestone for us, in that several of our students have completed Grade 12. Although we’re still waiting for their official test results to be released, we’ve got high hopes for their futures.
One shining example of our Youth Pathways support in action is the fact that just 5 days post-exam, our Education Manager Mardy coordinated for one of our star Grade 12 students (pictured below) to travel to Phnom Penh to enrol in a short course.
We are so proud to see our students reach their dreams!
This dedicated young woman aspires to become a nurse and, with our support, is now attending a 3-month intensive prep course to prepare for the challenging university entrance exam.
Her mother accompanied her on the bus to Cambodia’s Capital City. Mother and daughter had never been to the vibrant and busy city of Phnom Penh before. Our team was on standby to support them every step of the way. We’ve ensured she has a safe place to stay and all the necessary resources to succeed. We can’t wait to see her achieve her dreams.
With each passing year and every story of a student’s success, it’s clear our approach is not just working, it’s thriving. We put this down to several key factors: the dedication of our team, the dedication of our students and the dedication of their families.
All 3 factors of which would not be possible without unwavering support from our donors.
This leads us to our big news…
Our charity in Cambodia is growing!
Thanks to the generosity of a very kind-hearted couple, we have been able to expand our facilities. Several months ago, we received the funds needed to help us grow our facilities, and thanks to this kindhearted act, we have recently been able to build 2 new fully equipped classrooms, a sports area for our kids, and more.
This generosity created an immediate ripple effect.
Soon after the additional classes were constructed, our social workers actively began enrolling new families from the community. Since July, our Outreach team have been diligently screening impoverished families to ensure more people can benefit from our services.
Our Social Worker, Sreymik, during our latest enrolments.
Home visits to screen and meet families were a sobering reminder of the conditions our families live in. We are happy to share that our team has vetted and enrolled 50 new Kindergarten Students and 74 new Primary School children. This brings our overall student count to more than 350 kids. Below, you’ll find a breakdown of the age groups of all our students and a visual representation of the total percentage of new families, compared to existing ones:
After concluding the enrolment process, Sert, our Outreach Manager shared this moving quote:
“It is amazing! We have enrolled more families in the community. This is a great opportunity for other impoverished families to receive education and holistic support from REACH. We would like to see more family development in this community as well as to cooperate with the commune leaders to improve social well-being.”
Newly enrolled students taking their placement tests.
In addition to the 2 new classrooms, the donated funds enabled us to construct an undercover sports area. This new facility will significantly enhance our Physical Education curriculum. Our students, team and volunteers have already embraced this space, with daily volleyball games becoming a regular occurrence.
The children are so excited to have a space to practise sports!
Finally, a portion of the funds was used to establish our Wellbeing Room, a serene space where children can manage their emotions in a healthy way under the guidance of Theany, our qualified Counselor & Wellbeing officer.
To get a feel for exactly what this expansion has meant to our community, we invite you to watch the video below:
We are so proud of everything that’s been achieved and cannot wait to see the newest children and families benefiting from our practical integrated offerings.
This expansion could not have been possible without the generous support of our donors, and now, to ensure the long-term success of our additional students, we are actively looking for class sponsors for the new school year.
We have added 4 new classes to our timetable to support our new primary students and the bridging youth class. These additional classes present an opportunity for our generous donors to make a tangible, life-changing impact through our Class Sponsorship Program.
As we head into the new school year we have a total of 5 classes in need of sponsorship.
With $5,000AUD, supporters can provide a full year of quality education to an entire class of children at our centre. In return, Class Sponsors receive comprehensive tri-annual impact reports, their logo on our website and regular updates throughout the year.
If you believe in what we are doing and want to be part of our newest kids’ success story, please email emily@reachsiemreap.org or click here to learn more
