Archive video: June 2008
What is The Cambodia
Project?
The Cambodia Project Inc. (CPI) is a not-for-profit organization committed to
developing holistic, inclusive and economically sustainable secondary education
targeting underserved populations in rural Cambodia.
Our school’s curriculum will be
developed by enhancing current government standards while including
supplemental elective courses that will provide skills in computer technology,
office management, tourism, agriculture, and entrepreneurial skills. The goal
of the curriculum is to develop a strong educational platform for students to
enter the university system or the workforce. Classes will be taught primarily
in Khmer, with increasing levels of English language instruction as students
progress into the upper secondary grades. CPI plans to employ a qualified staff
of Khmer teachers, and provide pre-service and in-service teacher training, and
continuing mentoring, observation, and evaluation.
Who are the target beneficiaries for your programs?
CPI’s target beneficiaries include secondary students,
teachers, school staff, and the surrounding community.Students at CPI managed schools will directly
benefit from the provision of quality education while teachers and school staff
will enjoy professional development opportunities, a well-resourced work
environment and consistent and equitable pay.Meanwhile, public school teachers who will work as part-time instructors
will benefit from professional development opportunities and supplemental
income. Consequently, their students in the public school system will benefit
from improved teaching methods.The
school community will indirectly benefit from access to income generating
activities based around the school.
CPI will begin building its first school in winter 2008 in Kep municipality on the border of Kampot province.
Two more schools are planned for construction by 2012, with Takeo and Kandal provinces
being considered for the second and third sites. CPI looks to expand the
programs into other regions of Cambodia,
and to eventually replicate the model in nearby countries.
CPI currently has a team of 9 working on a field assessment in Cambodia that
includes 3 members on the Education Planning Team, and 5 members of the
Economic Development Team. They are supported by a diverse team of over 20 academics
and professionals in New York City
working in such sectors as community health development, fundraising,
marketing, and corporate social responsibility. We are growing rapidly and will
continue to do so as our donor and corporate support expands.
What is the nature and level of volunteer support?
We have an extensive network of volunteers both within the Columbia University
network and beyond. This network includes graduate students in education,
international affairs, health, and business. Additionally, professionals and
academics in the fields of law, architecture, finance, marketing, international
development, and health volunteer their time to serve in leadership roles and
as advisors to CPI.
In the future, CPI will be seeking longer-term volunteers for specific roles
within our school communities. Volunteers will be recruited for aiding in
teacher training, and to fill English teaching and technology positions. These
positions will gradually become paid positions for local staff once they have
been sufficiently trained.
Are you involved, or likely to be involved, in policy monitoring and
evaluation, or advocacy?
CPI aims to serve as an innovative example of quality secondary education in Cambodia. CPI
will not directly advocate for changes within the public education system; but
through adopting the best of government policies into our own excellent
standard of education, we hope to inspire future education policy development
in Cambodia.
Additionally, by employing teachers from the public system as part-time
instructors at CPI schools and providing these teachers with professional
development and support, CPI will serve as a model of successful teacher
training for the public system. Once CPI has a proven track record with clear
indicators of success, it plans to share the results of our program with other
organizations, and the Ministry of Education.
CPI is currently managing a capital fundraising campaign. In order to implement our programs we will need to raise $500,000 by end of year. Your donation can help CPI begin its important work. By helping a rural Cambodian child receive a quality education, you can open doors of opportunity that might give these children a way out of poverty.
The Cambodia Project is a 501(c)(3)
organization so your donation can be tax deductible.
We also accept volunteers on a need basis.You can send your CV and Resume to the
following address: volunteer @
thecambodiaproject.org, or submit the following information online. Thank you for understanding that we will only
respond to those whom we are considering.
