Rumdoul Thmei Rural School  

In 2006 the plight of children from a nearby rural community of squatter families came to the attention of the directors of KaisKids. Local authorities reported there were around 100 children of school age living in poor conditions, all whom had never attended a day of school.  Earlier in the year there had been a glimmer of hope for them when a small school house was built by an organisation, but sadly it never opened. The building lay empty and unused, slowly deteriorating in the tropical climate. There and then the seeds of change were sown and the directors knew that something had to be done to help.

 The following year, with the assistance of the Ministry of Education and a generous donor, KaisKids acquired the land and building and started to renovate. Raising the level of the land to prevent flooding, landscaping, turning one long open-plan building into 3 classrooms, placing ceilings and upgrading the toilet block and water tower

One auspicious day in November 2007, following a short ceremony and a Buddhist blessing, Romdoul Thmei School officially opened it’s doors. The children and their families sat down to a meal to mark the occasion and starter packs were distributed amongst the excited children. The following day the newly employed head teacher began the first classes.

Presently there are 120 children attending the school 6 days a week with a further 80 children awaiting space. The school teaches the Cambodian State syllabus under the supervision of the Ministry of Education. Additional English language classes are taught 2 mornings a week by British volunteers from Project Trust.  In future it is envisaged the children will also learn arts and crafts and there are plans for expansion to accommodate a new classroom block. 

At the moment there are few employment opportunities for the youths in the community. Mainly they help their families scavenge wood which is then burnt in kilns to produce charcoal and transported many kilometres to the main road where it is sold to passers by. In order to try to improve prospects for young adults, longer term plans include a small vocational training wing.  

We still need donors to help support the running costs of the school, sponsor students and assist towards much needed future expansion. To find out more about the project or to give a child the gift of education please contact us at kaiskids@online.com.kh

                                Society for Orphan Support, No. 1 Street 336, Sangkat Boeung Salang,Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia