Do Good. Be Better.c
Education. The Key.
Consensus among our field team professionals; education is the foundation required for any meaningful change to occur.
This means education for the children so that they can advance academically and pursue meaningful employment in their chosen field.
This means education for the families around drug and alochol issues to rehabilitate the home.
This means education for the community around rights, healthcare and skills training for employment opportunities.
We work in all realms of education. Finding out whatever is needed and figuring out how we can access it is the first step; often referring our community members on to other NGO organizations and resources.
Thing about the areas we work in- we are rarely alone. Uganda boasts one of the highest NGO concentrations per capita. Cambodia isn't far behind.
There's a world of resources available in these post-conflict regions; one of our biggest roles is to help our beneficiaries access these resources.
Education. Our school in Siem Reap town.
Our education program is run by New Bridge for Cambodia, a registered Cambodian not-for profit organization. The head of NBFCO, a Cambodian named Paul, is also the Cambodian national director for us (GWG).
A school catering to those whose parent's force them to work, those who cannot afford to attend school and those who have been left behind due to difficult circumstance.
Our school is simple. We run morning and afternoon classes, teaching by ability often in lieu of age. Our teachers are Cambodian volunteers looking for work hours to bolster their teaching CV's.
Curriculum is set by the Director of NBFCO Paul, with a monthly staff meeting guiding executives and volunteer staff in the areas of need and growth within the classes. English is taught in addition to the basic curriculum; with a range of social activities added into classes, such as gardening, sports and arts.
Our long game is to provide the children with a window into education, and establish rapport with the community. The school acts as a basecamp for all our programs. It allows us to build trust and affords us (GWG) and New Bridge (NBFCO) the chance to be involved in the lives and health of the children and families we aim to support with our anti-trafficking projects.
We have two kindergartens in the nearby village, for those too young to attend the school in town. The kindergarten doubles as a community centre and site-office for outreach work.
Our school building itself has changed three times since GWG began with NBFCO. Beginning as a shack with one roof and three walls, we moved into the bottom half of a two story home with several rooms.
Today, we have built a new facility on a long-term land lease, offering the kids and community a clean two building compound with three classrooms an office and a library; complete with new computers.
Do Good.
Be Better.
Do Good.
Be Better.
GWG.
Groundwork Group International Development Society
All photos displaying discernable character features used with appropriate permissions