Funding in Action
Currently, the charity has two funds:
THE BOB MAIDMENT EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT FUND, which primarily targets Vocational Training for young people along with related educational initiatives, and a GENERAL FUND which is not project-specific.
This arrangement not only enables flexibility and targeted use of funds but also provides donors with the choice of how their contribution is used. Scroll down to see details of both these funds.
Please click image to enlarge
PROJECT FUNDING: HOW IT WORKS
For those unaware of the system: all Support Cambodia projects have to be applied for in writing with full costing, timescale and [where appropriate], responsibility for onward maintenance.
The Support Cambodia Board then decide which projects the charity will fund, based on the following criteria:
- Location: within 50 miles of either Battambang or Siem Reap and areas within Pailin City.
- Students are selected from families resident within these areas.
- Essential needs: priority for the poorest
- Value for money – ‘small money, big difference’
- People or places receiving little or no other NGO help.
We do not hand out cash directly to recipients. Instead, it is channelled through our known and trusted contacts in Cambodia [mostly connected to the Catholic Prefecture of Battambang] who then, upon our authorization, distribute the necessary funding.
BRITISH CHARITY LAW
British charity law states that funds given for a particular project must be spent on that project, so occasionally a problem can arise if the target is exceeded.
In the event of surplus funds being raised for a particular project, the Board reserves the right to allocate the excess as they see fit – though we will always try to direct the funds to a similar project or purpose.
THE BOB MAIDMENT EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT FUND
This fund, set up in memory of former Chair of Trustees Bob Maidment, is now the main focus of our charity. The Fund provides:
- VOCATIONAL TRAINING for young people from very poor families who would otherwise be unable to afford access to training, entrepreneurship and business skills.
The Courses
The courses are mostly for two years and as such, are a longer term financial commitment for our charity rather than a ‘one-off’ payment. These courses are intended to lead directly to employment opportunities in areas such as Engineering, Catering, Mechanics, Business Skills, Plumbing, Hairdressing etc.
We also, from time to time, support English Language Classes for young people either already on vocational courses or working in jobs requiring a high standard of spoken English.
Job Opportunities
Providing a direct introduction and link to a first job is a feature of the various training facilities attended by the students we support eg: Don Bosco Technical & Agricultural School, Battambang and the Teuk Thla Food Technology & Hotel Management Course in Phnom Penh. Both have almost 100% record in employment placement for their students.
How are Students Chosen
Students are carefully selected, based not just on their grades, but on innate ability, personal qualities and the attitude of their family. Of course, poverty is a big factor but students are not selected on that basis alone.
We now insist all our sponsored students have an English-speaking Mentor in Cambodia who knows the student and the family, can vouch [as far as possible] for their suitability and will stay in touch with Support Cambodia. It is a condition of our funding that students and Mentors are in regular touch with us.
How Much Does Student Training Cost per Month?
This varies widely, depending on the course chosen, resident/non-resident, family contribution and whether subsidies are available so these are approximate monthly costs:
Tuition: £25 – £45 Food/Materials: £30 Lodging/Services: £20 English classes: £10 – £40 [depending on tuition level]
- PRACTICAL SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES of Grades 6 – 12 students in an effort to keep them in school rather than having to go out to work to support the family. This costs around £20 a month/per family and is given in the form of rice, toiletries, food ingredients and school supplies on a rotating monthly basis. Currently Support Cambodia is helping 10 students in this way in Pailin Province.
- BIKES FOR RURAL CHILDREN to get to school. Many of the poorest families in Cambodia live in remote rural areas where although there are local Primary Schools, Secondary and High Schools are few and far between. No public transport means a long walk down dirt roads which are often impassable in the wet season.
This severely restricts access to education beyond the most basic level and prevents young people achieving the educational standards they need. BICYCLES are the key! but many families simply can’t afford a good bike.
A decent bike in Cambodia only costs around £50 and will be used not just by the student but by family members too!
NO BIKE..NO EDUCATION…NO FUTURE…….
- COMMUNITY EDUCATION: This is a rather different form of educational support and can take many forms. Currently, Support Cambodia fund a teacher for a Women’s Dressmaking Group in Piak Snaeng Chas, a rural village about an hour outside Siem Reap.
Run by Filipino missionary Betty Millena, this is a group of women learning dressmaking skills in order to work from home to supplement the family income.
Very much a community project, the funding from Support Cambodia enables the women to provide a useful service for local people while at the same time earning a little money themselves. Items made by the women are sold in the UK at Support Cambodia events.
The teacher is essential to the continuation of the group which also runs a micro finance initiative in the village.
5. OTHER EDUCATION-RELATED FUNDING INCLUDES: classroom supplies [eg: library books], playground facilities and sports equipment. These are funded at the discretion of the Support Cambodia Board.
Anyone wishing to donate specifically for these items is asked to contact us directly.
THE GENERAL FUND
This is a much smaller Fund which pays for all project expenditure not specifically directed to Education.
This can include [at the discretion of the Board]:
Rice Soup……. Baby Milk…… Emergency Food Packs….. Medical Supplies…… Toiletries
and when necessary, also be used to supplement the Education Fund.
