BOB MAIDMENT EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT
It has two main purposes:
1. VOCATIONAL TRAINING gives selected young people the opportunity to acquire practical skills
[eg: mechanics, carpentry, beauty care, tourism together with basic entrepreneurship, management and accounting.
2. FAMILY SUPPORT for the families of selected students in Grades 6 – 12 to enable their children to stay in school rather than have to go out to work.
Using contributions given in memory of our former Trustee Bob Maidment following his death in April 2020, this fund is designed to give opportunities to students from poor, rural families who otherwise would not be able to afford these opportunities. It’s a very fitting tribute to Bob, who had such a good rapport with teenagers and young adults.
In addition, the Fund supports:
3. BIKES FOR RURAL CHILDREN TO ACCESS SCHOOL
4. EDUCATIONAL EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES
1. VOCATIONAL TRAINING
- Course length: mostly two years
- Cost: approximately £500-£750 per student per year
[variable according to the course/ location and whether accommodation is needed] - Number of students per year: initially two, rising to three in the second year.
- How they will be selected: personal recommendation, a strong work ethic and final exam results.
- When it will start: selection of students in November 2022 to start January 2023
- Who will oversee it: Sister Vangie, Father Carlos and the Don Bosco Technical School, Battambang
- Student contribution: variable according to what each family can afford but the students are encouraged to put something back into the local community upon completion of their studies.
In December 2022, the first student to benefit from the Vocational Training Fund was Teng Pheroum who is studying electrical & mechanical engineering at Don Bosco Technical High School in Battambang. There were two other students also selected at that time but for various reasons they did not take up their places.
Pheroum is now in his second year and is doing very well. He writes, “I feel very happy to know that this will be my last year at studies. When I finish the school will put me into practice and work with a company and also to continue involved in work and practice with the church with father and sisters here in Pailin. I am very grateful to Support Cambodia and those who have helped me and encourage me in all my studies and expenses until now.”
Since December 2023, Pheroum has been joined by three more students, all following the same two year course in welding, electricity and car mechanics. So for 2023/24 ‘our’ students are [L to R]: Pheroum [21], Sayet [18], Somnop and Som [19].
Sayet’s parents are farmers, Som lives with his uncle and aunt and Somnop, who was abandoned by both his parents, lives with his aunt and their family. All three are very keen to complete the course successfully.
Support Cambodia are paying for their training, educational materials/tools and a small contribution towards personal expenses. This picture, with Father Carlos and another student, was taken at Don Bosco in January 2024. 
2.FAMILY SUPPORT: for the second year running, we are supporting the families of 10 students in Pailin, all in Grade 6 – 12, each receiving $300 [about £250] a year given to them in the form of rice, toiletries, food ingredients and school supplies…all distributed on a rotating monthly basis. The scheme is monitored closely by Sister Vangie to ensure it’s working properly and that the mothers, particularly, are getting the maximum support for the family. Here are pictures of Sister Vangie with the children and their parents.
3. BIKES FOR RURAL CHILDREN TO ACCESS SCHOOL: the absence of public transport in the countryside 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 [cheap bikes don’t last].
A BIKE COSTS AROUND £50 and will be used not just by the student but by family members too! NO BIKE..NO EDUCATION…NO FUTURE…….
4. EDUCATIONAL EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES: funding requests for classroom and sports equipment, library books, health education, uniform etc are considered on an individual basis. Recent projects include ongoing funding for the Dental Health programme, replacement whiteboards, volleyballs & footballs at Rohal Primary School in Banteay Meanchey Province and support for the Prek Toal Floating Community on the Tonle Sap Lake [see separate Project Update]
Educational Support is intended to be an ongoing project in Bob’s memory and the demand on this fund is set to increase as more students apply, we need to ensure this funding continues.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS FUND, please go the DONATE page of this website and mark your donation ‘Ed Support’. Thank you.