These are the children of of Soun Ampou Keut Primary School and they’re very happy!! But it wasn’t like that in January 2023….to find out why, read on…..
JANUARY 2023: Soun Ampou Primary is in a poor, semi-rural area of Pailin City a few miles from the Thai border. As you can see, it’s in an appalling state: the windows are broken, the building is not secure and the classrooms barely usable. There’s no water near the school so it has to be carried from 100 metres away ……by the children, when they should be in class!!.
One toilet block is derelict, the other, perfectly sound building, has both toilet and a handwash……..but no water in either!!!…
Trustees David Pattrick and Katie Maidment visited the school in January 2023 at the request of Sister Vangie Dunton who plans to start a rice feeding programme here and a vegetable garden – both activities to involve the parents and families of the children.
This is a government school and the Head Teacher, Mr Sat Sophea, his staff and the 56 children currently on roll here are understandably demoralised! Having met Mr Sat, they realised immediately that Soun Ampou Primary needed help…and quickly!
So a project to provide clean water, functioning toilets/hand wash and repair and paint the building was launched in May and completed in early July.
JULY 2023: A new well near the school building has been sunk and an electric pump installed. The water supply has been connected to the good toilet and handwash and the derelict toilet building demolished and rebuilt, thus providing separate, working toilets for both boys and girls. Both buildings have been painted throughout as have all six classrooms in the main school building. the broken shutters have been repaired and a new door installed to make the formerly derelict room secure. Head Teacher Mr Sophea plans to make this room a library. The pictures tell the story:
The success of this project and the speed with which it has been completed is down to some brilliant local workers, excellent supervision by project manager Saruon, [assistant to Sister Vangie] and the energy of Vangie herself who has personally driven this project from the start. The pictures show Vangie and Saruon contributing to the work and taking great delight in fixing the Support Cambodia logo to as many surfaces as possible!!
This project has cost Support Cambodia £6,300, of which £3,450 came from the [now closed] WATER FUND.
The remainder has come from two very generous donations, one from Lancashire-based charity, Cambodia Craft [www.cambodiacraft.org.uk], the other from a wonderful private donor plus the proceeds of fundraising events held during June and July. Grateful thanks to everyone who has helped make this project happen.
Sister Vangie writes, “On behalf of the Soun Ampaov Primary School, we are thankful for those who has a generous heart to support the cost of the renovation of the school. It looks beautiful and the children and the teachers are happy. It gives them dignity.The teachers felt that they were not abandoned. They are very grateful for the support.
That gives them inspiration. Thank you very much! to all who contributed to this project! Bless you ALL!”
5th AUGUST 2023, representatives of the Ministry of Education, Pailin City visited the school to inspect the renovation work and plant a tree! The pictures show them with Sister Vangie, assistant Mr Saruon, Head Teacher Mr Sophea and some of the children with their teachers. A fantastic result from a really worthwhile project.
WHAT NEXT FOR SOUN AMPOU?
We intend to remain involved with the school via Vangie. Now that the national elections are over, the Pailin Director of Education will be invited together with the parents to see the improvements and to inform them of Support Cambodia‘s part in the refurbishment. Possible future ways we may be able to help include playground/classroom equipment and support for a vegetable garden.