People from the Bunong indigenous minority, living in Cambodia’s hilly Mondulkiri Province, are currently going through drastic and often-violent environmental and socio-economic transformations. Used to living from their fields and forests, they have been facing the loss of much of their ancestral lands due to the rapid and rapacious expansion of large-scale rubber plantations, logging activities and encroachments of settlers.
In these difficult times, Bunong youth urgently need better education, including higher education in the capital city of Phnom Penh, to improve their ability to navigate through this rapidly changing environment. However, for Bunong families living in remote villages it is very difficult to provide the necessary economic means as well as emotional and social support to their children who aspire to higher education in Phnom Penh.
Therefore, the Bunong Indigenous Peoples Association, a Mondulkiri-based grassroots organization created by young Bunong, has been working since 2011 to facilitate access to university education by setting up a student dorm.
A total of 95 Bunong, the majority of whom have parents who are illiterate, could benefit from the Student Dorm program from 2011 until today. Of the 40 students who have graduated since October 2014, 70 % returned to their province and found innovative employment, while the others have managed to find a job in Phnom Penh. This now allows these young Bunong to support their families and communities.
Interviews with students and alumni conducted in February - April 2022 have shown that a supportive environment, such as the one provided by the BIPA Student Dorm, plays a crucial role in the success of young Bunongs' higher education and thereby in the broader support of this long-marginalized peoples. The students’ feedback confirmed that it is very important to continue our individual guidance, counselling and support services around studying, finding internships and part-time jobs, and coping with every-day life in the big city.
Funding needs
To enable as many young Bunong as possible to study, BIPA has increased capacity from 11 places for students in 2016 to 20 places in 2017, to 34 in 2018, and to 51 places at the end of February 2022.
In 2022, the cost per student is about $ 1,700, which includes tuition fees (university fees, language and IT courses, and IT equipment), housing and food, student welfare, dorm management and administration (student support, mentoring, assistance, and counseling by BIPA staff).
To be able to cover the increase of costs related to the capacity increase by 17 places as well as to the lower-than-expected financial capacities of the students’ families, we are in urgent need of additional financial support for the second half of 2022. In addition to the already secured donations from third party partners, financial support in the amount of USD 4’800 is still necessary according to the budget plan 2022. This will cover the costs for food, English and IT courses, as well as job advocation.
Through a contribution to fund these costs, you will enable young Bunongs’ higher education and empower them to support their communities to achieve a sustainable future. BIPA thanks you very much for your interest and hopes to be able to count on your support.