Crucial Funds for CBE School for One Year

About

CBE Christine which stands for Children's Basic Education (known as "Bush School" in Australia) is a small school in Siem Reap, Cambodia, only 300m from Angkor Watt. The school provides core education including Khmer, English, Maths and Science as well as vocational training and sports. The school provides education, food and medical assistance for children from poor families around the Angkor Watt area. CBEs education programs complement state schooling and provide education for children from low-income families who face financial difficulties in continuing their education. CBE provides a range of highly successful and popular programs that have helped children and young adults prosper in their working and community lives. CBE is run by a core of dedicated full-time and part-time Khmer teachers and managed through the Cambodian NGO Salvation Centre Cambodia (SCC).

COVID-19

Over the last 18 months CBE has faced periodic closures due to the spread of COVID-19. Several donors who usually support CBE have also faced difficulties and as a result there has been less funding for the school. Further difficulties have arisen as several yearly fundraisers in Australia have been cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. Yet the urgent need for funds has not diminished. CBE has not abandoned the staff or students who are facing significant financial stress. CBE has been providing full salary to all staff (staff would be in a very dire situation without this) and continues to provide emergency funds and support to families of students who are in most need.

In response to these difficulties, CBE has commissioned a short film about livelihood struggles during COVID-19. The film features and was produced by staff and students of CBE. We hope this film gives you some insights into the difficulties that people across Siem Reap are facing. Although the film depicts the struggles of rural and urban people alike, CBE continues to have hope that the lives of students and staff will improve through communal education and mutual support.

Support

If you are in a position to offer support, staff and students of CBE would be incredibly grateful. CBE faces the mammoth task of raising AUD$36,600 for the coming year. Whatever you are able to give will go far in contributing to the salaries for staff, funds for maintenance, and funds for food and other provision for poor families.

Partners

Salvation Centre Cambodia  (a registered NGO) has over a decade of experience administering various health and education programs in Cambodia. SCC has a transparent and efficient funding system to ensure funds get to CBE staff and students. SCC and donors have been working closely to support and strengthen CBE programs for over a decade. CBE has now been given incorporated status in Australia under the title "Cambodian Educational Support Inc." (CES), which works closely with SCC and has a staff member based in Siem Reap. To help in planning and fundraising, the Lions Club of Winmalee in Australia continues to support Bush School as a special project. For any further questions please contact [email redacted].