Education of Parents and Mothers in Rural Cambodia
Context
Statement
The rapid political, economic and social changes that have taken place these past three decades in Cambodia have profoundly affected early childhood care. Despite huge investments made by the different international cooperation programs, the situation has not improved in the last few years especially in rural areas:
+ The children are still ill-prepared for elementary school, where teaching remains very formal (instead of active and child-focused). The children are under a lot of pressure and left to themselves most of the time. They thus develop comprehension, concentration and motivation issues and end up flunking or dropping out of school. This is of course more common in the less fortunate families;
+ Parents in Cambodia are not able to take on their essential role as prime educators. They often do not have healthy parent role models to identify with (most adults between the ages of 25 and 35 witnessed the destruction of their own families during the Pol Pot regime). Other factors including financial difficulties, the lack of information on available resources and the accessibility to these resources have contributed to weakening the family tissue which is where the children derive their sense of well-being and protection.
Project objectives
General objective: Promote the child's physical, intellectual and social development in the family and pre-school. To listen to and meet his/her needs in order to increase chances of success in school as well as in the professional life.
Specific objectives:
+ Develop community action around the children that also meets the aspirations of parents, including those who are the least fortunate
+ Increase school access and success of young children in rural areas
+ Develop innovative tools to educate and increase awareness in the fields of Early Childhood and parental education.
The project aims to reach its objectives through various activities for parents and children as well as through the creation of a Cambodian non-governmental organization specialized in the fields of Early Childhood and Parental Education.
This program was set up on the request of the Cambodian Government and is closely linked to the administration and Education and Health services.
It is the first project of this sort in Cambodia for Parental Education.
Location
35 villages in total, in the provinces of Takeo, Kandal and Kompong Speu in southern Cambodia .
Beneficiaries
+ 1,845 (49%) of the 3,801 3 to 5-year-olds living in 32 villages serviced by 25 community preschools regularly take part in the pre-school activities;
+ 148 parents (including 21 women) of young children attend the Parent Committees that are in charge of village kindergarten management;
+ 61 kindergarten educators (with a large female majority) are selected by the parents and trained by E&D/KY. They are in charge of stimulating the children and preparing them for school;
+ 205 village animators (including 60 women) lead Parental Education activities in the 22 villages where they were launched;
+ About 3,600 families take part in the Parental Education activities;
+ The program also has a national impact through television programs on Parental Education practices (see document in annex).
Local Partners
+ Krousar Yoeung, the Cambodian association created at the beginning of 2002 by local Enfants&Développement team members;
+ Provincial Departments of Education and Health (PMI and PEV);
+ Village development Parent Committees where the activities take place;
+ TVK, with the "Krousar !" television series
+ Bayon, a private radio station with a twice-monthly talk-show on parenting issues.
Project duration : 2000-2004
Funding
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union, UNICEF, Canada Fund, private funding.
Staff
Expatriates: 1 part-time Early Childhood Consultant
Local Personnel: Krousar Yoeung personnel, 61 educators for informal centers and 205 Parental Education animators
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