COMMUNITY EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT
Objective#1: To build human resources with professionalism and an ethical foundation by providing multi – skilled technology training, moral education and adult literacy to the local communities. This, in turn gives them the opportunity to apply the knowledge and understanding they have gained to achieve a brighter future and a peaceful society.
1.1. Skill Training & Job Placement:
Since 2006 the BFT Center in Siem Reap has been providing over 1500 students in Siem Reap town and community with skills and training in - English Language, computer & internet literacy, adult literacy training, leadership skills, general management skills, methodology for teachers, project design and report writing skills. The learners are from High school, Primary school and University, NGO staff and Private Businessmen. Since the schools started in April 2006, 
two hundred and fifty students have successfully graduated their courses and almost 65% of them were employed by private business, hotels, NGOs and the BFT Center through BFT linking sources. More training specialties are also available at BFT in project cycle management, strategic planning, proposal writing, monitoring & evaluation, report writing, administration and finance management including community organization and development. The courses will be offered to NGOs, governments, companies or individuals who seek to build and improve their capacity for future involvement in markets at the local and international levels.
1.2. Art & Sport Skill Training for Children
Over 100 children are involved in break dancing, circus shows, group singing, drawing & painting as well as football and volley ball matches. Our kind volunteers, both local and international, have helped our children to become skillful and brave. These children have also been demonstrating their skills at various official events, shows and matches. We believe that the skills acquired through art and sport will contribute to a brighter future for all these children.
1.3. Every Child Has The Right to Access their Education:
A. Support for poor children to access the primary school
In the past few years there have been more than 35% of the community children who were not able to access their primary school education because their houses were located far from the schools. However at the present every child has the chance to attend school via our program. Every day from Monday through Saturday transportation has been provided for over 80 children. The driver manages to pick up the children house by house both in the morning and afternoon. All the children are most thankful and grateful for our compassionate donors.
B. Support poor children’s to access High School
Every year more than 50% of children who graduate from primary school to secondary drop out from further education at High school because their families are too poor to support them. Their families are not able to afford the cost of their studies. Moreover they do not have transportation to school in Siem Reap town which is about 15 – 18 kilometres away. In 2009 a total of 80 students has graduated from both Kravan and Srah Srang schools and 30 of the students were sponsored by the project with bicycles, study material and school fees. In addition they were provided with continuing monitoring and support to ensure that they have sufficient materials and the satisfaction of their daily needs to facilitate their study going and progress. Now every child is so proud and happy to have the chance to continue to advance their education. On behalf of the poor children and their parents we would like to extend our sincere gratitude to our valued supporters.
One of the children says thanks to our supporters
BFT always thinks about the child’s life including their living conditions, food and study supplies. They also care for them and help them to have hope for the future. There are many children have been helped so far and it seems that all of them are clever and intelligent such as the boy below. He has moved to study in Siem Reap town at the Preah En Kosar middle school with support from BFT. He was so proud and happy that he had the chance to continue his high school education in Siem Reap town after receiving a new bicycle, school bag and other materials. His father says, “In my family our income lets us survive from day to day only, and we have hardly saved money at all. I would like to thank our valued and compassionate donor who has so kindly helped my child to go to school. May the gods bless him and his family?”
C. Support poor youth to access University
Only 9% of the total population has continued their education to University. The reason is very clear - the people are too poor. Six poor students were granted for sponsorships to further their study at universities in Siem Reap province. A few of them were funded by our generous donors from USA and Australia and the rest by the BFT Center. Thank you to all our compassionate supporters who have provided help to build hope and a better future for Cambodians.
1.4. Adult Literacy Training:
More than 60% of Cambodians are illiterate and more than 50% are women. This results in the people facing many obstacles to normal life such as ill health, lack of education, unemployment and in particular poverty. The project has aimed to raise the living conditions of the poor with the economic tools required to attain self-sufficiency. It is evident that education must be the key to developing economic well-being and peace. Since 2008 the project has been conducting three different sessions of night classes in adult literacy training. There are two classes consisting of more than 50 adult learners ongoing and one class of 25 learners which was just completed two months ago. The three classes have been held in 3 villages- Bos Em, Trach Chhrum and Kok Yeang in the two communes of Norkor Thom and Ampil in Siem Reap and Bakong districts. Most participants are women who missed the opportunity for schooling when they were young. They have been very enthusiastic to learn how to read and write. As a result of their experiences they now value the importance of education and encourage their children to go to school. The classes are conducted from Monday through Friday from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Besides learning how to read and write Khmer literature, they have also developed skills in better breast feeding, realise the importance of a home garden, raising poultry, hygiene and sanitation…etc. We hope that after these classes we will support them to go on to vocational training and establishing family businesses.
1.5. Solar Power Upgrading:
The solar panel was installed on the roof of the Kravan school building. During a clear sky day, it produces sufficient power for all classes. We are using electricity to support classes in English and computers, and it is also used to provide light for the cooking activity at dawn. We understand that we need a large capacity for the electrical transformer box. However, there are many schools which still need to install solar power for light and training activities, and we are in seeking sponsors for this activity too. We also have a plan to install another solar power unit at Srah Srang School.
1.6. Every child has access to the Internet
To bring students up to a high level of technological skill, we have set up the satellite disc for Internet accessibility. At the present the children at the community school of Kravan and BFT center are lucky to have access to the Internet. The students who are good at English and computers have been trained to access the Internet.