The Cambodian Government has officially recognised the Tauranga based Cambodia Charitable Trust as a partner in the development of education in Cambodia.

The Cambodia Charitable Trust was established in 2007 by Tauranga lawyer, Denise Arnold, to help address the severe deficit in education that was a flow on effect from the Khmer Rouge regime of the 1970s when the educated middle classes were virtually obliterated.

As the Trust’s founder/director Denise has, with the aid of many New Zealand volunteers and donors and a small team in Cambodia, grown CCT’s influence to benefit thousands of school children in rural Cambodia and directly improved the education system spanning teaching the teachers, sponsoring students and improving conditions in schools.

In a recent letter to Denise, Dr Hang Chuon Naron who is Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport stated, “On behalf of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS), I would like to inform you that MoEYS has recognised the Cambodia Charitable Trust as a partner in the development of education in Cambodia.”  

He acknowledged key programmes as capacity development for teacher trainers of Provincial Teacher Training Centres, practical support for trainees at these centres, and an observation tool to facilitate teacher evaluation and provide professional development.

The other key contribution is that of CCT fully supported schools and a school cluster initiative providing libraries and shared resources for rural schools.

“MoEYS acknowledges the ongoing support and value provided by CCT to deliver improved education outcomes for Cambodian children,” the Minister stated.

CCT Country Director, Ouch Souen.

As further endorsement of the work of CCT, the Trust’s Cambodian based Country Director, Mr Ouch Soeun, was invited to participate in the first consultative workshop on a strategic plan for national teacher education reform in Cambodia, held in November this year.

These endorsements demonstrate how far CCT has come, from lifting children out of poverty and enabling them to attend school to influencing the future shape of education in the country.

“From humble beginnings the CCT team could only have dreamed of being able to operate at this level, alongside the most important decision makers in the Cambodian government to help bring about long term, strategic change,” says Denise Arnold.

“This also recognises the contribution Souen has been making over the years.”

But she points out that the work is nowhere near done.

“There remains a lot of poverty. Many children need help to get to school. Basic materials are needed; clothing, textbooks, pens, library books, teaching supplies.”