No more “Moo”!

Happy 2022!  Entering the new year, there are so many new and exciting projects that PeopleStories team is working on and we are looking forward to sharing with you!  
 
One of them is the construction of fences around Chea Smonn Secondary School! There isn’t any boundary around the school. Instead, the school compound is directly connected to a few neighbouring farms. Hence, every so often, there are animals like cows wandering into the school compound, and at times, into the classrooms!  Occasionally, farming machines (such as tractors) will also come into the school grounds where students are running and playing. This peculiar phenomenon compromises the safety of our students.  

As such, PeopleStories started discussion with the locals about the school fence some time ago, but Covid-19 has shifted much of our focus.  Since school is now closed for holidays, we seize the opportunity to get on with this important construction project to keep our students safe when they return to school in 2022. The project started in beginning of December and we hope to complete everything before the new school year starts on Jan 10, 2022. 
  
PeopleStories is not only funding this important construction project but also mentoring teacher Kimsong to be the project manager. Due to the pandemic, many families are struggling to put food on the table. Hence, we have decided to offer employment to some of the local families especially the ones from our scholarship programme. We strongly believe it will be  a win-win solution - Empowering Khmer to help Khmer. 

PeopleStories believes in encouraging the locals and communities to get involved in community changes  for sustainable positive changes.  Many older students and their families are dropping in whenever they have time to give a helping hand, we are so excited to see the strong community spirit! 
  
School Director Nika of Chea Smonn Secondary School said excitedly, “I envision more order in school with the building of the fences. Students will be more attentive during lessons. I imagine the school to have good aesthetics and campus, safe with space to grow vegetables. The building of this fence will definitely help with this goal!”  

Director Nika also believe that this project will minimise the damage of school property and materials. We can definitely see how it may happen if buffaloes and cows invite themselves there freely! 
  
She also shared that many parents were happy to hear about the construction of the fence and her vision for her students and the school, “Our vision for our students is for them to strengthen their discipline and learning, reduce the number of drop out students, as well as developing students’ information technology knowledge and skills. As for the school, I wish to create a conducive school and classroom environment for my students and teachers, install computers and wifi to support IT learning and to also train my teachers on how to use internet for research to teach students during their lessons.” 

Like Director Nika, we look forward to the improved school and learning environment for our students! We truly hope that this fence project will bring about positive changes in their school experience!  
 
If you want to support our cause and more projects like this, head over to our fundraising page here to donate! This year we are aiming to give out 150 scholarships to our students!  
  
Wishing you an amazing start to 2022! 
  
Story written by: Volunteer Zeleen Thum