From July 5th 2012 to November 12th 2012, we have given a total of 22 bicycles to poor children in 3 schools. In Cambodia, some students in remote villages have to walk for kilometers to get to school. This becomes even more difficult for them when they reach secondary schools as since there are less schools at this level, students have to travel even further. In the worst case in really remote places, the parents are forced to ask their children (mostly girls) to drop out of schools.

Around 10 km off from the city of Siem Reap, a typical primary school, Phum O, was visited by a team of enthusiastic and high spirited student team lead by their devoting teacher, Denise Perry, on Sept 27, 2012. Thanks to the team (and as it was in the rainy season, also to the weather), they had added back cleanness to the school building and fence walls leaving artful marks of a mural featuring a Cambodian and an Australian flags, helped build a toilet in another primary school, Anchanh, while donated special learning equipment to Khrousa Thmey (New Family) School where visually hearing and speaking impaired students are schooled. They had been working very hard to fundraise for this event for months before their arrival, taking all the necessary preparations, and finally making it to the school where smiling children in colourful shirts were standing welcoming them.

Lucy Crook and Mathieu Cuvelier were volunteering with ABOUTAsia Schools at Phum Svay Primary School. With the principal permission, and the excitement from the children to get involved, they made a short video clip and so far it helps raise $4200, and this funds will be used to provide students within our supported schools with uniforms, bicycles and supplies to their schools, especially in the academic year 2012-2013. Please note that schools in Cambdia will be on holiday from mid July to mid September.

ABOUTAsia School is working with Book Bridge Library to provide new educational experience to Cambodian students through Cinema classes. This cinema room, equipped by a large screen projector and surround sound speakers, is being used once a week to show English documentary videos to students from 10 January 1979 High School as part of Book Bridge Library Project activities. From the feedback we got, the students said they did enjoy this new experience very much.

Starting in June 2011, we now have 16 primary schools under our English program. We focus on providing basic English knowledge to those in grade 5 and 6 before they move to junior high school level. A workshop was held today for our English teachers to share their teaching ideas.

After several years of hard work and various achievements, time has come for our Honourary President, Chris Smith to give a farewell wave to the team. "Everybody at AboutAsia Schools and AboutAsia Tavel wishes Chris well and no doubt he will be seen in the office from time time to time," remarked Andy Booth, Founder of AAS and AAT. His work is much appreciated by those who come to know his kind treatment, and his connection will still be continued with ABOUTAsia despite his formal retirement.

07th April 2012
School Picnic at Samtuk Mountain -

With Chris's initiative, and ABOUTAsia and Raffle Hotel's support, we were able to bring two busloads of cheerful children from Krosa Thmey, the only school for the visual and hearing impaired students in Siem Reap, to Phnum Samtuk, Kompong Thom Province, and the whole journey was marked with laughing eyes and excited faces! (Watch the trip video)

With support from Hotel De La Paix and MasterCard, ABOUTAsia Schools is proud to let our fans know that from October 2011 up to the present, we have given 2440 to 13 different schools and 6 non-government organizations. We plan to give at least another 1900 uniforms to other rural primary schools that we support.

Please be reminded that in Cambodia, it is mandatory to wear uniforms to school, and with so many family living on less than $1 a day, a $6 uniform donation comes as a huge relief to the parents.