A School Full of Hope

Eight-year-old Leat Phary lives in a remote community in Koh Nhek District, Mondulkiri Province. She is a Grade 3 student at Thon Pong Primary School. Like many children in rural Cambodia, Phary's family struggles with poverty and could never afford books, toys, or learning materials.

A few years ago, school was not a happy place for Phary.

"Before REEC came to our school, we had almost nothing to learn with," she recalls. "I felt bored and sometimes did not want to go to school."

Everything changed when Rural Education Experts Cambodia (REEC) provided educational resources to her school. Today, her classroom is filled with books, sports equipment, art materials, and music activities that make learning exciting and meaningful.

"Now I love coming to school every day," Phary says with a big smile. "I can learn so many different things, and my friends love being at school too."

The new resources have not only transformed the children's learning experience but have also inspired teachers to make lessons more interactive and engaging. The school has become a place of joy, creativity, and opportunity.

Phary's little sister, who is only three years old, accompanies her to school every day.

"She likes to draw and paint with us, and sometimes she sings with us too," Phary says. "She already wants to learn."

For Phary, the resources provided by REEC are more than school supplies — they are opening the door to opportunities that once seemed impossible.

Sometimes, students from UWC LPC International School in Hong Kong, REEC's partner school, visit Thon Pong Primary School to share their learning experiences and spend time with the children.

"I love learning with our friends from Hong Kong," Phary says. "I also show them where we live and what we do after school. Sometimes we go to the forest to dig for crabs, collect mushrooms during the rainy season, or catch fish in the stream for food."

She proudly shows her international friends her family's home made from bamboo and thatch.

"I want them to understand our lives and see how different our communities are."

For girls like Phary, education is life-changing. In many rural communities, girls who do not have access to education often lose their childhood too early and are more likely to marry at a young age. Keeping girls in school gives them the chance to learn, grow, and dream of a different future.

When children have access to quality educational resources, they are happier, more motivated to learn, and less likely to drop out of school. When girls stay in school longer, they are more likely to delay marriage, build brighter futures, and provide better opportunities for their own children.

Through its work, REEC is not simply providing books and learning materials. REEC is creating safe and joyful learning environments where children can thrive, remain in school, and believe that a brighter future is possible.

For Leat Phary, school is no longer a place of boredom — it is a place of hope.

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