CORDE Background

Cambodia

The Royal Kingdom of Cambodia is a Southeast Asian nation bordered by the Gulf of Thailand, between Vietnam, Thailand and Laos. Within its approximately 181 000 sq. kilometers, Cambodia has a population of about 13.1 million people. Cambodia is a country that has been ravaged by 3 decades of war and strife. In these years, its population witnessed atrocities which would go down in history as among the most horrific of the twentieth century—over 2 million displaced people died from execution or enforced hardships. During Khmer Rouge rule, the educated and culturally talented were executed, intelligence and talent was not seen as a virtue but as a threat. Books and all printed material was banned and subsequently destroyed. Generations grew up knowing nothing but a life of war, famine, death, disease, and depravation. Formal education was almost at a total standstill, millions were illiterate and uneducated. In 1998, some statistics estimate the literacy rate in Cambodia to be 35%, this has risen to approximately 70% in 2003. Although the government has tried to put in place a national education system, there are still a vast number of children in Cambodia who still have no access to basic education.

In 1990, Cambodia saw some form of peace after over 20 years, some progress has been made on economic reforms and growth resumed However, the long-term development of the economy after decades of war remains a daunting challenge. The population lacks education and productive skills, particularly in the poverty-ridden countryside, which suffers from an almost total lack of basic infrastructure. Fear of renewed political instability and corruption within the government discourage foreign investment and delay foreign aid.

top

Cambodian Organization for Research, Development and Education (CORDE)

It was against a backdrop of both an uncertain but hopeful future that a group of seven Cambodians determined to contribute to the development of their own community, came together to form the Cambodian Organization for Research, Development and Education (CORDE) was initiated in 1994 as “a private, non-profit, and non-political voluntary development organization involved in the process of social and economic transformation and of upraising the quality of human life and well-being of individuals, families and communities, upholding the principles of human honor and dignity through the provision of viable and sustainable projects that will enhance their capacities and capabilities, thereby increasing the level of participation resulting in empowerment for a long-term sustained impact. CORDE aims to facilitate the process of transformation of individuals, families and communities in all areas of social economic development through consultation, universal participation, and capacity building geared towards upraising the quality of their life and well-being and with the end-view of developing them into a creative, productive and confident society.”

It was towards these ends that CORDE started its first activities to provide informal education for children and youth. The inefficiency of the formal education system in Cambodia left much to be desired. Most children did not attend any school due to several reasons. For many, the nearest school was beyond walking distance, and there were no other means of transportation. Others had to work in the fields or help their families to earn a living.

CORDE was registered as a Local NGO with the Ministry of Social Welfare and Community Development, and initiated informal education classes which included language lessons and other academic subjects. This was done to supplement and complement the education available in school, which was irregular and unsystematic as the government was switching from curriculum to curriculum based on funds from donors. For a large percentage of the students who were from poor families, the classes conducted by CORDE were the only means education they were receiving.

Most of CORDE’s initiatives were concentrated in the province of Battambang, in northwest Cambodia. Inspired volunteers gathered children from their village to hold daily tutorial classes, each running for a minimum 2 hours, with at least 20 students. More classes were opened as more teachers came forward to teach these classes. These classes were held wherever places were available; be it the homes of teachers, in market place or under the trees. In 1995, there were some 20 classes. Volunteer teachers were given an allowance of $10 for transport, oil for lamps for classes, stationery for students and incidentals. By 1997, the number of classes increased to 35 with some 550 children participating. CORDE also initiated classes in another province called Saang, just outside Phnom Penh. As the number of classes grew, and the number of students multiplied, CORDE embarked on a systematic training program for its teachers. This is to ensure that the quality and content of our classes were constantly improving and it also made monitoring possible.

CORDE's  endeavors in the education of Cambodia's younger generation through its tutorial classes have been sustainable. Currently, CORDE has 69 tutorial classes in 5 provinces with approximately 1235 students.

CORDE's program is centered around literacy and empowerment of junior youth and children. In 1995, the “Hope for the Heart” program was launched. This program goes beyond the skills of reading and writing. Its aim is to equip young people with the power of thought and expression that will enable them to engage in meaningful social action and endows them with the capabilities needed for their own transformation and contribute to the transformation of their own community.

CORDE also offers courses to the adult and youth population e.g. organic farming and community banking for the promotion of community well-being through their own social action.

top

CORDE Centers of Learning (CCL)

The tutorial classes continue to be held under the trees and under the homes of teachers, lighted mostly with candle or lamps. There is also a lack of chairs and tables suitable for the different ages of children. To overcome this lack of proper facilities and the difficulties posed to teachers and animators, CORDE embarked on a plan to build Centers of Learning. With these CCL, CORDE is able to invite more members of the community to partake of the courses that CORDE offers.

While a tutorial class with a teacher can only cater for 20 students, well-scheduled programs co-ordinated by a Director of CCL can cater to well over 200 children and junior youths for various levels of courses. As more youths and adults are systematically trained to take up a path of service to help transform their community, CCLs offer the needed social space for them to volunteer their services.

So far, three CCLs has been constructed in Battambang funded by individuals or groups of individuals. Over the next one year, CORDE hopes to construct 5 more CCLs, two more in remote parts of Battambang ( Osalao and Sday), one each in Bovel, Preah Vihear and Poipet. Bovel is a disadvantaged area with few facilities for education. Preah Vihear CCL will cater for the tribal and minority groups who currently have inadequate access to education facilities. Poipet, near the Thai border, is chosen as child labour is prevalent. Children and Junior youths are weekly taken across the border to earn for their families. This CCL will provide informal education for these children and junior youths unable to go to proper schools. How You Can Help CORDE.

Your support for CORDE will bring it the opportunity to provide children and youth in rural areas of Cambodia with basic and essential education; many of whom otherwise would be deprived of any primary education. In the following years CORDE will try to build more and more Centers of Learning and to train teachers needed to support these centers.

New Centers of learning

CORDE's plan is to build 5 new Centers of Learning in the year 2007 to cater for the needs in remote provinces of Preah Vihear, Oddor Meanchey and less accessible rural areas of Battambang Province. The cost of building and furnishing a new CORDE Center of Learning is USD4000. It will provide a simple building with different size chairs and tables for different age groups. It will have battery operated lights and black or white board.

To operate the Center of Learning for a year is $400 for administration, $1500 for books, stationery and teaching material for 300 students and $200 for maintenance of the Center of Learning. The Directors of the CCL, currently mostly young women, judiciously manage the Centers, encourage volunteers and provide them with basic stationery and maintenance. More than three hundred children, junior youths, youths and adults will benefit from the courses given at these centers.

The Center will bear the name of the contributing organization and CORDE welcomes visiting collaborators from the Agencies to assist in capacity building of the staff and volunteers.

top