Dream Catcher Foundation
Scalettastrasse 19, P.O. Box 61
7270 Davos Platz
+ 41 (0)81 410 03 39
The fifteenth project of the Dream Catcher Foundation is the construction of the following Boarding Houses in Cambodia:
Bavel High School, Bavel Commune, Bavel District, Battambang Province, Cambodia
Construction of the two Bavel boarding houses.
One for the girls and one for the boys.
Project description:
Despite its growing tourism sector, Cambodia remains one of the poorest and least developed countries in Southeast Asia. Cambodia ranks 146th out of 191 countries on the Human Development Index (2021), which takes into account education, health and income. Development is not evenly distributed across the country and many rural communities remain impoverished as corruption and vested interests hinder the country's growth.
Bavel is one of these communities. Located in Bavel District, Battambang Province, western Cambodia, Bavel High School is one of the only high schools serving students from 49 different villages. The school has eight buildings for its 3,252 students (1,390 boys, 1,862 girls) aged 12 to 18.
The school functions very well and the extensive grounds and classrooms are in good condition. However, the biggest challenge is the lack of affordable and suitable accommodation for the students who live far from school.
Some students come from villages up to 35 km from the school. However, many families do not have the means to pay for transport to school or accommodation in the village. As a result, 149 boys and 165 girls are currently sleeping scattered throughout the village, either in pagodas or on the floors of villagers' and friends' houses. This is not a sustainable practice. The stress associated with such sleeping arrangements is a major distraction for students, while others decide to drop out altogether.
Students urgently need more suitable living spaces so that they can focus solely on their education. That's why we agreed to support the community in building a new boarding school on the school grounds to give students an incentive to complete high school and continue their education. The families of prospective high school students who live far from the school will find relief and encouragement knowing that there are housing options for students at the school.
In addition to the two boarding houses (one for girls, one for boys), we will also build a kitchen and six new toilets in each to improve the sanitary conditions at the school and prevent hygiene-related diseases, which will also further reduce the dropout rate.
Implementation:
Bavel High School is a state-recognized school. Teachers' salaries and training are supported and managed by the government. The Barding houses will each accommodate up to 50 girls and 50 boys. The places are offered to those who come from far away and whose families do not have the means to pay for daily transport or accommodation.
Our approach is to always involve the community in the project to promote community ownership and development. In this project, the villagers have agreed to contribute by drawing up and developing plans for the boarding school, filling the foundation, connecting the boarding houses to electricity and water, and organizing the opening ceremony once the buildings are completed.
The school and the community will be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the boarding houses. We will select a trusted local construction company that will coordinate all phases of construction and purchase materials locally. The contractor is paid in four installments depending on the progress of construction, with 5% of the total cost retained for six months as a guarantee of the quality of the work. The school's location is accessible all year round. The construction work should to be completed in February 2024.
January 2024
The construction progressed quickly and is already finished.
One of the kitchens.
The students can now move in.
Everyone is happy with the construction...
School opening January 16, 2024
The students say thank you for their new accommodation with dances and speeches.
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Roli hands over the dream catchers to the leader and receives the award for this construction.
Cutting the ribbon.
This is what the finished bedroom looks like and the dream catcher is already hanging.
The girls and boys are happy with their new kitchens...