Building Much More Than A Building

During my days as a mathematics teacher I would spend hours preparing lessons each week to make sure what I presented was engaging for students. Because they had access to so much technology and entertainment at home, a lesson had to be interesting to keep their attention. I never had to worry about the conditions in the classroom though. We always had comfortable desks, great lighting, air conditioning, etc.

Teachers in Cambodia deal with a very different scenario. When the Samaritan’s Purse staff first told me about the conditions at some of the rural primary schools here, I was shocked. But when I visited them in person I was not only deeply disturbed, but I became highly motivated to do something about it.  I tell the story of one of these schools and the schools principal in my blog Search For Significance

In another primary school nearly 200 kids have to take turns going to class in 3 shifts.  Two grades have class at the same time in the same room. Their wooden school was in such bad condition the teachers moved the school into a one room metal rice barn with only three walls.  For those of you from West Texas who have been in a metal barn on a hot July day, you can imagine how hot and unbearable every day of school is for these kids. Cambodia is like a Texas July almost year-round. The teachers and students are facing some almost insurmountable hurdles to learning.

Well, in the next four months all of that will change.  During my first year here I found out about grant and funding opportunities to see new schools built. I was able to write for funding and Samaritan’s Purse Cambodia was awarded the funds to construct two schools in Banteay Meanchey province. While all the paperwork, process and planning has taken over a year, construction has now begun!

Construction has begun on 2 new schools

While writing this blog I found out two more schools we’ve wanted to construct now have commitments! That means it is likely that in 2014 four new primary schools will be built! For all of you who I’ve shared about these schools with, thank you for praying for us. Samaritan’s Purse now has an initiative to build 20 primary schools in Cambodia!