Local charity raises money for school in remote Cambodia

Working with in-country partner United World Schools, a total of £15,000 was spent on the project in the village of Chak Chap in the north-east of the country.

The total also included the construction of a gender-specific toilet block, a library, a solar-powered well and separate teacher accommodation.

Guernsey Aid committee members Nick and Claudine Paluch recently returned from a self-funded trip to visit the school.

‘Work started on the project about a year ago and was completed towards the end of last year. All of the children were incredibly excited. It turned out to be a big event for the entire village,’ Dr Paluch said.

In his previous role as a commissioner for the States Overseas Aid & Development Commission, Dr Paluch had visited Cambodia on self-funded trips before. However, he said that visiting Chak Chap was the furthest he had ever ventured into the country’s jungle.

‘The village is incredibly remote and, put simply, the Cambodian government had not yet reached this part of the country with some sort of education provision. It took us eight hours in a bus and another three hours on rough unmade roads to reach the village,’ he said.

During his time as commissioner, Dr Paluch developed many links with overseas partners, one of them being United World Schools, whose motto is Reach the Unteached, and build schools in remote areas of under-developed countries.

‘Before they start working on a project, they will discuss their plans with the country’s government and will try to reach an agreement with them, whereby the government will fund the ongoing staffing and running costs,’ he said.

‘The Cambodian government agreed to do this for the school in Chak Chap, so it’s great to have secured a guaranteed source of funding for the future.’

Funding into the future will be crucial as Dr Paluch expects more and more children to attend the school.

‘The catchment area is so large and the demand so great that an extra classroom is likely to be needed by the end of the year, as well as some additional panels so there is adequate lighting. The total cost for us will rise to about £20,000, but it’s such a worthwhile investment for all that it has provided,’ he said.

Reflecting on the visit, Dr Paluch was delighted at the difference the school was making to the lives of the Chak Chap residents, particularly the children.

‘It was amazing for us to see how well the charity’s money has been spent. It offers them nothing less than a better chance in life and a way out of poverty,’ he said.

n Further information about the work of Guernsey Aid visit www.guernseyaid.org.