KCEO: Updates, Expanding Programs, and Student Spotlight

What does the Khmer Children’s Education Organization (KCEO) do?

KCEO serves villages in Baribour District, Kampong Chhnang Province, in Central Cambodia. Students and their families in the region face economic instability, highly fluctuating food costs, and ecological changes, including: drought, increased heat levels annually, and the decline and collapse of fish populations from dam construction.

Lack of job opportunities and wages due to COVID, climate crises, and industrial divestment from the region have forced many students’ families into debt. KCEO addresses resulting educational gaps by providing primary and secondary schooling 5 days a week, where students take classes in English, Khmer, math, and computer literacy.

Fall/Winter Updates from our Partnership

This year, KCEO expanded educational initiatives in the region by providing vital resources and infrastructure including classrooms, study materials and computers to the benefit of local children and youth. Feedback from the local community remains a crucial part of these initiatives. In the summer, KCEO hosted a community event to address project issues, gather support from parents and caregivers, and fundraise for next year’s programming. Below are some highlights of achievements and activities reported from the past 6 months.

Expanding Programs + New Partnerships

KCEO’s partnership with Lunas has allowed for further strengthening teaching and management skills, empowering teams to better serve students while addressing their basic needs. However, ecological and economic crises are creating more pressure on families to look for jobs outside of Cambodia. Offering better working conditions, more human rights and labor protections, and higher wages, South Korea is a common recipient of Cambodian labor. KCEO has responded to the local community by beginning to provide vocational and language training courses for parents and other adults seeking employment in South Korea. These programs have been aligned with the Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRDK) and its 2025 EPS-TOPIK exam requirements, helping prepare candidates for employment opportunities in South Korea under the Employment Permit System (EPS).

More funding has enabled KCEO to conduct capacity-building training sessions and quarterly reflection meetings with staff, English teachers, computer teachers, Korean teachers, and volunteers. These trainings equip teachers with skills to help integrate technology into their teaching practices, as well as community facilitation. This is fundamental in supporting teachers and local communities in implementing longer-term educational programming in the region.

Fostering partnerships with other NGOs has also improved the quality of KCEO’s educational programming. KCEO has participated in three NGO forums in Phnom Penh to share best practices and learn from other international and national NGOs, as well as from Cambodian officials. KCEO has continued to build strong relationships with local authorities, community partners, Community Reading Facilitators (CRFs), Youth Leaders (YLs), parents, and caregivers. These partnerships have been vital in mobilizing and engaging children in activities such as book lending, home visits, and establishing 9 English and computer classes within villages, providing necessary infrastructure and study supplies.

Beneficiary Spotlight

Among recent beneficiaries is 11-year old Rachana, whose parents work in farming and construction in their village. Rachana has been learning English and computer skills for several years, while her family navigates financial hardship that causes instability, domestic violence and neglect in her daily life. Rachana and her family often face discrimination from the local community due to these conflicts. Regardless, Rachana stays involved with KCEO activities such as student motivation events and fundraisers. With KCEO’s support, Rachana’s family received chickens and vegetable seeds allowing them to benefit from good yields and support their daily needs. Rachana continues to attend school regularly, and hopes one day to become a doctor.

Support KCEO

Thank you to all of the generous supporters of KCEO! To make a tax-deductible donation, donate here, or email us if you’d like to make a contribution through an employer or retirement donation program. Follow @lunas_ghn and @kceo_ on Instagram, and sign up to our newsletter here for more updates about KCEO!