pp_report

PISTORIO FOUNDATION’S PRESENCE IN THE COUNTRY

CAMBODIA: THE BACK TO SCHOOL PROJECT

Cambodia is in its third decade of economic

development and stability. Moreover, the country

has made important advances in reducing poverty

and improving health. Despite these results however,

significant problems still remain. Democracy and

basic human rights still represent a challenge.

Inadequate nutrition is a persistent problem for over

30% of children and human trafficking is still a sad

reality.

The educational system is also confronted with

issues such as the inequality of enrolment,

attendance and participation rates between boys and

girls at school, lack of sufficient hygiene standards

and water supply in education facilities, and the lack

of good quality education personnel. Furthermore,

despite the evidence of weaknesses in the education

system, the sector is still direly underfunded.

Context and Challenges

Phnom Penh Back to School Project

In 2006 the Pistorio Foundation, following its key mission to give each child a better future, partnered with

Pour Un Sourire d’Enfant (PSE) to support a scholarship program with the key scope of giving children in

need who had dropped out of school the possibility of re-enrolling in the education system by offering an

accelerated program that covered two academic years in one.

Beneficiares are able to catch up the lost years and complete 12 years of schooling in only six years.

Subsequently, they can attend professional school to learn skills and earn a diploma that will allow them

to find employment in the job market. This will allow them to break their families’ intergenerational cycle of

poverty and secure them a brighter future. Students who have completed their studies at PSE are known for

their solid academic and professional school background and therefore are employed by the best employers

in their fields of expertise.

Since 2007, the Pistorio Foundation has supported over 180 beneficiaries of which 90 have now a

professional diploma that give them the possibility of having a better future.

Management Class

PSE