In the village of Bech Khlok, located in Battambang Province, Cambodia, basic infrastructure such as roads, electricity, and sanitation is still lacking. The people live in extreme poverty, many children suffer from malnutrition, and illiteracy rates are high. As early as 2012, the villagers developed a vision: they wanted to give their children a better future through education.
The association “Seed of Small Beginnings” was founded in 2014 by the Swiss Andrea Paulich. The organization has been registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit in Switzerland since 2016 and in Germany since 2018. The sister organization “Seed for Cambodia” was officially registered in 2020. The mission of both organizations is to empower the local population to improve their living conditions in a sustainable way through self-initiated projects in education, environment and health. Key values of the collaboration are mutual respect and appreciation.
Thanks to association funds a school building and a second building – with a library, a small kitchen and sanitary facilities – have been built since 2016. “Seed of Small Beginnings” supplements state education by funding and providing English lessons as well as additional courses in math and Khmer. Around 170 students are currently taking part (as of June 2024). The local project team consists of a general manager, four teachers in the school and a teacher and a teaching assistant in the kindergarten.
In 2019, the organization financed the construction of a kindergarten so that younger children get access to a safe space to live and learning environment for the first time. They receive nutritious meals, enjoy playing, painting, do Handcrafts, learn basic skills – and most importantly simply be children.
The sponsorship program enables highly motivated youth – many of whom are girls – to make the transition into lower and upper secondary education as well as vocational training. Currently, 27 students are attending secondary schools with the support of the organization. More and more families are recognizing the value of education. As a result, children are protected from exploitation and can later return to their village as skilled professionals – for example as teachers, social workers or mechanics. The Hahnair Foundation grant is intended to help more young people take this important step forward.
https://www.seedbeginnings.com
