Don Bosco Children Fund

Don Bosco Literacy Centers Battambang

Present

The Children of the bricks factories and the paddy fields of Battambang

Historical background of Don Bosco Battambang Literacy Center

Population:

Battambang Town is the provincial capital of Battambang Province. The province of Battambang is located just soutwest of the Tonle Sap Lake in the northwest of Cambodia, bordering with Thailand. It is the “rice bowl” of the Kingdom of Cambodia. The land area is 1,170,200 hectares. It has a population of about 889,530 people. The density of the population is slightly higher than the rest of Cambodia (76.54 per km2 against 64. The province consists in 12 districts, 89 communes and 611 villages.

The average household is about 5.3 people per family. The percentage of the children, as in all the country is very high: about 45% of population is aged 1-14 while the economically productive age group is (15-64) forms about 52% of population. Unmarried males are more than unmarried females. The proportion for widows,divorced and separated are higher for females than males.

Literacy and education

Among the population aged 7 and above, male literacy rates is considerably higher than female, while literacy rate is higher in urban than in rural areas. 63.4% of people (aged 7 and above) have not completed primary school. 23.1% have completed primary and 9.0% the lower secondary (level 9). 2.7 have a secondary level qualification and 0.2% completed beyond secondary level (level 12)

Don Bosco Literacy Centers

The project was conceived in 1999 with opening of the first Literacy Center-Andung Chenh. Battambang is a province where many refugees settled after the problems with Khmer Rouge was solved. Non employment was, however, rampant and therefore, many socials ills and problems roused, such as prostitution, street children, abandoned children and out-of-school children and youth. The government has donated a piece of land in 1993.

In 1999, the Land Register Department of Battambang has made the measurements of the land given by His excellency Governor of Battambang and gave permission to build the fence in order to determine with precision the limits of the land. (Letter Ref. N. 1839, Excellency Governor of Battambang Province)

Two Dutch lady volunteers (Ms. Wietske and Ms. Marry) studied the problems of illiterate and out-of-school children and came out with a written Project Plan on Literacy Center Don Bosco Battambang in year 2000. Their interest was particularly directed with the “CHILD LABOR” problem at the brick factories. At that time, they visited and counted 40 bricks factories where children worked like SLAVES with working conditions very difficult and painful with a maximum salary for adults Riels 2,000-3,500 per day. With the cooperation of local Ministry of Education, brick factories owners and families, Don Bosco came up with a proposal: CHILDREN REALLY NEED EDUCATION. There are many NGO’s in Battambang but none cares for the educational needs of the children. The Don Bosco Literacy Center came up to offer opportunities children to go to school and receive education by providing them the required means: uniforms, health care, food and education. The client has only requirement: commitment to come to the center and study. The main group target are those who are 10-15 years old bracket and are not accepted in the formal school system due to overage. The time frame for intensive primary level (Level 4) is two-year course and by 2004, a 3-year intensive elementary course was introduced. Therefore, the initial educational attainment was only at the ELEMENTARY LEVEL OF LITERACY.

Literacy Education is a non-formal education that has three main goals: reduce poverty, eradicate illiteracy and education for all. While basic education (elementary and lower secondary level) is free, the poor cannot never avail for such education. The educational institutions are overcrowded and only those who can contribute financially can have access to study. The poor and the orphaned will always be on the disadvantaged. Thus, without basic education and skills, children and youth will crowd the streets unable to find work or qualify for steady and decent employment.

Agriculture Possibilities

Battambang Province is an agricultural area with a sustainability economy. People produce rice and other alimentary products such as fruits and vegetables, corn and sugar cane. The land is fertile but due to lack of technology and access to quality seeds and system of irrigation, the produce is low. Rice harvest is only once a year and is done in rainy season. In dry season, people find work in the country or go to Thailand.

With basic instruction on agriculture, produce will be improved. New technology on cultivation, hard work and product conservation will improve the life standard of people.

Rice mills and bricks factories are plenty in Battambang. However, their work conditions are hard, difficult and hazardous. Workers of families live inside the factories in a very bad accommodations and hygienic conditions. Children and young people help in the works of the parents and therefore, remain illiterate.

Lately, the number of hotels has increased in the city. Tourists spend overnight on their way to Siem Riep. Angkor Wat is attracting visitors. Other forbidden attractions- sex, gambling and drugs are tolerated in Cambodia. There is a need to counteract these activities through education and skills training.

However, the future of the province will still be on agriculture and agrarian products. There is, therefore, a need to develop new technologies and new methods. Don Bosco will respond to this need by offering competitive advantages to the Literacy Education that had already been in progress since 1999.

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