From ECE to IT

Hello Everyone,

We hope all is well with you and yours. We recently got back from the N.E of Cambodia where we visited programs that K.I.D.S. funds. K.I.D.S. has been supporting the Stung Treng Women's Development Centre for over 10 years. This outstanding program supports women, families, children and youth in a variety of ways; by teaching women weaving and selling beautiful silk scarves, providing a free health clinic, providing free early childhood education/kindergarten for 50 children as well as providing free English and computer classes. Stung Treng is one of the poorest and most isolated areas in the country and many people live in poverty. Thanks to K.I.D.S. donors we are able to offer a very progressive Early Childhood Education program (ECE). The ECE program offers kids a healthy, safe and happy place to learn and also provides children with a nutritious food program, access to hygiene as well as supporting women so they can work and have their children well cared for. It is a terrific environment, with excellent teachers to help children to learn and grow. Thanks to Kim Dara Chan, the director, for his vision and never-ending commitment to improving the lives of women, children and families in this area.


K.I.D.S. also supports a free computer program at SWDC, where children, youth and adults can come to learn computer skills. Even in the poorest areas computer skills are needed to asisit in getting jobs, furthering education and be connected to opportunities and learning online. The teachers are eager share their I.T. skills and the students are incredibly motivated to learn.

K.I.D.S. supports both rural and isolated areas as well as urban areas. In Siem Reap January 10th High School has 5400 students. A few years ago, thanks to our contact Kim Thol, we heard that the school did not have one computer, even for the teachers! We could not quite believe that this major high school was not able to provide computer skills, especially in a tourist city such as Siem Reap. We are pleased to say that over the past three years we have been able to install and provide 102 computers and there are now a thousand students a week being taught computer skills. This year thanks to a generous donation we were able to add another 25 computers and open another class, needless to say, the students and teachers are appreciative and wanted us to thank everyone for their support...it is most students favourite subject!

On behalf of K.I.D.S. thanks for bringing education, support, opportunity and healthy beginnings to these young people, families and communities. 

 Until next time,

Adrianne and Rick