Rural Education in Cambodia: Believe in Me

After months of heavy rain, the weather has started to shift.  While there are still some rainy days that make traveling to the school difficult, it has not deterred any students from attending classes.  Our Rangsei students have not missed any lessons and are thrilled to see more sunny days.  A few students have started to celebrate winter’s approach by wearing cool weather clothing.  With weather in the mid 70s-mid 80s, this is early preparation at its finest. 

Our Believe In Me Students have finished their third month of school.  To celebrate the students’ progress, Rangsei hosted a student event.  This event served two purposes, to acknowledge students who were working hard and to encourage others to work hard so they could be celebrated as well.  Letters of commendation were given to those students who achieved high ranks and good test scores over this semester.  All the students enjoyed the uplifting celebration and look forward to the next one.

Many teachers have remarked that their Rangsei students have been studying harder than they did earlier in the school year.  Over the last couple weeks, students have been earning frequent praise and even achieving better rankings. 

When the new school year started, many of the Rangsei students were unfamiliar with computers and did not know how to use them.

However, their enthusiasm and efforts to learn has paid off.  Students are quickly learning how to complete assigned tasks and the “how to” of operating a computer.  Over the last three months, our computer teacher has raved about the remarkable
improvements they have seen in each students’ typing skills. The kids are excited to see their progress and know they are learning a valuable skill.

Whether it is a simple dish or something special, the quality and taste of Rangsei school’s lunches never disappoint.  Students are always excited to see what they will eat for lunch.Lunchtime not only provides nourishment but also creates a sense of community as students and teachers share their break together.

Rangsei’s Library Room is a flexible space, from researching lessons with a teacher to individual reading just for fun.  Every Rangsei student enjoys sitting and reading books during their down time.  We often hear our students expressing a desire for more new books, because they love to read so much.  Having the Library Room available to students for studying and exploring their curiosity has been an enormous blessing to our Rangsei Believe In Me school. 

Catch Up Student Spotlights 

Our Believe In Me Rangsei Catch Up Class students have been working hard this quarter to improve their assessment scores. Each student in Catch Up class takes a pre test to ascertain their skill levels and are then post tested three months later for progress. Their first post test will occur in December.  When our students have free time their teachers have been teaching them organized games to help relax their brains and get their bodies moving in the fresh air.

When Chris first began attending his skill levels were quite low and he worried about his ability to keep up with his new peers. After two months of diligent work, Chris is now more confident in his abilities and that has really helped him excel in math. He is now able to complete many calculations with ease. Reading remains a struggle for Chris but he never gives up. When Chris has free time he always goes to find his little brother on the playground to spend time with him. 

Liam has been attending Catch Up Class since last school year and he has made good progress in both reading and math. His teacher noted that his desire to learn has not decreased and he really enjoys Khmer Literature. He frequently spends extra time in the library practicing his reading skills with his friends. When Liam is not studying he likes to run and play in the school yard to work out some energy. 

We want to express our deep gratitude for your continued support of our Believe In Me Rangsei school.  Your generosity and care for our students is expanding their world, providing vital nutrition and giving them more options for their futures.  We look forward to sharing more with you in 2025.