Support 20 Girls' & Mothers' Clubs in Cambodia

In 2023, under a new leadership team, our programmes in Cambodia saw the launch of our girls’ education project, fostering collaboration between girls, teachers and communities to create inclusive learning environments. This builds upon the success of our ongoing dropout prevention programme, ensuring the most vulnerable children stay in school.

Girls in rural communities face significant barriers to access, participation and quality learning. While we’re proud to have achieved gender parity in access to education, we recognise that girls face many additional barriers to attending and thriving in the classroom, placing them at risk of early school dropout. The Chbab Srey, or “Rules for Girls”, is still a powerful force in Cambodia, promoting that the role of girls is that of a housekeeper, reproducer and wife. The number of girls in Cambodia being married off in
their childhood years remains persistently high, where almost one in five girls are married before their 18th birthday.\

Our programmes work to support young women and girls through the following key areas:

• 2,356 girls identified at-risk of early dropout received at least one preventative intervention to support their retention.
• 79 out-of-school adolescent girls have enrolled in foundational evening classes to catch up on literacy and numeracy proficiency.
• 69 schools audited and upgraded gender friendly WASH facilities to meet girls’ needs.
• 1,110 teachers received training in gender-responsive teaching methods, challenging gender inequalities in the curriculum and classroom.
• 2 written recommendations submitted to senior education sector officials to promote gender responsive education systems.
• 100% of UWS staff, teachers and volunteers received child protection and safeguarding training.

9,196 girls have participated in the first year of the programme, receiving information and support to promote gender equality and to challenge gender norms and customs, including child marriage.

“Life is challenging for the children in this community. Some families bring their children to work, meaning they can’t come to school. UWS is very important to the community. The school is near their homes and this motivates the parents to send their children to school.”
KLIM MARY,
UWS TEACHER, CAMBODIA