On Valentine’s Day, ChildFund Cambodia celebrated the inauguration of a new primary school in rural Kratie Province.

Speaking at the event, ChildFund Cambodia Country Director, Prashant Verma, said: “Today, the entire world is celebrating Valentine’s Day, which is a symbol of trust, love and long-term relationships. This is such a lovely coincidence, which reconfirms our trust and long-term relationship with the community and the Royal Government of Cambodia.”

Funded by ChildFund Cambodia, with support from the Australian Government, Prama Primary School is located in one of Cambodia’s most remote areas, with many schools here in disrepair and unsuitable for children. ChildFund Cambodia is the only international development agency working in this region.

Prior to reconstruction, the school was in extremely poor condition. Inadequate classrooms were unable to accommodate the 212 students, and there was a lack of chairs and desks, no water or sanitation facilities, and few teaching materials. These conditions also made it difficult to recruit teachers.

Now, the facilities include a preschool room for under-fives, a modern library, solar equipment to provide energy, brand new books and learning resources, as well as toilets and hand-washing stations. The new playground has also been effective in reducing student absence rates.

Importantly, the school can now provide classes to more students than previously, with places available to over 400 children. ChildFund Cambodia has also been working closely with the local community to establish a Children’s Council.

The event was attended by Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister He Keaet Chhon, who commended ChildFund for its work in delivering quality education programs for children. Country Director Prashant Verma, Program Manager Narin Chan and Provincial Manager Sokleang Sim were presented with medals in recognition of these efforts.

Around 70 per cent of people in Cambodia have no access to electricity. Most villages in the Cambodian countryside are blanketed in darkness after the sun goes down.

Living without light puts children at risk. It also means children cannot study or complete their homework at night, leaving many students to fall behind.

Thirteen-year-old Tharin lives with her family in rural Kratie province, in the northeast of Cambodia. Like most villagers they live in a simple wooden house with a thatched roof and no access to electricity.

Tharin’s house has burned down twice due to accidents with their kerosene lamp. In one of the fires, her father’s leg was burned, leaving him permanently disabled.

“On that day I studied and forgot to put out the lamp as I fell asleep,” Tharin recalls. “When the lamp burned my house’s wall, I could smell it burning and felt that my hair was in the heat.”

Tharin called her mum for help, who in turn alerted her father and neighbour.

“When my dad tried to put out the fire, the lamp collapsed and the kerosene spilled on his trousers,” says Tharin.

For 12-year-old Kakada, living without light makes it hard to keep up with his studies.

“When I have no money to buy kerosene, I use fire sticks to cast light on my reading books so that I can read,” he says. “Sometimes I cannot study at home as I have no money to buy kerosene.”

The darkness also makes it dangerous to move around, says Kakada, adding: “When I go to the toilet at night, I cut my feet with pieces of glass and nails.”

Meet Tharin and Kakada in this video: