When my husband and I lived in Cambodia, the Khmer Rouge were still active in the country. Cambodia was in a deplorable state. We started a development program to help khmers get out of the poverty cycle.
The education system was in tatters; teachers had been killed during Pol Pot times and rebuilding the country was a challenge. Public schools didn’t have enough teachers, so kids had to go to school for half days only, and in huge classes with 60 to 100 students per class.
Seeing that issue, we decided to transform our outreach to street children into a full fledged school and called it Salaamom.
We started small, only 4 classes at first. It was a place where kids could have a normal school day, with less students, learn English and also the Bible, as well as have a decent meal at lunchtime.
We took some kids from the ghettos and the streets. We started from scratch, we trained the teachers, etc… It was a big challenge to get government permission and bring people together.
Now the school has over 500 students and is thriving. The government has recognized the school as one of the best schools in the country. Salaamom is also considered a model school which holds training each year for teachers from other schools around the country.
Going back to Salaamom was a moving experience for me. Investing in those children has changed their lives. Some of the students we started with 20 years ago are today, actually teachers at Salaamom. Others have gone on to University to complete studies in architecture, medicine, teaching and other fields. One young girl, Bopharoath came from a very complicated family situation and lived in a small shack on stilts above sewage water in the capital. Through many struggles Bopharoath is now an English teacher, having tremendously exceeded peoples’ expectations.
Looking back at our own struggles, and the price we have paid ourselves, I find great meaning and satisfaction that somehow, we have at least made some contribution to making this world a better place.
Seeing all the children blossoming in the school was a moving experience for me and made me realize again how the efforts and struggles were worth it.
