Q4 2022
We started 2023 with a new website and our newsletter new banner. It is part of our new outlook for the future and our new tagline of “Doing It Better”. This will be guided by our “INI” philosophy for our staff which stands for new Initiatives, No excuses and seeing Improvements. Deep appreciation goes out to our big supporter, No Moss, a dynamic Australian IT company and its volunteer team comprising Calvin and Amy, who have made the new website happen.
2022 has been a milestone year for us as all activities in our various programs resumed full operations for the whole year. In this issue, we highlight our major achievements for the year including activities we undertook under our new Community Development program which brings help directly to children and their families at home.
Figure 1: Students receiving bicycles from BLCP
WASH
We have built concrete water tanks in over 900 schools since we commenced operations in 2006. With the rollout of our new water purification system to enhance the water quality in our water tanks to meet national safety standards in over 120 schools now, we are able to instil confidence in the students to consume water from our tanks. This has enabled us to achieve several benefits including preserving the health of over 40,000 students, additional savings by student by not having to purchase bottled water and a positive impact on the environment. Students otherwise would have needed to spend US$40,000 a month and produce additional wastes of over 330,000 plastic bottles.
Figure 2: Students collecting clean water
Figure 3: Water widely consumed in class
We worked jointly with another international aid organisation, KAPE for the construction of a toilet and improved the design to include disability access. We were able to improve school facilities easily in some instances like funding and undertaking the renovation of old toilets in poor condition.
Figure 4: Dilapidated school toilet
Figure 5: The toilet after renovation by BLCP
HEALTH
Dental health continues to be a mainstream activity of our operations. The year saw almost 20,000 students, triple the number of students in 2021, who received various dental treatments from our four dental clinics including one mobile clinic. We are the only NGO with the widest network of dental clinics serving the largest number of students in Cambodia. Our significant role has been recognised by the Government with officials from the Health Ministry visiting our operations.
Figure 6: Government officials visit
Figure 7: Dental nurses in training at our clinic
Students not only enjoy better health but also greater confidence from improved dental cosmetics. We supplement dental health with oral education including the distribution of toothbrush kits sponsored by Colgate to about 10,000 students.
Figure 8: Oral health education in school
Figure 9: Student eye test
While students are waiting to receive dental attention at our clinics, we take the opportunity to screen their eyesight and as a result were able to improve the eyesight of 25 students by referring them to the local optician and providing the students with free eyeglasses.
EDUCATION
Education is a core program of BLCP because we know that it is capable of transforming lives. We implemented teacher training programs and new student assessments to enhance our delivery. We provide free classes in mainly English, Computer usage and supplementary studies for children to catch up in their studies.
Figure 10: Our computer class
Figure 11: Our pre-school class
Each day we have almost 2,000 students deriving benefit from our classes. The year saw the return of our usual annual English Speaking Contest with one of the surprise winners being a student monastic member.
Figure 12: Participant of speech contest
Figure 13: A winner monk student
We continue to see strong improvements in our Community School in Anglungkuki Village with enrolment exceeding 200 students compared to when it first started of under 100 students. We attribute the increase to the holistic education we provide to the students. Our curriculum includes not just formal school subjects covering English and Khmer but also living skills extending from art and craft, cooking, cleaning, gardening to environmental care.
Figure 14: Vegetable harvest
Figure 15: Craft baskets by student and Principal
We are inspired by this development and are looking for avenues to improve building facilities to maintain the quality of education at the school.
The effect of the children’s education is far reaching as we have seen an improvement in the village surroundings which is now cleaner with reduced waste collection during regular clean up days.
Figure 16: Village clean up
Figure 17: Village school students with volunteers
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
The year saw the commencement of our Community Development Program which is primarily sponsored by LUFF Foundation, a private charity organisation based in Australia. Any shortfalls are supplemented by kind individuals likeyouincluding donations we received from Henrike and Darrell for the construction of a new house following a year end appeal.
We built new latrines and provided water jars to 17 families. With many of the families living in homes which are in extremely poor condition, we renovated 8 houses including repairing roof leaks and replacing new walls.
Figure 18: Dilapidated village house
Figure 19: After repairs
We are able to meet our objective of improving the well being of especially the children in their home environment.
While providing aid, we continue our emphasis on self empowerment to the families by way of communal education and providing support to re-establish themselves financially. We provided training and financial resources for selected families to undertake income generating activities including poultry farming and agriculture.
Figure 20: Selected families for income projects
Figure 21: Poultry farming
We expect to extend the activities to include small scale businesses such as sewing, construction and food or convenience stalls.
So, there is much more that we are setting out to do in 2023 and with your continued support as a donor, contributor and volunteer, we are confident of making a positive impact to the children and local community in Cambodia.