About Friends of Pichey Rangsey
Friends is a registered, unincorporated, not-for-profit Association having the sole object of funding education and health programs in the Pichey Rangsey Primary School in the village of Pouk Ressey, Cambodia. Currently we have 36 Members. Patron of the Association is the Honourable Alastair Nicholson AO RFD QC, past Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia. Members of Friends typically contribute $30-$40 per month, or an annual equivalent, and are asked to commit for 3 years to ensure our programs are sustainable.
Every dollar contributed goes to supporting the health and education of the children of Pichey Rangsey Primary School. There are no “administration fees”.
Making a Difference
In a country with half the population under the age of 22, Cambodia spends less than 2% of GDP on education, ranking 170th in the world. During the Khmer Rouge regime, the state education system was totally dismantled, and thousands of teachers executed. Illiteracy rates climbed to 40%. Government schools were only re-opened as recently as 1990. Attendance is poor, particularly in rural areas, and the commencement and completion rates at secondary school are low.
Pichey Rangsey demonstrates what can be achieved in lifting educational outcomes and the health and wellbeing of children of families living in rural poverty. Many of the children are from areas where farm animals are sheltered beneath the house, and sometimes within, and children are exposed to parasite infection which inhibits physical development. Within two years of the start of the health program, the proportion of underweight children had been halved and a dramatic improvement in alertness and attentiveness was observed.
Through Friends initiative and funding support, the children continue to have an annual medical examination, receive parasite treatment and vitamin supplements, and have dental treatment.
Recent development projects funded and managed by Friends include school uniforms and shoes, refurbishing and tiling of the toilets, installing playground equipment (there was none), painting of classrooms, installation of ceiling fans, and the building security walls to protect the school grounds from dust and traffic on the adjacent busy roads.
Friends receive a Newsletter every 6 months reporting on the welfare of the children and progress of projects. Members also receive an annual statement of the Association’s financial accounts as at June 30th.
Friends of Pichey Rangsey cannot change the lot of the millions of disadvantaged children in Cambodia, but it can make a difference for the hundreds that attend Pichey Rangsey. Please give your support.
Frank Meredith
Convenor, Friends of Pichey Rangsey School friendsofpicheyrangsey@gmail.com