Who We Are
About Kuma Cambodia
Kuma Cambodia Primary school welcomed its first students in June 2012 and in 2019 it provides full day school, transport, meals and healthcare for 130 young students. The school aims to educate and care for the most vulnerable children in villages in Takhmau, south of Phnom Penh. It is a free full day school offered to children who would otherwise not get access to education due to extreme poverty. Many are orphaned and/or living in a dysfunctional family where domestic violence, drug abuse and lack of all forms of care is the norm.
30 of our students are divided in two full day Fast Track classes. These children are between 8 and 12 years old, and when they started at Kuma in November 2018, they had not previously had any access to education. When they reach their age-appropriate level they will join the normal classes.
From Grade 4 the children are transferred to the public school for half day and Kuma Cambodia provides transport, uniforms and other school materials. The rest of the day are spent at Kuma where they will have a shower, lunch and a rest before their afternoon classes of Arts and Cultural lessons, PE, Music and English. The day ends with playtime and a healthy snack before being transported home in our tuk-tuks or school bus.
This full day has economic advantages as it allows their parents to work full-time without fearing for the safety and well being of their children. It also provides a haven for the students in contrast with their desperate living conditions.
In addition to the daily activities Kuma arranges regular health- and dental check-ups.
The children are transported to and from school in our tuk-tuks or school bus accompanied by a teacher assistant.
Kuma Cambodia has merged with our Education center (established in 2010) which give up to 200 part time high school students free lessons in English and use of Computer.
30 of our students are divided in two full day Fast Track classes. These children are between 8 and 12 years old, and when they started at Kuma in November 2018, they had not previously had any access to education. When they reach their age-appropriate level they will join the normal classes.
From Grade 4 the children are transferred to the public school for half day and Kuma Cambodia provides transport, uniforms and other school materials. The rest of the day are spent at Kuma where they will have a shower, lunch and a rest before their afternoon classes of Arts and Cultural lessons, PE, Music and English. The day ends with playtime and a healthy snack before being transported home in our tuk-tuks or school bus.
This full day has economic advantages as it allows their parents to work full-time without fearing for the safety and well being of their children. It also provides a haven for the students in contrast with their desperate living conditions.
In addition to the daily activities Kuma arranges regular health- and dental check-ups.
The children are transported to and from school in our tuk-tuks or school bus accompanied by a teacher assistant.
Kuma Cambodia has merged with our Education center (established in 2010) which give up to 200 part time high school students free lessons in English and use of Computer.
Background
The school was set up by a registered international NGO, Norwegian Association for Private Initiative in Cambodia, (NAPIC). NAPIC has worked in the area since 2005 when they started a free maternity clinic for the poor. In the years 2005 to 2016 more than 20.000 poor women delivered their babies in a safe environment with professional care. NAPIC also run a mobile health clinic in 24 villages until 2016, and their IT and English school for poor teenagers and young adults has given free classes to nearly 4000 students since it opened in 2010. Read more here.
NAPIC has a long-term lease on a private property that is perfect for a school for marginalized children. It has two buildings and nearly 5000m2 of land. It is located in an area adjacent to the villages, down a quiet alleyway.
There are beautiful, shady fruit trees everywhere and it is secure with a large fence, and a big gate manned by security personnel.
Thanks to the generous donations from companies and individuals over the past years and at our previous ‘Kuma Trivia Nights,’ NAPIC has been able to set up the Kuma School with school resources, a kitchen, a full playground, a tuk-tuk and a van for picking the children up from the villages, and health and hygiene resources. We are truly grateful for such generous support.
NAPIC has only Cambodians on its payroll and no administration costs outside Cambodia. Their management are all volunteers and pay all their own expenses.
NAPIC has a long-term lease on a private property that is perfect for a school for marginalized children. It has two buildings and nearly 5000m2 of land. It is located in an area adjacent to the villages, down a quiet alleyway.
There are beautiful, shady fruit trees everywhere and it is secure with a large fence, and a big gate manned by security personnel.
Thanks to the generous donations from companies and individuals over the past years and at our previous ‘Kuma Trivia Nights,’ NAPIC has been able to set up the Kuma School with school resources, a kitchen, a full playground, a tuk-tuk and a van for picking the children up from the villages, and health and hygiene resources. We are truly grateful for such generous support.
NAPIC has only Cambodians on its payroll and no administration costs outside Cambodia. Their management are all volunteers and pay all their own expenses.