Scholenproject Cambodja Rotterdam

Solar Energy proposal for Don Bosco Battambang
September 28, 2020
I. General context
Don Bosco Foundation of Cambodia “DBFC” is now presence in 5 locations across the country such as Phnom Penh “Capacity city”, Sihanoukville, Banteay MeanChey (Poipet), Battambang and Kep Province. Recently, we bought a piece of land in Siem Reap in order expand its mission to the northern region of the country for the near future. We are now operating a guesthouse which is part of self-sustaining plan.
Since 1991, our mission is to provide opportunity of technical training education for the poor youth and integral education for children or youngster. DBFC caters to 5,818 students all over its locations and in other public schools and plus another 1181 of children and youths in its youth’s center. This 6,999 (5,818+1,181) is the figures in 2019-2020 of DBFC’s beneficiaries across Cambodia. They are attending in various skills or education program across 5 locations as mentioned above as following:
Technical Training Program Integral education Program
• Electrical
• Electronic
• Automotive
• Mechanic
• Welding
• Printing
• Information Technology/Computer
• Secretarial
• Agro-Mechanical
• Media Communication
• Hospitality & Tourism • Kindergarten
• Primary School
• Secondary School
• High/Academic High School
• Technical High School
• English class for children surrounding Don Bosco’s area especially in the evening and weekend.
Other program under Don Bosco Cambodia Children Fund
• Besoco Program in Phnom Penh
• Children Home in Sihanoukville
• Brother Sun Kid Program in Kep
• Children Center in Poipet
The nature of these programs is very close to each other even its given named is different. Generally, we are supporting those children or youngster who facing more difficulty or risk by providing a whole package of welfare “Accommodation, food, personal consumption and education” for their opportunity to growth both physical and well-being.

Don Bosco Battambang “DB BTB” has two main locations, one at Andaung Chenh focusing on integral education from kindergarten till high school and second one at Salabalath is proving Agro-Mechanical training as well as farming production. Since 1999 till 2020, More than 2568 children and youngster have benefited from these various programs of both centers.
Current beneficiaries’ statistic of DB BTB “2019-2020”
Grade “G” students Staff
Andaung Chenh Full-Time Part-Time Volunteer
Kindergarten 33 (F: 15) 5 (F: 5) 1 (F: 1) 1 (F: 1)
Primary (G 1 to 6) 277 (F: 139) 8 (F: 6) 1 (F: 1)
Secondary & high school (G 7 to 12) 379 (F: 240) 4 (F: 1) 33 (F: 16) 2 (F: 1)
689 (F: 394) 17 (F: 12) 34 (F: 17) 4 (F:3)
Salabalath TVET Farm Children Fund/PDO
First Year 18 (F: 0) 4 (F:1) 2 (F: 0) 3 (F: 3)
Second year 23 (F: 0) All full-time
42 (F: 0) Full-Time Part-Time Volunteer
Grand Total: 731 (F: 394) 26 (F: 16) 34 (F: 17) 4 (F:3)

II. Project background
The original plan is to promote green energy through all Don Bosco presence in Cambodia and It is one of the main priorities to scale up the possibilities for self-sustaining. This solar plant will reduce the overhead cost over electricity bills and contribute toward a greener planet. Similar project has been done since 2014 in other location of Don Bosco such as Sihanoukville, Kep, Phnom Penh and Poipet. The significant of its impact have proved to us to move this idea further to another location such Battambang and Siem Reap province. We wish to implement this project at Don Bosco Battambang for this coming year 2021 and Siem Reap will be in the next phase 2022 or we will see the possibility if possible, to realize within this same period as well.
The significant is that DBFC (from Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville alone) could save around 38,000 USD annually (2018 and 2019) from electricity bills and in 2020 onward will be able to save around 43,000.00 USD annually. In the last three years, 118,793.80 USD have been saved (which is equal to 643,278.61 KWH).
III. Current situation and its proposal
DB BTB must buy electricity from public grid around 2,116 KWH every month (Andaung Chenh 1375 KWH and Salabalath 741 KHW). Thus, we need to spend around 500 USD per month or 6,000 USD annually. We would like to have the same system as other Don Bosco school has for both locations as “Grid connected solar system” because the energy is taking much during the day. According to these, the capacity of solar plant should be:
Location Solar Plant Capacity Remark
Andaung Chenh 22 KW Roof top
Salabalath 12 KW Roof top
Total Capacity 34 KW
The budget of this 34 KW solar plant system should be cost around 45,000 USD. This estimation is based on our experience with previous project. Anyway, onsite evaluation is needed. Below is the current condition of these two locations which is view by Google Earth.
Next to this we would like to invest in two battery back up systems so we can collect the daily energy production overflow for usage during the night. The price of one back up system will be €18.000 + approximately $2.800 for batteries.
Therefore the total project amount is calculated around USD 93.000.

Doelgroep: Jongeren | Kinderen

SDG: SDG04 - Goed onderwijs | SDG07 - Duurzame en betaalbare energie | SDG12 - Duurzame consumptie en productie | SDG13 - Klimaatverandering aanpakken

2020.0601 Water projecten
IR01-21 concerns a canal with a length of 1750 meter in Takeo province, Samrong district, Chumreah Pen commune. The goal of this project is to supply and store water for agriculture in the dry season, to drain water in the rain season and the dike will be used as access road for a village with 240 families for access to education (around 200 children will use this road to travel to school), healthcare and economic activities.

IR02-21 concerns the restoring, deepening and enlargement of a water pond with a size of 25 by 30 meters and a depth of 4 meters. The problem here is a lack of access to water for drinking and household, especially during the dry season when rainwater is not available. The goal of this pond is to improve the access to drinking water and water for households, animals etc. In this area, the ground water level is very deep, even a well with a depth of 70 meter will not reach water. If this project would not be carried out people would lack (drinking) water in the dry season, have to travel far for it and especially poor families do not have funds to purchase it from the water truck.

IR05-21 involves a canal of 2300 meter in Boeng Nay commune, Prey Chhor district, Kampong Cham province. It will be used for the supply of water to 146 hectare of agricultural land so that farmers can harvest rice twice a year and can grow vegetables. There is a shortage of water in this area, if the project would not be carried out farmers keep lacking water and have no choice but to accept poor harvests.

BR01-21 is the construction of a 15 meter long bridge in a remote village in Trapeang Kranhoung commune, Tramkak district, Takeo province. The goal is to reduce the travel distance to education and healthcare from 17 km to 6 km. During the rainy season the water stream cannot be crossed safely so the community has to travel far for education and healthcare. With this bridge travel distance and time will be greatly reduced.
IR01-21 canal is located in Svay Run village, with a total of 256 families. There are 150 families using the water from this canal. The amount of land connected to the canal is 63 hectare. Many families rely on rice farming and plantation. When the canal is restored this would provide them with access to water from November until April during the dry season. During the raining season this canal will provide them a way to flow the water out. Thirdly the road on top of the dike will provide them a safer way to travel to school, health center etc. The villagers will participate by planting the grass in the dike.

For project IR02-21 the direct beneficiaries are the villagers in Thlok Daknakluong village, which consist of a total of 230 families of which 38 families have a poor ID. The pond will mostly be used by 30 families who live surrounding the pond. Currently they get the water from the rain during the raining season but in the dry season they have to travel far. By having water nearby their health and hygiene will improve.

For project IR05-21 the farmers of two villages with a total of 234 families and 225 cows/buffalo’s will benefit from this canal. The 146 hectares that will have access to water once the canal is completed belong to 100 families (428 persons). When they have access to water they can have multiple harvests and grow vegetables, this way their lives will be improved. The community will be involved by participating financially in the project and by planting grass to protect the dikes.

The direct beneficiaries of this bridge BR01-21 are the community in Prey Talouy village consisting of 211 families (903 persons) and the community in Trapeang Skea village consisting of 248 families (1017 persons). From the total of 459 families, 98 families have a poor ID and are thus recognized by the government as very poor families. Through this project their access to education and healthcare will greatly improve, and also economic activity improves.
Regarding the context of IR01-21, currently the canal is very shallow not providing enough supply of water in the dry season and not providing enough drainage of water in the raining season. The road on top of the dike is very narrow and dangerous to use for children, because the risk to fall in the canal is high. Especially in the rainy season when the road becomes muddy it becomes very slippery and dangerous to ride a bicycle to school.

Project IR02-21 is located in Thlok Daknakluong village, Chumreah Pen commune, Samrong district, Takeo province. In this area the access to water is an issue, as groundwater levels are very deep and thus wells are not an option. This limits the use of water in the dry season, affecting health, hygiene, but also income as it is difficult to grow fruit and vegetables or feed animals like cows, pigs and chickens.

Project IR05-21 is located in a rural area of Prey Chhor district. Not too far from Kbal Damrey and Trapeang Anchanh village is a natural water source with a year round supply of water. This source is supplying the surrounding area with water but because there is no canal the water is not reaching these two villages yet. The shortage of water causes a limited harvest and limited opportunity to grow vegetables. After the realization of this canal the situation will be improved with access to water for farming.

The location of project BR01-21 is very remote. At this moment the nearest school and health center are 17 kilometers far from this village. Through the construction of this bridge the distance will be reduced to 6 km. During the dry season it is possible to pass the water stream, but during the rainy season this is impossible. The village leader told us that several people and also farm animals have drowned while trying to cross this stream, as the water flow becomes very strong in rainy season. The area is poor and remote and would greatly benefit from this project.
The main activities for IR01-21 will be the restoration of this canal and meetings with the community to discuss the progress of the project, status of collecting the contribution from the villagers and future maintenance.

Doelgroep: Boeren

SDG: SDG01 - Einde aan armoede | SDG02 - Einde aan honger | SDG09 - Innovatie en duurzame infrastructuur | SDG12 - Duurzame consumptie en productie | SDG15 - Herstel ecosystemen en behoud biodiversiteit

Request for a 6 classroom primary school building in Svay (Khor) village, Prey Srolith
commune, Pearang district, Prey Veng province.
This concerns the request for a 6-classroom primary school building including bathroom,
school furniture, playground and study materials. The school is located in the countryside in
Prey Veng province.
Currently there are 4 buildings with a total of 14 classrooms. From those 14 classrooms one
room is used as a library, one teacher room, four rooms kindergarten and five rooms for
teaching grade 1-6. One of the buildings is a 3-classroom building that was made from brick
and wood by the community from 1994-1996 (in 1985 there was a wooden building
constructed at this place and they used the base of this building for the new building in
1994), but this building is in a very bad state and cannot be safely used any more, especially
when there is rain or wind. The request is to replace this 3-classroom building with a new
6-classroom building, making a new total of 17 classrooms.
In the study year 2019-2020 there are 534 students of which 267 are female, 11 teachers of
which are 6 female. The number of students is increasing every year and is expected to
increase extra when the new school building is ready. The school director requested extra
teachers to the ministry of education and the officer from the education department
confirmed that they will support this request.
The students are coming from 3 different villages, with a total of 674 families. Around 12.2%
of the families are indicated by the government as poor (having a poor ID). The following
table shows the statistics per village including poor families:
Village Families Poor families Of which poor
ID 1
Of which poor
ID 2
Svay (Kor) 284 38 8 30
Svay (Khor) 143 17 3 14
Prohout 247 27 4 23
Total 674 82 15 67
On 29 July 2020 Spien went to visit the school and met with the director of the district office
of education, school director, village leaders, commune council, teachers and the school
committee. We inspected the old school building and had a positive meeting about the
current situation and future plans of the school. As a representative of the ministry of
education was present, one of the first subjects we discussed was if the school had
requested a new school building to the ministry already and how many times they had
requested? The school director responded that they had been requesting a new building to
the ministry many times, most time they got no reply and in the cases they received a reply
the answer was that they had to wait first or that there were other locations that had higher
priority. The officer of the department of education confirmed this. He said that in the past
years he could only remember one highschool being constructed by the ministry of
education in 2018-2019 in the whole province and no primary schools at all. He added that
per year there are only 10 school buildings being constructed by the ministry in the whole
country, so it is difficult to get a request approved because of budget limitations. Mostly the
school director requested a new building through every report he sent in to the department of
education and the department of education forwards this report to the ministry. For example
every school director has to report every year in detail to the ministry of education about the
needs and what is lacking at this school, in which he indicates every year that he needs
more teachers, school books and a new building. So the needs are clearly communicated to
the ministry of education but the number of school buildings that the ministry constructs are
low. In addition to that the school director also tried several times to request a new building
directly to a high government official when they visited their area. Until now without success
and after requesting many times this makes them hopeless.
We also discussed how to motivate students to finish their school and prevent them from
dropping out. The school director and teachers shared their idea about this and also
described this in their reports. For example they like to make the school environment
attractive and clean and find a way to make students miss school and their friends so they
want to continue to study. We indicated that the main goal of Spien is to support the (very)
poor in Cambodia and that it is important for us that the school leadership and local
authorities try their very best to make sure that the (very) poor have access to this school
and support them in every way possible. The school director, committee and local authorities
confirmed that they share this view and that they try their best to include the poor. One
example is that the school committee selects students that receive a scholarship from the
government of 60 dollars per year for the most poor students. The teachers and local
authorities also go to meet students and their parents to discuss the importance of education
and help families that are in need of help or share advice. In the year report of the school the
director also indicates that they work hard to reduce school leaving and the rate of repetition
(blijven zitten) and increase the rate of grade promotion. The school director shared
furthermore that they try to signal the weak students and help them, for example on
Thursday they organize extra classes for students that perform poorly. Furthermore they
work together with the person on commune and village level who is responsible for the
vulnerable children and women in the commune.
The school will participate in this project by raising funds to pay for the labor costs of
constructing this school building. This will be done partly through the students and their
parents, local community and they have connections with a high government official working
at the ministry of justice who will also participate. In addition to this they will prepare the land
for construction by themselves. When we discussed the subject of local fundraising they also
shared the example of their experience in 1996, when they did fundraising to construct the
school building of 3 classrooms that they would like to replace now. At that time some
members of the school committee went to Sihanoukville to do fundraising there, but when
they asked people to donate they didn’t believe that it was really for constructing a school
building but they thought it was a scam and so the police arrested them. They were quickly
released when the police found out the fundraising was really meant to construct a new
school building. So the school has some interesting experience with local fundraising
already.
The estimated cost of materials for this building is $49,082 and the estimated labor cost is
$21,176. An additional cost of $5,432 is estimated for furniture, blackboards, playground and
study materials. Finally we plan 5% for unforseen and 5% for projectmanagement.
From our observation it is really necessary to replace the 3-classroom building because it is
not safe to study there anymore and the school could use some extra classrooms. We are
positive about the cooperative attitude of the school leadership and local authorities as we
had a positive meeting and a good discussion. The school prepared their request well and
provided all the documents necessary and even extra reports for us to learn more about their
school. We also think it was positive that the official from the department of education joined
our meeting, as he could explain about the procedures clearly. The community here has
experience with fundraising and used to build a school building by themselves previously.
We trust that when the school leadership, local authority, community and Spien work
together we can bring this project to a successful completion with the support of SSCR,
Wilde Ganzen and De Brug.
15 October 2020
Spien Cambodia

Doelgroep: Jongeren | Kinderen

SDG: SDG04 - Goed onderwijs

Request for a 6 classroom primary school building in Prek Tarak village, Prek Tasek commune, Chroy Changvar district, Phnom Penh.

This concerns the request for a 6-classroom primary school building including bathroom, school furniture, playground and study materials. This primary school is located on the edge of Phnom Penh city near Chroy Changvar bridge. There are many poor families living in the direct area around the school.

Currently there are two school buildings, a 6-classroom building and a 3-classroom building and a separate support building. Only the 6-classroom building is currently used, the
3-classroom building is closed because of safety issues (danger of collapse). That building was constructed in 1993. In the year 2000 there was a heavy flood in this area, as it is located near the river. Because of this flood the building was severely damaged. The school director requested repair to the ministry of education and they approved to repair the building. The last large repairings were done in 2012, but the building is now in a state that repairing is not feasible anymore. To guarantee the safety of the students the school director and school board decided to stop using this building in 2019. The plan is that the new requested building (6-classroom) should replace the old dangerous building (3 classroom). Before construction of the new requested building the old building should thus be demolished.

Currently there are 6 classrooms being used for a total of 434 students. There are 10 teachers. The students learn in two shifts, the first shift in the morning and the second shift in the afternoon. After the new requested building is being constructed the expectation is that the student number will increase to 500 students and the department of education will assign 5 additional teachers to the school bringing the total to 15 teachers.

The students are coming from 4 different villages, with a total of 1,235 families and 5,726 people. Around 13.4% of the families are indicated by the government as poor (having a poor ID). The following table shows the statistics per village including poor families:

Village, commune Families People Poor families Of which poor ID 1 Of which poor ID 2
Prek Raing 248 1225 33 10 23
Prek Taroth 234 1403 45 20 25
Prek Takong 371 1391 50 20 30
Peam, Sambo Meas 382 1707 37 14 23
Total 1235 5726 165 64 101

Most of the villagers living here are fishermen, construction workers, labourers and factory workers.

On 29 July 2020 Spien went to visit the primary school and met with the school director, village leaders, teachers and the committee of the school. We inspected the old school building and discussed the future plans. As we walked through the village around the school, we saw many poor children and also children that did not attend school, partly because of covid but also partly because of poverty. We discussed with the school director, school committee, village leaders and teachers about their approach and actions to make sure that all children attend school and how to prevent children from dropping out. Sometimes children stop to study to help find income for the family because of severe poverty and sometimes because the parents have to go to work and there is no one to take care of younger brothers or sisters. The school director, committee and village leaders work together to stimulate children to go to school and to visit families that keep their children at home. The school director indicated that they also have a government program that provides a scholarship of 60 dollars per year to the poorest students, and that the school committee selected the poorest students to receive this scholarship. The teachers and local authorities will also meet with parents in case children don’t come to school frequently. As they indicated, the most important is to explain the value of education and make the parents understand about that.
Furthermore they try to support children through donations from various organizations and individuals to provide for example school uniform and school supplies.

For the past 3-4 years a new school building was requested from the ministry of education every year, but without success. Also in 2014 the school director requested for a new building. Since 2018 it has also been requested to Spien organization but was not yet approved because they could not complete the contribution of the labour costs. The request for a new school building is signed by the school principal, head of school supporting committee, commune chief, district leader and the head of the educational department on district level.

The school will participate in this project by raising funds to pay for the labor costs of constructing this school building. This will be done partly through the students and their parents, local community and they have connections with a high government official working at the senate who will also participate. The school director, committee and the village leaders will also discuss their fundraising plans with the commune leader. The estimated cost of materials for this building is $49,082 and the estimated labor cost is $21,176. An additional cost of $5,432 is estimated for furniture, blackboards, playground and study materials and another 5% for unforeseen costs and 5% for project management like preparation, planning, control and local travel expenses.

From our observation we see the clear need for a new 6-classroom school building as replacement of the old building. The old building is not safe anymore and it seems not possible to repair anymore. We admire the school leadership and local community and government for trying to maintain their building as good as possible and repairing it many times already. When the community will take care of the new building in the same way, we trust it can be used to teach the children in this area for a long time. We are looking forward to working together with SSCR, Wilde Ganzen and De Brug to make this project happen!

Rolf Renzow, penningmeester SSCR, 1.2.2021

Doelgroep: Jongeren | Kinderen

SDG: SDG04 - Goed onderwijs