Chumkriel Language School (CLS) began as a dream of Nget Sokonthy (Mr Thy), the Director of CLS. Mr Thy grew up in a remote village with little access to education. From personal experience he realized that many of life’s opportunities are missed by rural Cambodians due to lack of education.

He moved to Kampot to pursue a teaching career where he noticed a difference in quality of education between rural and city schools. Without access to additional education, rural children had poor job prospects.

So in 2005 Mr Thy established CLS to give rural children that extra education, with an underlying philosophy of helping people to help themselves. Offering English lessons at night in a small and dilapidated room, he expected just a handful of enrolments. But on the first night 100 students arrived keen to learn!

From humble beginnings the school grew rapidly. Today it has its own school building, playing field and agriculture garden. It provides both Khmer and English lessons to over 100 primary-aged children during the day, and teaches English to over 500 students at night!

It also has a community outreach program which builds small homes and toilets for the most needy families, and tackles other basic needs of poor and disadvantaged families.

Mr Thy’s dream is being realized today through the Chumkriel Language School he founded. It is affording children life-changing opportunities not otherwise available to them.

Help CLS continue its programs which are vital to a better future for hundreds of disadvantaged children and their families from Chumkriel and neighbouring communities.