By: Nuon Moniroth & Thy Vichhra
Screenshot of Village Homeschool official Facebook page.
Village Homeschool is a small educational initiative offering free English courses to children in South Srah Srang Village, Nokor Thom Commune, Siem Reap Province, near the Banteay Kdei Temple. The school was founded in 2017 by Seiyon Yoath, a passionate local woman committed to helping children in her rural community overcome educational barriers.
The school operates in a modest setting with only basic furniture such as tables, chairs, and a whiteboard. It is housed under the wooden structure of Seiyon’s small kitchen. Despite the lack of resources, Village Homeschool has provided education to over 350 students by 2024, spanning from kindergarten to high school. The students are taught in two shifts across 14 classes.
Ms. Seiyon, the founder of Village Homeschool, presented an award to the best student of the academic year.
To accommodate the growing number of students, Seiyon expanded the school by constructing a second branch in a nearby rice field. This expansion allowed the school to employ 11 teachers, including both experienced professionals and trainees. “Four of my siblings help teach here. We pay experienced teachers $80 per month and $25 to $30 to those in training” Seiyon shared.
Village Homeschool also maintains an official Facebook page, which plays a crucial role in raising funds. However, the school faces difficulties in effectively utilizing the page for fundraising due to a lack of digital marketing skills and technical expertise. “It’s really difficult because I have to manage everything myself,” Seiyon explained. In addition to overseeing the school, she works as a translator and a teacher at a private language school to earn income for her family and to support the school. “I don’t have time or skills to handle fundraising and marketing,” she added.
Although the school avoids using children for direct advertising, it recognizes the need to feature them in videos for fundraising campaigns. This is to prove that the school is actively teaching students, which is essential for donor trust. However, Seiyon is cautious not to exploit the children. “We try to show them as little as possible,” she noted, stressing that guardians’ consent is always obtained before involving children in promotional materials.
Village Homeschool has managed to stay open for seven years, relying entirely on donations. However, as the number of students increases, the school faces a significant problem: donations have been declining. The school needs around $400 to $500 each month to cover expenses like teacher salaries, instructional materials, and utility bills. But the funds remain unstable, and without consistent donations, the school’s future is uncertain.
“We can only ask for small contributions from the parents and guardians to help sustain the school,” Seiyon said. Most donations come through the school’s Facebook page and website, but the lack of consistent funding has caused concern about the school’s long-term survival. In response, Seiyon has set a goal for the upcoming year: to collect between 4,000 and 6,000 riels per student each month to help cover costs and keep the school running.
The school’s reliance on donations highlights its vulnerability. As the number of students grows, so do the expenses, yet the unpredictable nature of donations poses a real risk to the school’s ability to continue providing free education. “We need stable support,” Seiyon explained, stressing the urgency of securing more reliable funding to avoid the possibility of shutting down.
Seiyon’s sister teaches kindergarten at the second location of Village Homeschool.
Seiyon founded Village Homeschool because she wanted to give back to her community. She recognized the educational challenges children in her village faced, particularly the lack of access to English education and the high costs of attending distant schools.
“I love sharing knowledge, and I understand how important it is for children here to learn English,” she said. “The children in my village can’t afford expensive schools, so I wanted to create a place where they could receive a free education.”
Despite the ongoing challenges, Seiyon is determined to keep the school open and growing. She believes that even small contributions from parents will help ensure the school’s survival. “A small donation from each family can make a big difference,” she remarked, expressing hope that the community will continue to support the school’s mission.
Metadata
Title
Village Homeschool
Author
Seiyon Yoath
Year
2017 – Present
Place of Publication
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Technical Requirements
Standard Browser
Live Version
Archived Version
N/A
Source
Interview with Ms. YOATH Seiyon, December 21, 2024
Disclosure of used AI and writing tools: Grammarly and ChatGPT for correcting grammar