Through the courtyards of primary schools where students are usually found deep in study of Khmer language and mathematical problems, the sound of music, dance and laughter ring clearly. The laughter comes from friends, family and students alike, as they enjoy performances the students worked diligently to perfect and admire displays featuring the students’ best work from the year. The event has not only gathered students and their families together, but has also attracted leaders in the community to join them in the celebration. And that is what Education Inspire is – a celebration. A celebration of curiosity and wonder. A celebration of hard work and diligence. A celebration of the power and beauty of education.
Piloted this year, Education Inspire is an initiative within SeeBeyondBorders’ 20 partner schools in Siem Reap to bring the community together in this celebration. One of the many challenges facing Cambodian Primary education is the disconnect between schools and family members; it can sometimes be unclear what a student is learning at school, and why those lessons are important to the growth and development of the student. And for many students, this disconnect may diminish their excitement to learn, grow and develop. Education Inspire is one way that SeeBeyondBorders strives to empower schools to bridge that gap. Each event is planned wholly by the students’ own schools with support from SeeBeyondBorders – students prepare performances to present, teachers instruct students throughout the year and select their best work to present, administrators plan and coordinate the event – and once preparations are complete, students, family members and various community members are invited to come be part of what the students have worked so hard to achieve during the year. Each event’s focus is on community, the bringing of communities together in celebration of education. Parallel to the adage “it takes a village,” they bring the power of education to communities, displaying firsthand to families and community members how supporting students as a community empowers them to strive for the learning and growth they’ve experienced.
Of the 20 schools with plans for Education Inspire events, 14 have already been held with great success. And as envisioned by each school, the events all provided students a wonderful opportunity to show their families and communities the work they had done and the progress they had made this academic year. Student and family attendance was outstanding, with more than 95% of students and more than 75% of invited parents attending their school’s Education Inspire events. From the success thus far, it is clear that Education Inspire is something that has truly made a difference in constructing that bridge between education and the community. And as SeeBeyondBorders looks forward to the remaining events, we are excited to see more and more communities changed for the better by connection to education.
“I am very happy and proud. I am impressed by the great work from the students, and I am also very thankful to the teachers for their hard work and dedication in supporting them.”
