Sinat, a mother from an impoverished situation, is delighted to witness her 5-year-old daughter Sovanita thrive in the supportive environment at Phare Kindergarten. Sovanita’s passion for art reflects her dreams, making her a favorite among teachers.
Phare Ponleu Selpak believes that art and education are powerful tools that can transform lives and open doors to a brighter future. One of its core goals is to provide children and youth – regardless of their backgrounds – with access to high-quality education, from formal and informal to vocational arts.
At Phare Kindergarten, all students receive a strong academic foundation, nurturing their curiosity and shaping their perceptions of the world through arts integration where applicable.
Let’s learn more about Phare Kindergarten through the eyes and ears of Sovanita and her experiences as a Phare kindergartener.
Photo credit: Supplied
About Phare Kindergarten
Phare Kindergarten, situated in Anh Chanh Village, Ochar Commune, within the Phare Ponleu Selpak campus, has been in operation since 2002. Over the years, it has served 3031 community children, primarily from the Ochar and Chamkar Samraong districts.
As of 2024, the kindergarten delivers free education to 168 students aged three to five, with the majority coming from underprivileged local backgrounds. The kindergarten offers a total of eight classes per day: four sessions in the morning and four in the afternoon.
“I truly respect the school because of its uniqueness in offering a diverse range of knowledge and programs to students,” said PRANG Nhary, Education Manager of Phare Ponleu Selpak. “I want to ensure that children in the surrounding communities have access to a quality education.”
Neakru PRANG Nhary (second from right) is meeting with some of the Phare Kindergarten teachers. Photo credit: Chan Rattanakoudom
Introducing Sovanita
DEN Sovanita, a bright and energetic 5-year-old, is a pupil of Phare Kindergarten in her second year of school. She’s a native of Battambang and lives about 10 minutes away from school.
Sovanita adores her teachers and friends, and she eagerly looks forward to her classes. She takes great pride in helping with cleaning tasks around the classroom, showing her responsible and caring nature.
“At school, I learn the letters, color pictures, and sing and salute the flag in the morning,” said Sovanita.
Photo credit: Chan Rattanakoudom
Sovanita’s teachers are dedicated to helping all the students to develop their talents and skills. They teach Sovanita how to write letters, encourage her creativity through coloring, and guide her in learning the beautiful art of Khmer dancing.
“I love dancing,” said Sovanita. “My favorite Khmer dance is Bopha Lok Kei.”
She is happy and excited about attending classes and spending time with her friends. Her teachers have noticed her positive attitude.
“Sovanita is gorgeous, gets along well with her classmates, and is eager to share what she knows,” said SOEUN Sophea, her homeroom teacher. “I’m delighted to be her teacher, and I can see she enjoys both school and classes.”
Photo credit: Chan Rattanakoudom
As Sovanita looks ahead to the future, she dreams of becoming a Khmer dance teacher. Her passion for dancing and her experiences at Phare Kindergarten have inspired her to pursue this dream.
“I’m so happy to start first grade next year,” Sovanita added. “I want to teach Khmer dance in the future.”
Arts Integration at Phare Kindergarten
Phare Kindergarten provides a secure and supportive environment in which students can thrive through exploration and discovery—an educational philosophy also known as learning through play.
Photo credit: Jasmine-រដ្ឋ
The programs not only focus on traditional learning but also emphasize the importance of the arts and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math).
Photo credit: Supplied
The Phare Kindergarten curriculum focuses on six main subject areas:
- Mobility
- Social studies
- Science
- Mathematics
- Khmer and English languages
- Art
“What is special about this school is that all the teachers are qualified with pedagogy training,” said Nhary. “We not only provide general education but also arts education. I thrive on cultivating a love for arts and culture in children from a young age so they can grasp and value the national art.”
That emphasis on the arts seems to be working, as Sovanita enjoys the creative activities offered at the kindergarten.
“I love coloring animal pictures; they are beautiful and fun,” said Sovanita. “I like morning assemblies too. I can sing with my friends.”
Photo credit: Chan Rattanakoudom
Child Protection at Phare Kindergarten
The Phare Kindergarten curriculum fosters a sense of safety and trust between students and teachers at school as well as between children and parents at home. For this reason, the Child Protection policy was revised and strengthened in 2019 to ensure that the most at-risk children have access to education by supporting them with the right inputs and resources, such as:
- Health and referral services
- Hygiene items
- School supply kits
- A regular and nutritious lunch
- Cash stipend (where deemed appropriate)
- Case management and monitoring
The Social Support department and teachers put in a lot of effort to guarantee that the students chosen for the Collective Child Sponsorship program are selected equitably and accurately.
“My child is participating in the Phare lunch program that provides a free meal to her every weekday,” said Sinat, Sovanita’s mother and a 29-year-old housewife. “When it comes to safety, I offer Phare Kindergarten a perfect rating. The school pays for my child’s attention because parents or guardians have a permission card to pick up a child from school.”
Photo credit: Chan Rattanakoudom
Conclusion
“I’d like to thank all of the donors and contributors who have helped Phare Kindergarten,” said Sinat. “Please continue your generous work so that the school may continue to serve future generations and help other children like mine.”
Children are the leaders of tomorrow, and education plays a crucial role in shaping their future. Phare strongly believes that arts and education are vital tools for enhancing individuals’ lives.
The inclusion of the arts in the curriculum has had a positive impact on the attitudes, confidence, and engagement of students at Phare Kindergarten. Sovanita is living proof of the power of the arts to change lives.
Photo credit: Stefano Morrone
You can make a difference in the lives of Cambodian children: Contribute to the collective child sponsorship program at Phare Ponleu Selpak today and be a part of the success stories of our students.
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