Tanop Community Education Centre (TCEC)

In 2008, 11 local village builders built the Tanop Community Education Centre (TCEC) in a village 47 kms south of the capital Phnom Penh. Today, as well as the Education Centre for school aged children, Singing Kites provides programs and support for preschoolers and university students.

Tanop Community Education Centre

Today over 1,300 children from 32 villages attend the TCEC daily. They are part of rotating classes held from 8am to 7.30pm, five days a week. They come to study English, Khmer numeracy and literacy, mathematics, physics and chemistry, art, health education, traditional music and computer skills. 12 dedicated local teachers teach 43 classes a day totalling 215 teaching hours a week. We liaise with the local public schools seeing ourselves as an important supplementary support system for the children’s’ holistic education. Our role is to improve the children’s academic results and confidence, as sometimes conditions, poor teaching standards and the inability to pay fees, affect the learning opportunities of many rural children.

Pre-school program

Little ones from 3 to 6 years of age are able to access a head start in their education by joining our pre-school program in the mornings. We provide a safe place for them to take part in a fun program of free play, learning Khmer, English, art, singing, hygiene, and learning to be respectful and well mannered. We believe this is a wonderful way to start their academic journey. These pre-school children receive a free, nutritious breakfast from us each day.

Education scholarships

Education, more than any other factor, can provide hope, opportunities and job security to future generations of Cambodian children. Rural children are disadvantaged, as they very often don’t have the opportunities afforded to those who live in the cities. Cambodia needs leaders and those young people living in rural areas, need the opportunity to be empowered and have a voice.

University student support

Each August we seek support for some of our students to attend University or to receive vocational training in Phnom Penh. We see this as an extremely important aspect of out project work. In this way we are building up and enriching the skills within the community and offering opportunities to people, to secure their future away from poverty. $1200 AUD per annum covers the cost of a student’s support including:

University fees
Accommodation
Utilities
Food and drinking water
Clothing
Educational materials and associated expenses
Bicycle for transportation

Primary/Secondary student support

This will help a rural child from a disadvantaged background access tuition and attend school providing them with uniforms, a bike, and essential school supplies.

Cost: $30 AUD per month

Breakfast program

We have realised that many of our children were coming to school without any food to eat. Focusing on the pre-school group, as they were at the most crucial growth stage, we employed a local village lady as our cook, and each day now, we supply up to 50 children with a nutritious breakfast.