ABCs and Rice

ABCs and Rice offers free education, nutrition and health care to the impoverished children of Siem Reap Cambodia. It is a safe haven for children otherwise exposed to child labour, abuse or worse. ABC’s and Rice Charity offers free food programs and free education in an English and Khmer school for the underprivileged children of Poom Sala and Kroligne Village, 3km from the town centre of Siem Reap. ABC’s and Rice has been operational since Jan 2010 and is funded through donations and funding sources. It was set up by Canadian Tammy Durand and Australian Matt Foot. There are currently 180 students at the school aged from 4 to 16. The curriculum includes Khmer reading, writing, cultural and morals programs, English studies, art and sport. There are morning and afternoon sessions with three 45 minute periods aimed at retaining attention spans and effective, productive learning. Volunteers are utilised from across the globe to assist the programs and development of the organisation. Through the Education Program, ABC’s and Rice provides employment for six full-time Khmer teachers and two support workers who are provided with professional development and life skills courses to assist with their future employment. The Sustainable Food Program employs local farmers to run the chicken and pig farms managed by ABC’s and Rice. Further employment will be provided through the other elements of the Program including: the development of more farms including chicken, fish, mushroom and banana-growing by the end of 2011. These farms will employ local people who will be trained in good farming practices. the employment of cooks who will be skilled up to utilise harvests from the farms to feed the 180 school children through the Breakfast and Lunch Clubs. The surplus stock will be sold or bartered to build and expand upon the Sustainable Food Program. In addition to the Education Program and Sustainable Food Program, ABC’s and Rice also provides monthly food supplies to local families, personal support and development to the children and their families, and medical and dental care for the children. We aim to provide a safe, healthy, fun and loving environment where education and the realization of self worth are of the upmost priority.