Posted by Martin Harrison on Aug 04, 2018
Two members of the Rotary Club of Royal Hua Hin have recently visited The Cambodia Academy at Mongkol Borei.  With more than 325 students it is located in a rural part of Cambodia, Mongkol Borei in the Beantey Meanchey Province in the Northwest.  The school provides a rigorous Khmer and English-based elementary and middle school education in grades 1-9 for some of Cambodia's poorest children.
The school was founded in April 2004 by Hans Eide, pictured left,  who was a member of the Rotary Club of Royal Hua Hin until he passed away in March 2016.  Hans was touched by the genuine kindness of the locals and yet unsettled by the widespread poverty suffered in the aftermath of the Vietnam War and Khmer Rouge era.
The curriculum emphasises English, Khmer, math, science, and social studies, and the academic performance is recognised by provincial authorities, faculty and staff at the local high school.
 
The nutritional program provides breakfast and lunch to all students, ensuring that no student goes hungry. Meals are prepared on campus, ensuring they all have at least have two meals, including protein, per school day. 
As a registered charitable organization, The Cambodian Academy are dependent on donations and support from individual donors and Rotary clubs around the world to continue their fine work
 
Since his passing Hans’  legacy has been continued, with the RCRHH supporting the academy financially and physically, with Rotarian Alan Brown and his wife Nadia visiting the Academy every three months, providing much needed supplies and support, they are also honoured to have been appointed Directors of the Academy in recognition of their work.
Alan and Nadia only returned a few days ago and explained that a recent addition to the curriculum has been initiated giving the children an opportunity to demonstrate their artistic & creative abilities in the form of an Art & Multi Purpose Room.  The Children were shown a DVD, David Attenborough’s Blue Planet II from BBC Earth to let the children see life in the depths of the world’s’ oceans.   The children then prepared an environment using craft materials to reproduce what they had seen and called Mongkol Borei by the Sea.
 
 
 
The pictures below show the children at work on the David Attenborough project and Alan and Nadia Brown hose support of the Academy has been recognised by their appointment as Directors.
     Alan & Nadia Brown whose support of the Academy has been invaluable.