Delivery Ceremony at Wat Sdei Primary School

In September 2023, The Reaching Out Project successfully hosted an event at a Primary School in Wat Sdei. The event was live-streamed all over the world, attracting more than 1000 viewers. We, Eleni and Thomas, personally provided essential support to all 353 children at the school, including school equipment to enhance the quality of teaching. We distributed over 53 bicycles, more than 2800 notebooks, over 4000 pens and pencils, and more than 353 backpacks, covering the needs of all 353 children for one year. Furthermore, we covered expenses for school and teachers and provided important teaching equipment.

Our organisation supplied tiles to create a play area for the children and a large quantity of sports equipment, such as volleyballs, volleyball nets, basketballs, baskets, skipping ropes, badminton equipment, and more besides for every child at the primary school, supporting them to play in teams and socialise. For poor families, we provided new study desks for children to have their own space to study at home.

With the support of our friends in Greece, Italy, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and other countries all over the world, we successfully brought joy to these children, making a direct impact on their lives from that day. The children now have their own school equipment for study and play, alleviating worries and feelings of deprivation due to poverty. Now they play, they are happy, they attend school consistently, and they look forward to going to the 6th Grade, where they will receive a new bicycle that they can use to travel to secondary school. This is the motivation we aimed to generate through this event.

“Children look forward to going to the 6th Grade. This is the motivation we aimed.”

During the live delivery event that took place on 28th September 2023, we all witnessed the shocking conditions in the village and community via live streaming. We personally discussed matters with each family, sharing their problems and considering how we could encourage their children to go to secondary school. Going door to door, standing shoulder to shoulder with all members of the community, we succeeded in meeting the real heroes, the children.

“ Shoulder to Shoulder with our daily heroes and their families”

The second phase of the nearly three-hour event took place at the school. In front of government representatives, including the District Governor and the Chief Officer of the Ministry of Education, we presented our holistic multi-year plan. This plan aims to ensure that children continue to secondary school and do not drop out. We outlined our plan for that school, which includes repairing any facilities that might pose a risk of injury to children, in addition to creating a library, a computer lab, and English classes for all children. Furthermore, we forged strong bonds with the community there, as we have already expanded to support more schools and more children.

The live event at the primary school was a complete success, with live coverage worldwide. Thanks to all our friends and everyone who supported us, the event has already had a great positive impact on children’s lives. We will continue with more events, but more importantly, we will continue supporting these children and tracking their progress, ensuring that they continue with their studies, and supporting them every step of the way, together with teachers, families, and communities. At this event, all members agreed to set up programs with schools, teachers, families, and the government to create better schools, more child-friendly schools, improve the quality of education, eliminate poverty and hunger, provide clean water for everyone, and improve the mental health of children and families.

The event concluded with a joyful initiative from The Reaching Out Project, the “Make a Wish Box” program. We anticipate that our next event in Cambodia will gather wishes from 353 children regarding what they want for themselves and their school as students.

More things are to come…

The Reaching out Project Team