Empowering Cambodian Children with English 2025

May 02, 2025

Dear Friends and Supporters of ODC,

I am writing this letter as the Founder and Headmaster of ODC to share updates on our journey over the past few months. Cambodia has faced its share of challenges in recent years, but the first quarter of 2025 has been a time of optimism and steady progress. Tourism in Siem Reap has picked up, bringing renewed energy to the city. Businesses are recovering, communities are thriving, and life here is improving every day. At ODC, this positive momentum has been reflected in our work—we have seen incredible dedication from our students, growing engagement from parents, and exciting progress in the programs we provide to the children.

As we stepped into 2025, ODC has continued to offer quality English education and personal development opportunities to children from diverse backgrounds. Currently, we have 290 students across 13 classes, supported by a dedicated team of eight professional teachers, two teaching scholars, and three volunteers. One of our volunteers, Anna Geary from England, has spent the past three months at ODC helping our students improve their English. Her presence has been an incredible support, bringing new energy into our classrooms and exposing students to different accents and teaching styles.

This quarter, we expanded our mission beyond academics. We introduced health education in partnership with Cambodian Global Health and World Smiles Mission, giving students essential knowledge in health, hygiene, and self-care. These partnerships allow us to nurture not only our students’ minds but also their well-being—providing them with skills that will serve them for life.

We also strengthened our commitment to teacher development. The year began with Orientation Days, a two-day session to set clear expectations around lesson planning, exam procedures, and teaching quality. Teachers have continued to attend monthly professional development in town, and several have pursued additional workshops hosted by other NGOs. We are especially proud to share that three of our teachers recently sat for the IELTS exam—and all of them exceeded ODC’s target band score. Their success is a testament to their hard work and a reflection of the high standards ODC sets for educational excellence.

Our work also extends beyond the regular school week. Two of our teaching scholars lead weekend support sessions for students needing extra help. On Sunday mornings, one of our international board members teaches a science class to 15 children, and Anna Geary runs a conversational English class, helping students grow in confidence, fluency, and real-world communication—going beyond the textbook and into meaningful conversation.

ODC continues to invest in creating a safe and inspiring learning environment. We’ve upgraded two classrooms with flexible individual seating, equipped a new class with a smart TV, and completed our heat mitigation project by installing a new insulated roof to reduce heat and noise. To ensure consistent electricity and safety, we’ve also installed a new electrical line with greater capacity, eliminating disruptions and supporting all classroom functions.

Looking to the future, ODC is also exploring how to sustain and grow its impact through social enterprise. We are excited to welcome a new board member with deep expertise in this area, and with her guidance, along with support from our international board and dedicated local team, we are currently preparing to launch a feasibility study. This study will help us explore our potential and plan a thoughtful, impactful pilot initiative that could strengthen ODC’s long-term sustainability.

Now, we need your support more than ever. Our most immediate goal is to secure all operational costs for 2025, ensuring that our teachers, programs, and classrooms continue to thrive. Looking ahead to 2026, with anticipated increases in student enrollment, we must expand our infrastructure to make room for every child who deserves a chance to learn and grow.

Your generosity powers every step we take. Whether through a donation, sponsorship, or simply sharing our story, your support helps build a future where no child is left behind. Together, we are changing lives—and with your continued belief in our mission, we’ll keep going even further.

With deepest gratitude,
Chhaiya Im
Founder and Headmaster, ODC