Fe y Alegria (FyA) is a Jesuit educational movement, founded in Venezuela nearly 70 years ago. Since its foundation, FyA has expanded across Latin America and more recently in Asia and Africa, led by Entreculturas in Spain.
FyA focuses on the inclusion of the most marginalised by improving access to quality education and supporting teacher training.
FyA in Cambodia supports both the students and teachers. Students study English, IT, Khmer traditional music and dance, community library and leadership. Teachers become part of the library project, teacher training workshops and ecology awareness.
Focus areas for the program include broadening collaboration between Xavier Jesuit School and public schools, and cultivating youth leadership for the service of others.
The new FyA Centre is based at the Xavier Jesuit School campus, and plans to become an education hub to empower both neighbouring communities and remote rural areas. The program will provide quality training workshops that meet the needs of local residents and expand to more rural schools and communities over time.
Maly’s Story
Aspiring nurse Maly (14) is in Grade 6 at Samiki School, a government-run school supported by Fe y Alegria. Her father a fisherman, and her mother, who supports him by selling his catch, work hard to support Maly and her 5 younger siblings.
As the eldest child, a lot of responsibility falls on Maly. Determined for her siblings and herself to receive a quality education, she borrows her uncle’s motorbike everyday to get to school and brings her siblings.
She also wakes up at 4 or 5am every day to do house chores and cook for her family before school.
“Living in the student centre, life is happy. I have food, friends, schooling, and regularity in so many aspects. I have learned many new skills.”
Maly at Samiki school
With 320 students at the school and just a few teachers, there is a strong culture among students to support one another. Leading by example, the school principal also takes on classes to assist the teachers and support the students. Maly has been described by teachers as a great student and is always ready to help her peers.
“I hope I can continue studying beyond high school,” she says. “I really enjoy studying Khmer (the local language) with my friends.”
