Xavier Jesuit School
The Jesuits have built a school that is a model of hope for students, for the community and for all schools in Cambodia.
For over 30 years, the Jesuits have accompanied and served Cambodians who are war-disabled, displaced, disadvantaged and living in poverty.
Today, the impact of the deadly Pol Pot regime lives on as 65% of Cambodians are under 30 years of age. Just 1 in 4 children finish high school and youth unemployment is high.
The Jesuits are committed to improving the quality of education in Cambodia, and established the Xavier Jesuit School in 2015. Located in the north west in one of the poorest provinces in Cambodia, the Xavier Jesuit School is home to four education projects. It includes a Community Learning Centre (for remedial and extra tuition for kids from local public schools), a primary school (kindergarten to Grade 6), a middle school (Grades 7-9); and high school (Grades 10-12). Every year around 100 teachers participate in formation training to enhance their educational understanding and approaches. Thanks to your support, recently construction has finished for new bathrooms and a canteen for roughly 300 students in the middle school.
Program details
"The most important thing for me when I teach the students is being aware of my responsibility as a teacher. So I should provide a good education for our students. Most of all, I hope they can shape their own dreams well."
As with all Jesuit schools, formation of the whole person is central to the education program. Students learn through an inquiry-based model, rather than the traditional rote-learning program, and they partake in a full range of cultural, art, music and physical education programs.
Those families that can afford it are invited to make a small contribution toward school fees, but there are many who can’t, so a scholarship fund has been established. Jesuit Mission supports the students in Grades 7 to 12 who are on full scholarships which include their living costs, school fees and all school materials. These scholarships target students who want to learn but are unable to access education due to lack of funds or because they live in remote villages. The scholarship program aims to support 80 students (50 girls and 30 boys).
Rany's Story
Rany (left) studying with her peers.
Before receiving a scholarship to Xavier Jesuit School (XJS), Rany never imagined she’d have the opportunity to complete her schooling.
"If I wasn't in this program, I may have already stopped studying."
Like many in her rural community in northern Cambodia, Rany’s family has faced many challenges. With little education, her parents worked tirelessly to provide for the family, often crossing the border to work in Thailand for extended periods.
But thanks to the scholarship she received four years ago, Rany is now getting the education she needs to build a pathway out of poverty for her and her family.
Now in Year 12, Rany has been thriving at XJS, regularly receiving class honours. She plans to go on to study Khmer Literature at university and one day become a middle school teacher.
"I hope I can return to my village and share my knowledge. I want to do this because I know not many kids in my village have the opportunity to learn."
