Right next to Meas Family Homestay and the weaving workshop is a school that, at first glance, looks like many other village schools in Cambodia. But behind the simple wooden buildings is much more than a few classrooms. The school is dedicated to giving children and young people opportunities that many of them would not otherwise have had.
The school was founded nearly 20 years ago by Siphen Meas, the aunt of Linda Meas, who runs Meas Family Homestay. Siphen now lives in the United States, but her heart has always remained in Cambodia. She saw how many young people, especially girls, dropped out of school after 9th grade because they lacked both the opportunities and the support to continue their education. She founded the school with a clear goal: to give children hope and new opportunities, and named it Hope for Happiness.
Since then, the school has grown alongside the village’s other projects, including the weaving workshop. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the school received support from Barbara and Pattie in Canada through the Banyan Organization, which also works closely with Linda Meas’s family. Their support has made it possible to expand the school considerably.
Today, the school has more than 200 students from grades 5 through 12. Classes take place in the afternoon after the students have finished their regular school day in the public school system. Three teachers and a librarian are responsible for the program, which goes beyond the traditional school subjects. Students also work with computers, communication, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence. The goal is to give them skills they can use both in their continued education and later in life.
I visited the school one afternoon in June, and as soon as I arrived, I was greeted by a sea of smiling children. There was activity everywhere. In the classrooms, students were focused on the day’s lessons, the library was buzzing with activity, and outside, the break was spent playing ball games and running around. The atmosphere was warm, relaxed, and full of energy.
One of the things that impressed me the most was the curiosity and enthusiasm among the students. They genuinely seemed happy to be there and eager to learn as much as possible. It was clear that the school is much more than a place where children learn to read and do math. It is a safe place where children and teenagers are encouraged to believe in themselves and where they are taught that no dream is out of reach.
Together with the Weavers Project, the school also offers a Pay It Forward scholarship program that funds a full university education for the recipient. So far, three young women have completed bachelor’s and master’s degrees through the program. For a small village like Prey Theat, that can make a world of difference.
It was hard not to be swept up by the positive atmosphere. There was an incredible sense of energy and optimism that really stayed with me. If the children I met in Prey Theat are representative of Cambodia’s next generation, then the future looks bright.
