School Program Overview:
On December 2nd 2006, an assessment of the pilot project that began in Sras Village in 2004 was conducted. The school, vocational training, local businesses, agriculture and water projects were reviewed to gauge their success.
The assessment gave a better idea of how programs should be implemented in future projects and was the first step in assuring self-sustainability for Sras Village.
Building and Construction Trades
As part of the contract when building schools, local villagers are hired as laborers on the construction project. This provides vocational training and employment to the villagers.
In early September the construction team of Sras Village finished the final stage of the Sras Primary School Teacher House. During Trailblazer"s visit in September 2006 the structure was inspected by the contractor who built the school. He was extremely complementary to the construction team and impressed with their work.
Trailblazer Foundation hired the Sras construction team in 2007 to construct cement ring pit wells throughout Sras Village to provide water access for irrigation purposes. This project provided the construction team with additional vocational training, employment to other villagers, and cultivated their construction business.
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School Construction
On February 7, 2005 Trailblazer Foundation was deeded the 150 ft. by 300 ft. parcel of land for the construction of a public primary school in Sras Village, Svay Chek Commune, Angkor Thom District, Siem Reap, Cambodia. Relevant land owners and heads of household signed the deed. The deed was done to protect the project and prevent any disagreements or post-construction land costs. Sras Village is very rural and spreads out over several miles of rice fields and forest. There are 240 families consisting of approximately 1,200 residents, of which over 500 are children.
The village residents were willing and committed participants in the project since the planning began in 2004. They excavated and cleared the jungle and termite mounds from the site, maintained the roadsides to allow for construction truck access, and volunteered manual labor on the construction itself. The 4 classroom and one multi-use room construction was complete 9 April 2006.
The Trailblazer Foundation signed the land over to the Angkor Thom District authorities for its management on 3 June 2006 at the inauguration ceremony.
The Deputy Director of Svey Chek Commune Primary Schools visited the village in June. An assessment was conducted between July and August to determine the appropriate placement of students. The Provincial Education Office has provided four teachers for the first year. These teachers arrived October 1st and school began with three classes of grade 1 and one class of grade 2. It is encouraging to see the support the village is receiving from the Department of Education.