Educating Smiling Children (ESC) is an NGO that has been operating in Cambodia for more than 20 years, with the mission of providing a school curriculum for disadvantaged children in Cambodia.
ESC currently manages 2 kindergartens (3 to 6 years old), 1 tutoring and vocational training centre, 1 computer centres, 2 English classes, for a total of 700 children.
ESC funds
- The salary of 5 professors
- Construction and maintenance of school buildings.
- The supply of school supplies: two uniforms per year, a backpack, notebooks, books, pencils, slates.
- An annual medical check-up for all.
- Bicycles for the best students
To ensure better integration and the possibility for students to change schools, teaching is only provided by Khmer state-certified teachers and follows the official curriculum.
At the end of the school year, the top 5 students in each class receive a bicycle that will often allow them to continue their education in a nearby public school.
Latrines sans Frontières (LSF) is an annex project that aims to improve the sanitary conditions in which students live, since 2007 we have been building and maintaining:
- 38 latrines
- 4 water towers
- 9 wells (boreholes & pumps)
We also provide students with basic hygiene equipment, soap, toothbrushes.
All our actions are carried out with the explicit approval of national (Department of Education of Cambodia) and local authorities: village chief, regional public administration.
Licence issued by the Ministry of Education of Cambodia.
Our actions for the 2024/2025 school year
ESC continued its activities in 2024/2025, managing two kindergartens, one academic support and vocational training center, one computer center, and two English classes. Each accommodated between 25 and 450 students.
In 2024/2025, we educated approximately 700 students in 13 classes integrated into the national school system. We regularly employed five Khmer teachers and facilitators.
This year, we continued to manage the KEP computer center; 250 students from grades 7, 8, and 9 at the Kep public school attend the center every week.
In addition, ESC sponsored 15 university students by paying their annual registration fees.
Distribution of materials for our students in 2025
- We distributed approximately 500 uniforms
- Backpacks, small school supplies (books, notebooks, pencils, slates)
- Sanitary supplies: soap, toothbrushes, etc.
Materials for teachers
- Books
- Absence registers
- Gradebooks
- Student record books
In addition, Caran d’Ache donates colored pencils to us every year, which we redistribute.
Traditional khmer dance lessons for our kids in Siem Reap
About 40 students attend the course twice a week.
Visit from the new french consulate
The new french consulate visited us at Patty’s School located in Siem Reap
Helmets giveaway
January 2021. Wearing a helmet is becoming more and more common for adults, notably with the help of better law enforcement. It is still a very different thing for children, as it is very commonplace to see kids on a motorbike without any helmet or protections.
In January 2021 ESC gave away 282 helmets specifically sized for children. The idea is not only to improve the safety for 282 students but also to help raise awareness in the communities.
February 2020 : Traditionnal danse lesson in Siem Reap
This year we have a new activity for our students in Siem Reap, they learn traditionnal Khmer dancing with Ms Sok Kam
November 30, 2019 : Uniforms distribution in Siem Reap
We have organized a distribution of uniforms for all the students of our school in Siem Reap
02 April 2019 : Khmer New Year’s Eve
On the occasion of the Khmer New Year we organized a celebration in our school in Kep.
A good meal, games and above all lots of smiles and good mood
