Current Project: The AKD SCHOOL in Cambodia
 
The Association for Knowledge Development (AKD) has operated a school for English instruction in Battambang, Cambodia for three years.  Located in a poor village, study is free and there are more than 500 students enrolled.  Teachers are paid about $10 per one hour class, five days per week.  Recently, AKD school has added Thai, French, Japanese, and Korean classes.  These are all useful languages for business, speaking with tourists, and obtaining employment in nonprofit organizations doing development work in Cambodia.  The goal is to give students basic knowledge to empower them in school and work.
 
A second accomplishment of the AKD School is the employment of part-time state school teachers, university students, and other qualified instructors.  Although salaries are minimal, they are an important supplement to family incomes in this poor country.

Here is a letter from a student at the AKD school:

My name is Ry Sonat. I’m 16 years old. In my family, there are 7 members. My parents are farmers, and my youngest brother and me are students. My oldest brother stopped learning because my parents don’t have money for us to go to school, so he can’t continue his study at university. I think that I must try to find a job for my family. Nowadays, I’m learning in Association for Knowledge Development school because they don’t take money. In my free time, I work as much as I can. No one wants to be impecunious, even me, but it is destiny. We can’t protest against destiny. So, I must try to learn in my free time. I want my family to have enough food and enough money, and I want to be the one who understands this meaning. Finally, I wish the Association for Knowledge Development School to be here forever.
 
Successful as it has been, AKD has a grander plan for the future.  The aspiration is to become a Center with a full program of educational and vocational training, along with room for theater, dance, and music, as well as sports, food service, library facilities, and a computer labs for instruction and general use.  Realizing this dream depends upon greater support from generous individuals and institutions in the developed world.  But when the Center is established, the plan for self sustaining includes small business (which trains students), and fee classes (no more than 30% of enrollment) for those drawn to the quality education offered.
 
There is no doubt English is the international language for business, science, and culture.  Giving young Cambodians the opportunity to acquire this valuable tool will lead to greater success and development of this emerging nation and economy.