SeeBeyondBorders Ireland was established as an Irish charity in 2020 to raise funds for supports and services to primary school children in Cambodian schools and to develop educational and development links between Irish and Cambodian educators and development professionals. Our core belief is that developing teachers and teaching skills offers the best prospect of transforming life outcomes for Cambodian children. Our vision is to see a generation of Cambodian school children empowered by education. We are committed to building support for this vision on the island of Ireland through active engagement as an international development organisation. We seek to enlist and engage teacher and education professionals, the research and policy community, and likeminded development agencies and organisations in the vision.
There is a learning crisis in Cambodia today. The Khmer Rouge regime killed over 90% of teachers and the education system was completely destroyed. Today less than 3% of 15-year-old children reach baseline levels of performance in Maths or Literacy. Without a basic education the future for too many Cambodian children is bleak.
From its offices in Battambang & Siem Reap Provinces, our sister SeeBeyondBorders Cambodia directly conducts evidence based programmes to teach and guide teachers, while engaging parents and communities to support and encourage their children to get to school. By demonstrating best practice in schools, and by reflecting on our work through research and learning, our aim is to work with the Cambodian education system to build sustainable capability within Cambodia
We promote practical support for quality improvements on the ground in Cambodian primary education through our fundraising and through facilitating professional exchange and development. To do this we partner with SeeBeyondBorders Cambodia with whom we share expertise and supports. Our current goals are to:
- Raise funds to support the work that SeeBeyondBorders Cambodia carries out in rural schools on the ground.
- Establish and develop a recognised research capability that supports our advocacy for better learning systems in Cambodia.
- Provide learning and professional development experience in Ireland for Cambodian educators, trainee teachers and policy makers.
- Bring together professionals, organisations and Cambodians on the island of Ireland and link them with Cambodia for mutual benefit.
- Operate as an effective, well-regulated operating charity in Ireland.
