Community Preschool and School Meals: Key to Reducing Malnutrition Rate in Cambodia Rural Areas

In Trapaing Touk, a village in Chan Sar commune, Cambodia, a new community preschool is making a significant impact on local children’s lives. Since its opening in December 2023, this initiative has been addressing both educational and nutritional needs in a region where resources are scarce.

For years, Chan Sar commune, which comprises 19 villages, had only six public preschools managed by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS). This shortage meant that many young children missed out on early childhood education that prepared them for primary school and were at risk of entering potentially hazardous work environments alongside their parents. To fill this gap, the Chan Sar commune council has collaborated with iDE Cambodia to launch the first community preschool in Trapaing Touk village.

Pov Chanty, a commune council member, who is in charge of the commune committee for women and children (CCWC) with tasks to promote nutrition, health and well-being of women and children in the villages, explained that, "some of the little children follow their parents to the farm, where they could be exposed to toxins from pesticide applications or face the risk of drowning in a pond. When accompanying their parents to the farm, these children often lack sufficient food to eat. Some parents believe their children are too young to be left at preschool, while others bring their children along when migrating for work within or outside the country," explained Chanty.

She further highlighted that some children only begin attending primary school at the age of nine, missing out on crucial early childhood education and struggling to catch up with their peers academically.

Revitalizing an Abandoned Building

The project, with the financial support from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , began with the transformation of a small abandoned wooden building into a fully functional preschool. With support from the commune chief and the council, essential repairs were made, and a preschool committee was established to oversee its daily operations. Financial support from the Church provided vital resources, including learning materials, cooking equipment, and playground equipment made from recycled tires.?

Focus on Nutrition

A key component of the project is its emphasis on nutrition. A regenerative garden was created at the preschool, consisting of a variety of vegetables and fast-growing fruit trees. This garden ensures a steady supply of nutritious food for the children’s breakfasts. The children also participate in gardening activities, learning about sustainable farming and the importance of healthy eating.

"Mainly we aim to ensure that preschool children have better access to nutritious and safe food so that they can live a healthy life,” explained Project Manager and Agriculture Director, Dr. Seng Kim Hian.?"Regenerative school gardening is not only to show children how food is produced and supplied but also to introduce them to outdoor learning about nature from an early age” She added.?

Ensuring a food supply chain is not enough. iDE helped equip preschool committee members, especially the cook with knowledge of nutrition, hygiene and safe food handling by offering training along with organization of community cooking demonstrations and exposure visit to a selected preschool, allowing them to gain creative ideas of managing the kindergarten and preparing food for children.?

Thung Bas, a dedicated cook and member of the village health support group, prepares nutritious meals for the children five days a week. Her efforts have been met with appreciation from parents like Kheng Gy, who have observed notable improvements in their children’s health and development.

Measuring Success

Recent assessments conducted with the Siem Reap Provincial Health Department indicate that the preschool’s impact is substantial. Within just two months of implementing school meals, the rate of acute malnutrition among students dropped from over 40% to 27%. These promising results underscore the value of continued support and expansion for the program.

Kheng Gy, mother of 3.5 years old Phea Sophana, expressed that she is so happy to learn that her child is able to eat a healthy breakfast when enrolling in this village kindergarten.

?“My daughter enjoys eating many different vegetables. She is in good health. According to officials from the provincial health department, my child is growing well,” Keng Gy proudly shared.

Looking Ahead

Despite financial challenges, the preschool’s success has fueled plans for future growth. Chanty envisions establishing another preschool in 2024, with a goal of opening at least one new preschool in each of the remaining villages every two years. She emphasizes that investing in preschool education and school meals is crucial for both the children’s well-being and the community’s future.