The Tonlé Sap, located in Central Cambodia, is Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake. In order to accommodate drastic changes in water levels during the rainy season, residents have created floating villages consisting of homes, schools and gardens. The people among these villages are able to catch enough food to survive, yet their access to basic services is limited and the schools lack materials they need to support children’s education. Due to a lack of resources and minimum government funding for schools in Cambodia, there is a shortage of teaching materials and school facilities, leaving teachers to buy items like chalk with their personal money.
The Prek Toal primary school is a floating school on the Tonlé Sap that hosts over 160 students annually. Unfortunately, the school has severe damage. Half of the school is sinking and the remainder is in great need of repair. The school is also lacking many of the materials and resources it needs to thrive. Without this school, many children of the Prek Toal community will be without basic education.
