Organization
Caring for Cambodia
Caring for Cambodia (CFC) is a nonprofit, based in Austin, Texas, that runs free schools for children in Siem Reap Province, Cambodia.[1] Its schools run from preschool through high school. Alongside lessons, students receive meals, clean water, uniforms, school supplies, computers, transportation and basic health care.[1] Its founder is Jamie Amelio.[2]
Organization
CFC is headquartered and registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit in Austin, and it is also registered as a charity in Singapore. All of its work takes place in Cambodia, under a memorandum of understanding with the Cambodian government. Most staff work in Siem Reap, and some members of the executive team are based in North America and Singapore. Teachers' salaries are shared between CFC and the government, and volunteers around the world support the work.[1] CFC states that 93 cents of every dollar raised goes directly to its schools and educational programs.[1]
CFC has supported 21 schools in Siem Reap Province: 12 preschools, five primary schools, two junior high schools and two high schools.[1] It has given their enrollment both as more than 6,800 students and as more than 7,000 students each year.[1][3] In 2026 it counted 36 schools, 11,088 students and one education center.[4] It published an annual report for 2025.[4]
Schools
Registration at CFC schools is set by Cambodia's Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, and children enroll by the zone where they live. The schools follow the government's Child-Friendly Schools curriculum and add enrichment classes such as English as a second language, computer skills, career preparation and Girls Matter![1] CFC states that the government recognizes it as the country's model for Child Friendly Schools.[1] His Excellency Dr. Hang Chuon Naron, speaking as Minister of Education, Youth and Sport, said: "CFC is the standard of education in Cambodia."[4]
CFC has trained 500 teachers and has awarded more than 200 scholarships for its teachers to earn university degrees.[3] Several times a year, teams of master teachers from international schools such as Singapore American School and Tanglin Trust School come to Siem Reap for training sessions lasting several days. Experienced CFC teachers in the Mentor Teacher Program then support their colleagues through classroom visits.[1]
The junior high and high school campuses have 212 computers across seven labs. Students learn coding in grade 7 and digital storytelling in grade 8, take a course called Living in an Online World in grades 9 and 10, and may choose STEM and robotics or game development in grades 11 and 12.[3]
Nine school libraries, at the primary, junior high and high school levels, serve about 7,000 students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12. Each school has a trained full-time librarian, every grade has regular library classes, and families come to community reading events. About 250 adults also use the libraries each year. CFC describes its high school library research program as the first of its kind in Siem Reap.[5] The collections hold more than 32,000 books.[3]
Student support
CFC began its Food for Thought Program almost as soon as its first school opened. Students receive two meals a day, including rice porridge with added vitamins, minerals and local vegetables, and the schools serve more than two million meals a year.[3] CFC calls its partner Feed My Starving Children integral to the program, and volunteers pack its nutrient-rich food packs.[6]
Its 120 community wells and water filtration systems provide up to 1.2 million gallons (about 4.5 million liters) of clean water for students and their villages. Students also receive dental and medical screenings and health lessons.[3] Every student has a school uniform, and students at Singapore schools donate more than 800 uniform items each year. CFC buys more than 70 bicycles a year for students who could not otherwise reach school.[3] One of them, a girl named Chantha, dropped out in 2019 largely because of the hard journey to school; a CFC bicycle brought her back.[3] Through its Gender Equity Program, CFC works to keep girls in school and teaches boys and girls about gender equity from a young age.[3]
Supporters
Volunteer chapters in Singapore and in several U.S. cities raise awareness and funds. As of 2022 there were chapters in Singapore, California, the Midwest, Austin and Washington, D.C.[1][2] Chapters hold events from Bunco nights and dinner parties to black-tie galas, charity walks, 5K runs and golf tournaments, run toothbrush drives, pack food at Feed My Starving Children events and plan trips to the schools. Some host book clubs, and the organization suggests Jamie Amelio's Staying Bothered, Loung Ung's First They Killed My Father and Vaddey Ratner's In the Shadow of the Banyan.[6]
An annual luncheon in September celebrates what has kept Jamie Amelio motivated in her work for education in Cambodia.[2] CFC scheduled its Gala of Hope for October 17, 2026.[4]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 Caring for Cambodia, Frequent questions
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 CultureMap Austin, Caring for Cambodia (2022)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 Caring for Cambodia, Impact
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Caring for Cambodia, home page (2026)
- ↑ Caring for Cambodia, Libraries
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Caring for Cambodia, Join a chapter