As part of its Adopt a School initiative, Dubai Cares in partnership with United World Schools, built two community schools in Cambodia’s Mondulkiri and Preah Vihear provinces. The program aimed to improve access to education for children living in remote, rural communities that had expressed strong commitment to and desire for educational opportunities.

The supported communities, predominantly composed of tribal and ethnic
minority groups, were located in regions beyond the reach of the national education system, which did not adequately cater to non-Khmer speakers. These communities faced significant challenges, including near-zero literacy and numeracy levels and widespread poverty.

Each of the two schools included three to four classrooms, accommodating over 125 primary school-aged children. To ensure quality education, the program provided for the recruitment of two community teachers per school, in addition to at least two government-appointed teachers, depending on community size. Dubai Cares sustained the schools for one year and supported the transition to an alternative funding model thereafter. Community members were actively involved from the beginning in both construction and planning, ensuring strong local ownership and long-term commitment to the schools’ success.