KKO is a project committed to giving underprivileged and needy children and young adults in Cambodia a good education and vocational training thereby providing them with the foundations for a secure future.

KKO (Khmer for Khmer Organization) wants to enable young Cambodians from poor families to attend school and get vocational training. The KKO founders are exclusively Cambodian citizens and foreigners who live in the country or know it by heart. All of them work on a non-profit basis, administration staff and teachers are paid appropriate local salaries. The projects are small enough to be monitored with relatively little staff and funds. They are limited to the region of Siem Reap. This guarantees that every Dollar donated will be used directly to help the young Cambodians.

What we provide at the moment

English classes: In September 2010, KKO started giving English lessons. There are currently 140 students between the age of 6 and 18 years in 6 different classes. This education is not only focussed on grammar, but also on intensive training of correct pronunciation. Moreover, the children are gradually taught to be able to communicate in English. The lessons are given by two local teachers, who are actively supported by a German “Weltwärts” volunteer.

Motobike mechanics: Since March 2011, KKO has being training four young Cambodians as moto mechanics. Unfortunately, “classical” vocational training is not available in Cambodia, all skills having to be acquired by “learning by doing.” KKO is therefore supplying these trainees with both the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required within the frameworks of a one-year vocational training course. The graduates will initially be employed by KKO. Thereafter, they will be in a position to work in other workshops or even to start up their own business.

Sewing lessons: Seventeen adult Cambodians (15 young women and 2 men) between the age of 18 and 27 years have been receiving vocational training as tailors since September 2010. The majority of these students has no previous experience whatsoever. They are divided into 4 classes, and have a 2-hour lesson every day, a local professional tailor imparting the sewing skills required. These commence with the correct threading of a needle to the sewing of a first own garment. In the long term, the students who have completed this vocational training course should be able to open and operate their own dressmaking establishments enabling them to earn money and thus support themselves. Moreover, a small fraction of the profit they make is to flow back into other KKO projects to ensure that, in the long term, the project does not have to rely on donations alone.

For further information, please visit our website kko-cambodia.org