After baseline tests in October 2006, we found that many of the students at Chanleas Dai Primary School still could not read and write in Khmer. While the school had a small library set up by a large NGO several years ago, it was rarely used and kept locked most of the time. This led our team to focus on increasing Khmer literacy both in our school and the community.

Our Khmer literacy program began in December 2006, starting by turning the rarely used library into a colorful space for students to read during school hours. In March 2007, we hired and trained a local woman in library management, and stocked the library with Khmer books of all levels. After meeting with government teachers and the school director we began working to incorporate library time into the school curriculum. In the 2007-08 school year each class spent two hours a week in the library, and participating in different reading comprehension and literacy activities with our librarian.

In the 2008-09 school year, PEPY has strengthened the literacy program in Chanleas Dai. In September 2008, PEPY held its inaugural Khmer Literacy Camp which began by training 32 teachers in literacy teaching methodologies, and brought students, faculty, and community members together for a week of activities focused on increasing literacy. Literacy Camp participation rates have grown to over 75 teachers and 750 students in 2011. In addition, we have hired a second librarian, enabling us to keep the library open for longer hours and allowing students to check out books while others were taking part in library classes.

There is now a fast-growing culture of reading and using books within the classroom in Chanleas Dai.  In the 2007-2008 school year, students checked out an average of 70-100 books per month from the library.  In the 2008-2009 school year, library use has increased dramatically—more than 1,800 books a month as of January 2009.

 Read the Road to Literacy Program Progress Report (PDF File)