CORDE Schools

CORDE (the Cambodian Organization for Research and Development) began in 1994 with the objective of facilitating the transformation of communities through the education of individuals. This organization was created in response to the destruction of Cambodia during the previous years of political, social and economic turmoil. Because rural schools are almost non-existent, the program evolved from a women's literacy program to children's tutorial classes. Community Centers of Learning (CCLs) were established as the numbers of children's classes grew. Currently, there are nine CCLs with the goal of creating many more.

The free classes given at the CCLs are informal and are open to everyone in these rural communities. In these simple structures, sitting on plastic furniture, students write on individual chalkboards, learning English, math, and moral and character development. Upon graduation, some students go on to become teachers themselves by taking courses at UniED, a nascent university under CORDE's umbrella. Others volunteer at the CCLs, and still others go to the government high school to get their diploma.