Education for Youth Employment (EYE) Project

1. Main Objective

The project aims to use decisive structures for the sustainable improvement of educational quality and career opportunities for students across 38 project schools and their catchment areas. It focuses on equipping youth with 21st Century Skills, improving school retention, and ensuring a successful transition into the labour force.

 

Promoting the development of a capable, well-trained labour force that can make a significant contribution in the 3 target provinces of Kampong Chhnang, Tbong Khmum and Kampong Cham (SDGs 4, 8, 10, 17).

 

2. Project Profile

• Province Covered: Kampong Chhnang, Tboung Khmum, and Kampong Cham
• Start and End Date: 36 months (1 November 2025 until 31 October 2028
• Executing Agencies: KAPE in partnership with BSDA, and WeWorld
• Direct Target Groups: 38 schools (30 primary, 8 lower secondary), approximately 10,000 students (including pre-schoolers and out-of-school youth), 622 school community members, and 15 local CSOs.

 

3. Project Update

The project is built upon the successes and evaluations of the predecessor project. It scales up proven interventions—such as the digital Early Warning System (EWS)—while introducing innovative pilots like "Social Student Companies" to foster entrepreneurial thinking. Preparatory phases included in-depth consultations with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) and local communities to ensure the design meets current labour market demands.

 

4. Key Activities

• Access & Retention: Implementing school mapping, enrolment campaigns, and a digital Early Warning System to identify and support students at risk of dropping out.
• Educational Quality: Establishing "21st Century Libraries," training teachers in ICT and student-centred project work, and supporting the creation of Student Councils.
• Employment Transition: Launching 8 student-led social enterprises, providing professional career counselling, and delivering a comprehensive TVET program for 100 out-of-school youth.
• Civil Society Strengthening: Capacity building for 15 local CSOs to advocate for educational and employment needs at the provincial level.

 

5. A Glance into the Future

By 2028, the project envisions a self-sustaining educational ecosystem where schools and communities collaborate to fund scholarships and maintain modern facilities. Graduates will not only possess technical vocational skills but also the "soft skills" (critical thinking, teamwork, and digital literacy) required to thrive in Cambodia’s rapidly evolving economy.

 

6. Donor

Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany.

 

 

"Opening Eyes, Building Futures."

The EYE project believes that every child in Cambodia deserves more than just a seat in a classroom—they deserve a bridge to a bright career. By transforming schools into hubs of innovation and empowering youth to lead their own social enterprises, we are not just teaching lessons; we are sparking the next generation of Cambodian leaders, thinkers, and entrepreneurs.