New kindergarten for underserved children opens doors, granting them better access to education and the start of their journey to become the country’s success stories of tomorrow
PHNOM PENH: On November 24th, 2022 — Today, leading Asian drinks brand, Yeo’s Cambodia and local non-profit organization, Cambodian Children’s Fund (CCF) gathered to officially open Yeo’s Kindergarten. The fifty-child capacity kindergarten is the result of Yeo’s Cambodia’s corporate social responsibility initiative to ensure that less fortunate children get the education they deserve and gain the skill sets needed to end the cycle of poverty for good.
To officiate the new five-room facility was H.E Kuoch Kou Lom-A, Director of Non-Formal Education, Mr. Chhoun Bunchhoeun, Head of Admin, and Finance Unit of NC-ECCD and Deputy Director of Early Childhood Education Department, Ozgur Simsek, Managing Director Emerging Market, Yeo’s Cambodia and Scott Neeson, Founder and Executive Director of CCF, with other senior local officials as well as members of the local community in attendance, to witness its opening.
The USD 50,000 donated by Yeo’s Cambodia has enabled the second kindergarten situated south of the former Steung Meanchey landfill to be built, complete with four classrooms, four offices, motorcycle parking, and a playroom.
Yeo’s Kindergarten will fill a void in this part of Steung Meanchey, an area lacking provisions for young children’s safety or education. Due to time and money needed, families here were unable to send their children to CCF’s original Kindergarten which meant children of the area’s southside were left alone, fending for themselves on the streets as their parents had to work. Yeo’s kindergarten serves not only as an educational institution but also as a safe place for children during the daytime.
The initiative, “A Million Cans to Build a Dream”, was the work of Yeo’s team who see themselves as much more than a drinks brand, but a crucial part of society. “The private sector has a huge role to play in society. At Yeo’s, we believe that together we can build the world we want to live in. This is the reason we partnered with the fantastic Cambodian Children’s Fund, which continues to make a difference in the community. A foundation that started as Scott Neeson’s dream is now a reality that serves the underprivileged and edges closer to breaking the poverty cycle, something we are hugely passionate about.” Ozgur Simsek, Managing Director Emerging Markets, Yeo’s Cambodia said.
Yeo’s Kindergarten will play a big role in supporting CCF’s strategy in delivering education, leadership training, and community support programs. Yeo’s Cambodia and the Cambodian Children’s Fund initiative highlights how private-public sector cooperation is needed to empower underprivileged communities and provide them with the opportunities they deserve. “We are delighted to have this new education facility for the youngest children in the Steung Meanchey area. This provides not only a solid foundation for future study but a place for the children to receive adequate nutrition and a safe environment while the parents are at work. I am very grateful to Yeo’s for their contribution”, said Scott Neeson, Founder & Chief Executive of CCF.
CCF currently supports the education of 1,700 plus children in the bid to transform thousands of lives at the heart of Cambodia’s most underserved communities.
The campaign is a momentous step in the right direction toward ending the poverty cycle in Cambodia and a testament to the positive influence the private sector has. “A Million Cans to Build a Dream” has now built a real addition to the community that will ensure inclusive and fair quality education is available to all, whilst promoting lifelong learning opportunities – a mission is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (UN).
Yeo’s is a corporate history that extends more than 120 years, Yeo’s (Also known as YHS or Yeo Hiap Seng) is an internationally renowned and trusted brand in the beverage and food industry. As the leading Asian Drink brand in Cambodia, Yeo’s is committed to fulfilling the needs of today’s consumers which-qualitylity, healthy and innovative products.
A leading name in the Asian drinks market, Yeo’s has broadened its customer reach and entrenched its industry presence through a combination of geographical expansion and product diversification. On the beverage business front, Yeo’s competitive advantage lies in the Group’s ability to stay true and current to consumers’ changing palettes and individual preferences based on lifestyle and cultural differences.
Yeo’s key milestones in Cambodia. In 2020, Yeo’s started our domestic manufacturing in Cambodia. In 2021, Yeo’s have ved gold standard for tax. Yeo’s is the Number 1 Choice for Asian Drinks in Cambodia based on Kantar Research in earlier March 2021. In 2021, Yeo’s engaged with CCF as part of our community support and we have included our consume in this effort as part of our campaign starting in 2022, Yeo’s going to start exporting from Cambodia to other Asian countries.
Yeo’s honored to have won the following awards in the recent two years in the 2017 Singapore Prestige Brand Award – Most Popular Regional Brand Overall Winner. 2017 Singapore Prestige Brand Award – Regional Brands and 2018 The Brand Laureate World Halal Brand Award 2018 – Best Brands in FMCG – Food & Beverage.
For more information, please visit Yeo’s Cambodia website: https://www.yeos.com.sg/ or Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/yeos.kh
CCF’s Kindergarten is a full-time program for young children, aged 3 to 6 years old, usually transitioning from CCF’s nursery program. The purpose of the program is to establish a strong foundation for learning in the early years and to do so in a safe and caring, play-based environment that promotes the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of all children.
The program prepares students for a successful transition to the public school system, plus into CCF’s comprehensive education program. Students receive 3 meals a day plus healthy snacks, and medical and healthcare support. CCF keeps children away from being unsafe with their parents while they are scavenging or in hazardous construction sites. In 2020, there were 90 students in the program.
Photo by: Tuy Engly (Sakura)
