Contribution to the socio-educational development of communities living in the floating villages of the Sen River in Cambodia through the services of a library-boat

Drawing on its expertise developed over more than 30 years in Cambodia with the most vulnerable populations, based on a biblio-bateau experiment conducted since 2019 in a commune of lakeside villages on Lake Tonlé Sap, and to meet the needs of populations living in floating villages on the Sèn River, Sipar has been launching a new three-year initiative since January 2024, the aim of which is the socio-educational development of fishing families in the commune of Phat Sanday in Kompong Thom province. A library-boat, specially built and equipped for the project, managed by a local management committee and staffed by two locally recruited librarian-educators, delivers weekly socio-educational services tailored to the specific needs of children, young people and adults. Aiming to bring about changes in behavior, improve education and have a lasting impact on beneficiaries, the initiative focuses on three main areas: supporting the development of reading, education and schooling for children; supporting learning, digital access and career guidance for teenagers; and supporting family development.