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Healthy Vision, Bright Futures: MoEYS and Helen Keller International Strengthen School Nutrition and Eye Health

Leave a Comment / MoEYS / By SchoolsCambodia

PHNOM PENH, March 2, 2026 — In a high-level meeting at the Ministry’s Office, H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, met with a delegation from Helen Keller International (HKI) led by Dr. Shawn Baker, Vice-President, and Mr. Hou Kroeun, Country Director for Cambodia.

The discussion centered on the long-standing partnership between the two entities, which has been instrumental in improving the quality of human resources in Cambodia since 1992.

A Three-Pillar Vision for 2026

Helen Keller International outlined three major active projects designed to directly benefit Cambodian students and their families:

  • Enhanced Homestead Food Production (EHFP): Empowering community women to grow vitamin-rich “colorful” vegetables and raise poultry to improve household nutrition.
  • School Eye Health Program: A nationwide mission to identify children with vision impairments (near or far-sightedness) and provide them with free eyeglasses and medical treatment.
  • Digital Eye Care (M-Health): Utilizing mobile technology to train teachers in target provinces, allowing them to use dedicated apps to conduct primary eye screenings for primary school students.

Aligning Health with Education Reform

H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron expressed deep gratitude for HKI’s role as a strategic partner. The Ministry highlighted how these health initiatives perfectly align with current national education priorities:

  1. Reducing Dropout Rates: Clear vision and proper nutrition are critical factors that help students succeed in their early years and stay in school.
  2. School Feeding Policy: The government is prioritizing community-based agriculture to provide school meals, a strategy complemented by HKI’s Model Vegetable Gardens in schools.
  3. The First 1,000 Days: Focusing on infant and maternal health to ensure that by the time children enter Early Childhood Education, they are cognitively and physically ready to learn.

From our perspective at Schools Cambodia, this partnership is a testament to the “Whole Child” approach to education. When we invest in a child’s health, we are directly investing in their ability to lead Cambodia into a prosperous future.

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