Harmony and generosity: Piacer Canto Chorus supports Bayon School

by | 11 Sep 2024 | Primary school, Social and families support

Last March, the Piacer’ Canto Chorus honored us with three exceptional concerts. These performances, organized in support of causes close to their hearts, raised funds for three associations, including L’École du Bayon.

Thanks to this fund-raising effort, our school was able to carry out several crucial projects that will directly benefit our students. Firstly, we were able to renew the computers in our elementary school and our bakery and pastry school. This new computer equipment provides our students with modern, high-performance tools, essential for their learning and preparation for a promising future.

In addition, part of this generous donation was used to replace the batteries in the solar panels at the elementary school. This project, vital to ensuring continued access to electricity, is part of our commitment to sustainable development and responsible management of our resources.

We would like to sincerely thank the Piacer’ Canto Chorus, as well as all participants and donors, for their unfailing support. Thanks to you, Bayon School can continue to offer quality education and a brighter future to our students.

Students from Institution Sainte Marie de RIOM support displaced children at RUN TAEK

by | 11 Sep 2024 | Health, hygiene and food, Social and families support

A Lasting Partnership: The “Rice Bowl” from the Institution Sainte Marie de Riom to benefit the Bayon School.

For over 10 years, the students of the college and high school of the Institution Sainte Marie de Riom, under the impeccable organization of Thérèse, have taken part in the traditional “Bol de Riz” event in support of L’École du Bayon. This annual event has become a symbol of solidarity and commitment to education in Cambodia.

This year, the event took place in the school grounds under sunny sky, accompanied by Khmer music. Rice was distributed to each participant, who could then choose to enjoy their meal wherever they wished. A classroom welcomed the curious participants, where, as every year, I projected and commented on a slide show about Cambodia. It was an opportunity for the students and supervisors to discover the richness of this country: its geography, culture, religion, cuisine and, of course, the work we do at L’École du Bayon. Questions came thick and fast, testifying to the youngsters’ interest and curiosity in the project.

A particularly moving moment marked this edition: Lucas, representing all the students, teachers and management team, as well as his class of 6ème E, who were particularly involved this year, presented me with a cheque for €1,960. This generous donation will be used to fund tutoring for students transported to Run Taek, who find themselves in overcrowded classes of 70 pupils.

We would like to warmly thank all participants for this gesture of solidarity, which contributes directly to improving the education of young Cambodians. Thanks to you, we can continue to offer a better future to our students.

Jacqueline Chouette – Honorary president 

8 Months: A year in review for our apprentice pastry chef and agroecology experts

by | 11 Sep 2024 | Agroecology training, Bakery and pastry school, Coffee Shop, Sustainable agriculture and environment, Vocational training

As the school year draws to a close, it’s time to take a look of the past 8 months for our apprentice pastry chefs and agro-ecology experts. This period has been marked by enriching experiences, challenges met with flying colors, and impressive progress in their respective fields.

The apprentice Pastry Chefs

Our pastry students have had a year full of highlights and learning.

Their journey began with in-depth theoretical training in baking and pastry-making for the first four months. This theoretical training was then complemented by four months of intensive hands-on experience in our kitchens, where they learned how to make classic pastries. In this way, they were able to consolidate their knowledge and perfect their skills. In addition, they were trained to serve in our coffee shop, adding a valuable practical dimension to their learning.

At the same time, numerous events enriched their year, boosting their self-confidence and broadening their horizons. Key moments included their participation in the “Francophonie Market”, open days at partner universities, and a workshop they ran for a class at our elementary school.

Beyond the skills specific to their degree, we firmly believe that art and culture play an essential role in their personal development. As a result, our students have benefited from numerous extracurricular activities, such as visits to museums and participation in one of the famous Phare circus shows in Siem Reap.

As their internship period approaches, they have had the opportunity to project themselves into their future careers thanks to hotel visits and the alumni ceremony last June, where they drew inspiration from the careers of their predecessors.

This year concludes with theory exams in their baking and pastry-making subjects, as well as soft skills, computer and english assessments, delivered by the Teacher Development Support Organization (TDSO). More recently, they received their English certification in a beautiful ceremony.

The final exams will take place when they return from their internships in December. We are proud to have witnessed their evolution over the weeks, a success made possible by the dedication and commitment of their teaching staff.

 

Expert apprentices in agro-ecology and food processing

Our agro-ecology expert apprentices enjoyed a year rich in discovery and practical learning, marked by concrete projects and innovative initiatives.

Their training began with an in-depth immersion in the fundamental principles of agroecology. This initial phase was followed by a series of practical projects that enabled students to apply their knowledge in the field.

Among this year’s outstanding projects, we saw:

Garden: Our apprentices actively participated in the creation and maintenance of the agro school garden, an essential space for experimenting with sustainable agricultural practices and reinforcing their understanding of local ecosystems.

Crickets : They explored locust farming, an innovative method for promoting alternative proteins and sustainable agriculture.

Mushrooms : Mushroom cultivation was a key project, offering an opportunity to learn cultivation techniques in a controlled environment and understand their role in the food chain.

Surface pond creation : Pond fish farming was another important facet of their training, illustrating the importance of integrated aquaculture systems in agroecology.

Tree planting: reinforced their commitment to reforestation and the fight against deforestation.

Like the bakery and patisserie promotion, the students were able to discover an artistic and cultural horizon in the town of Siem Reap.

This year has been a real learning adventure for our students, marked by their commitment and passion for sustainable agriculture. We look forward to following their journey and seeing how they continue to contribute to a greener, more sustainable future.

We wish them every success during their internship, which will end in December, when we will see them again for their final practical exams!

 

Discover how the Bayon School integrates art and culture into the heart of its educational program !

Discover how the Bayon School integrates art and culture into the heart of its educational program !

by | 11 Apr 2024 | Agroecology training, Bakery and pastry school, General education, Primary school

For 7 years now, our school has had the pleasure of welcoming Gilles, a talented artist specializing in creation using recycled materials. Every year, he travels to Siem Reap to propose unique artistic projects to our Pastry School and Primary School students. For three weeks, in collaboration with our teachers, he imagines and realizes artistic installations designed to improve the daily life of our school community.

Two years ago, Nathalie, an artist specializing in driftwood creations, joined this initiative to enrich our joint project.

The previous year, their creativity transformed our café’s environment, adorning its walls with magnificent paintings.

This year, their vision focused on creating a warm reading space for our pastry students, both in their classrooms and in their dormitories. Their project includes building a library and furnishing the space with mats and cushions, inviting relaxation and literary discovery.

As for the Primary School, our director Vanta has come up with an equally inspiring project: a giant KHMER alphabet created from unused tires, offering a playful and innovative approach to language learning.

At the Bayon School, we firmly believe that art and culture are essential elements of education, and we’re proud to see our students flourish through these creative initiatives.

Offering these artistic activities to our students every year allows them to open up to new horizons, to discover their talents and to develop their skills.

We look forward to seeing them again next year !

Welcome to the Bayon family !

by | 10 Apr 2024 | Agroecology training, Bakery and pastry school, Coffee Shop, General education, Primary school

Marie returns : Agroecology expertise for new horizons

Back in France to complete her studies after a year spent at the Agroecology School, Marie returns to us with her agronomy engineering diploma in hand, specializing in agroecology. Drawing on this experience, she brings a holistic approach to agricultural development, enriched by a network of agroecology players in Southeast Asia that she has built up through her travels and encounters.

A true enthusiast, Marie loves to pass on her knowledge of agroecology. She does this enthusiastically through participatory workshops, study tours, experiments and demonstrations, as well as various communication media. We look forward to sharing with you the many projects she is planning for the coming months!

Welcome back Marie ! 

 

After working for an organic certification body in Latin America, Juliette is continuing her exploration of the world of agroecology by joining us in Cambodia.

With a degree in agri-food engineering, Juliette began her career working for major agri-food groups. In search of a mission combining agroecology and social commitment, she wanted to participate in a sustainable, healthy and safe food system for consumers. That’s how she came to join the Bayon School family.

Agroecology quickly became an obvious choice for her. Juliette works with us to develop local, healthy and safe food products for the elementary school canteen and our solidarity coffee shop.

From producer to consumer, she aims to control food safety.

A warm welcome to Juliette!