Prince Group and Plan International Jointly Aid Over 39,000 Students’ Safe Return to 99 Schools in Sihanoukville

Initiate Handover of 198 Pedal-Operated Handwashing Stations & 990 Infrared Thermometers at School Reopening Ceremony Presided by Minister of Environment Say Samal and Preah Sihanouk Governor Kuoch Chamroeun

Prince Holding Group (“Prince Group”), one of Cambodia’s largest and fastest-growing conglomerates, and Plan International Cambodia (“Plan International”) have officially set in motion its Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (“WASH”) intervention programme at all school levels in Preah Sihanouk province during the school reopening ceremony officiated by Minister of Environment, H.E. Say Samal, Preah Sihanouk Governor H.E. Kuoch Chamroeun and Under Secretary of State for the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (“MoEYS”), H.E. Khun Rachana. The ceremony is held yesterday at the Hun Sen Veal Renh High School in Prey Nob district, Preah Sihanouk province.

“I would like to thank Prince Group and Plan International Cambodia for this joint initiative to support safer school environments in conjunction with the school reopening. The program is set to install 198 pedal-operated handwashing stations across 99 schools in Preah Sihanouk. In addition, Prince Foundation also donated 990 infrared thermometers,” H.E. Say Samal, Minister of Environment, said during his speech at the event.

According to H.E. Khun Rachana, by the end of the project, over 39,000 students across 72 primary schools, 18 lower secondary schools and 9 high schools in Preah Sihanouk, Prey Nop, Stung Hav, Kampong Seila, and Kaoh Rung will have improved access to handwashing via the WASH programme.

Meanwhile, H.E. Kuoch Chamroeun, Preah Sihanouk Governor, delivered the Samdech Prime Minister’s message highlighting that in September 2021, the MoEYS officially allowed the reopening of schools after seeing a positive number of vaccinated children aged 5 and above. “With effective measures, we are proud to say that today marked the new chapter for Cambodian students, especially children who just enrolled to school to start their education journey under the ‘New Normal in Education Sector’.”

Kickstarting the year with its ‘Back to School’ campaign, Prince Group has been playing an active role in empowering young Cambodians to set them up for a bright future, most notably through the Chen Zhi Scholarship, which will provide full university scholarships, stipends and internships for 400 Cambodian students, among many other initiatives.

“We believe our initiative to ensure safer school reopening is a timely and valuable contribution. It has been a great pleasure to work with and learn from Plan International, which has been supporting child development in Cambodia for the past 20 years,” said Cliff Koh, Secretary-General of Prince Group. “We are also honoured to be invited by the organiser alongside H.E. Say Samal and H.E. Kuoch Chamroeun to jointly introduce the WASH programme with Plan International through our philanthropic arm, Prince Foundation.”

Yi Kimthan, Acting Country Director of Plan International Cambodia, said Plan International Cambodia would work with relevant departments of the MoEYS to ensure two persons per school – the school director and a teacher – learn how to install, operate, and maintain the handwashing stations. “The project aims to ensure that 90% of the school children will have increased awareness of good hygiene behaviours as COVID-19 prevention measures,” he added.

About Prince Holding Group:

Prince Holding Group is one of the largest conglomerates in Cambodia, with its various units focusing on three core areas: real estate development, financial services and consumer services.

Prince Holding Group’s key business units in Cambodia include Prince Real Estate Group, Prince Huan Yu Real Estate Group, Prince Bank, Cambodia Airways, Belt Road Capital Management, as well as Awesome Global Investment Group. Via its subsidiaries, Prince Holding Group has over 80 businesses in Cambodia operating in real estate development, banking, finance, aviation, tourism, logistics, technology, food and beverages, and lifestyle sectors etc.

Rising foreign direct investment, free trade agreements with leading countries and future participation in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership are expected to act as key drivers for the Cambodian economy, supported by pro-industry policy initiatives by the government.

Leveraging a network of industrial, business and financial professionals across Asia, Prince Holding Group has laid the foundation to be a vital conduit for local and international capital. The Group is firmly committed to the long-term development of Cambodia. For example, Prince Holding Group is developing Ream City, an upcoming tourism and residential project that will be one of Cambodia’s first sustainable real estate projects, aiming to secure $16 billion in total investment for the region. Located conveniently within a 10-minute drive from the Sihanoukville International Airport, the project aims to contribute to economic recovery in Sihanoukville.

About Plan International:

Plan International Cambodia is a development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We strive for a just world by working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners. With over 80 years of experience across the world, Plan International’s programs aim to support girls and boys to Learn, Lead, Decide and Thrive and began our operations in Cambodia in 2002. In October 2021, Plan International Cambodia launched its fourth 5-year Country Strategy, 2.5 Million Reasons 2021-2026 with an ambition, in the next 5 years, to reach 2.5 million girls and young women in Cambodia under four Strategic Programs: (1) Healthy Start – integrating Nutrition, Early Child Care and Development (ECCD) and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) to ensure that girls and boys have a fair start in life and can make free and informed choices about their bodies; (2) Protection Plus – addressing OCSE, LGBTIQ, CEFM, Children Left Behind including cross-border programming to keeping children, especially the girls, and young people safe; (3) Lifelong Learning – focusing on IQE, skill development and life skills including ASRHR to ensure that children, especially the girls, and young women gain the knowledge, skills and confidence they need in order to realise their rights and reach their full potential; (4) Girl’s Leadership – Empowerment and Leadership, Active citizenship and civic participation, ensuring girls and young women have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to succeed. Climate Change, resilience and environmental sustainability will become part of every project helping, protecting, and engaging children, especially the girls, and young people to reduce disaster risks, resilience and recover from disaster.

For further enquiries of Prince Group, please contact:

Ms. Seangheng Lim
Two Way Public Relations
Tel: +85569 77 39 71
Email: seangheng@twowaypr.com