The ‘Jorani Project’: Incorporating Principles of Sustainable Rural Development into the Education System of Cambodia

Abstract

An illustrated children’s book “Jorani and the Green Vegetable Bugs” has been published in Khmer language to teach children and teachers in rural areas about integrated pest management (IPM) in upland crops and the positive impacts on the environment and human health in Cambodia. The project involves introducing the Jorani Project to school directors and teachers; development of a teacher guide; implementation in schools; and celebration and public launch. Further books in the series are planned to teach the benefits of other sustainable land management practices. The project targets five primary schools in northwestern Cambodia in the district of Samlout in Battambang Province where the Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation (MJP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) is working to strengthen primary education for all school-aged boys and girls. The potential to achieve the stated agricultural extension and primary education objectives will be evaluated after completion of the pilot project. Social network analysis will be used to test the effectiveness of the proposed learning environment model. Depending on the findings, a Life Skills framework for rural primary schools will presented to the MoEYS for endorsement and roll-out to primary schools in other Districts and Provinces in Cambodia.