Since 2019, ElectricAid has been supporting SeeBeyondBorders to build an Irish footprint in support of education for all Cambodian children.
ElectricAid was among SeeBeyondBorders’ (SBB) first supporters on the island of Ireland. Through this partnership, ElectricAid have been instrumental in enabling positive change in Cambodia for thousands of Cambodian children and building connections between Cambodia and Ireland.
Cambodia’s Learning Crisis
Cambodia is experiencing what the World Bank calls ‘a learning crisis’. Out of all 81 countries that participated in International Student Assessment in 2022, Cambodia came 81st. Education quality is among the lowest the world. The key to resolving this learning crisis is providing quality teacher training and mentoring. That is how change can be made that is both sustainable and at scale.
To help counter this education crisis, ElectricAid and SBB partnered to deliver the Educational Technology (EdTech) project in primary schools, first in Battambang, and then in Siem Reap, both provinces in North-Western Cambodia.
ElectricAid and EdTech’s Impact
The EdTech project creates tailored digital resources and provides essential physical hardware for teachers to build their teaching capacity, improve class planning and to use EdTech in delivery of classes to students. EdTech is currently being utilised by over 80 teachers and reaches over 3,000 students.
In 2025, 87.5% teachers access and use online resources weekly, and 93% students report that EdTech is making learning more engaging and enjoyable. Last year, children in SBB participating schools achieved 65% minimum literacy standards, compared to 36% in nearby non-SBB participating schools. Children and teachers do better with SBB. Children and teachers do better with ElectricAid.
Colm Byrne is the CEO of SeeBeyondBorders Ireland and is based in Cambodia. Reflecting on the partnership, he said:
“ElectricAid’s support, both the timing and the amount, has been significant for SeeBeyondBorders. They were key to getting our EdTech project off the ground and today we see EdTech adopted across all of our in-class programmes. A huge thank you to ElectricAid members for enabling this change. As an Irishman, I feel proud to get such support and solidarity from members throughout Ireland.”
“In the time since ElectricAid began to support Cambodian education, many children in schools we work with have gone through the entire primary school cycle, benefiting directly from the support of ElectricAid and its contributors. This will have a profound impact on these children, their families and communities.”
I am really excited to see where partnerships like ours will go as we expand our reach to new regions in Cambodia this year.”
Expanding Reach to New Regions
SBB’s expansion into new regions isn’t only aimed at bringing the transformative work to more communities, but also at making a strong case for systemic change through adoption of SBB programming, including use of EdTech, into the public school system.
With our work recognised by international bodies such as UNESCO and a positive working relationship with the Cambodian Ministry of Education, SeeBeyondBorders, with the help of partners like ElectricAid, believes it is on the right path to transform education for all Cambodian children.
