It started with an intention to give back...

In March 2001 George and Kari Grady Grossman traveled to Cambodia to adopt their son and felt a deep desire to give back to the children left behind.  They raised the $15,700 to build a school in their sons honor and donated it to American Assistance for Cambodia. Construction of the Grady Grossman School began.

But the Building was just the beginning...

Sustaining this school would become the central mission of Kari and George's lives and inspire them to create a leadership model for other poor, rural and marginalized Cambodian communities to sustain their schools in ways that serve their children and support community needs.

Buildings do not educate children... People do!

A Time Line of Major Accomplishments

2001

March- In the village of Chrauk Tiek in Kampong Speu Province, on the southern edge of the Aural Wildlife Sanctuary in the Cardamom Mountains, 50 students studied on the dirt floor of a dilapidated, thatched-roof hut. 

September -- A five-room traditional Cambodian School house opens for 180 students and five teachers.

2002

Uniforms and school supplies for 180 students and 5 teachers are delivered.

2003

A 4-room teacher residence is built

$25.00 teacher attendance bonus starts, to supplement the teacher's meager government salaries of $13.00 per month. 

Teacher attendance and student retention triples to 385 students

2004

Solar-powered computer is installed

English language/computer class begins. 

 

2005

IRS 501(c)(3) designation received. 

Bilingual Library is built to house Khmer and English books, globes, maps, atlases, puzzles and educational toys.

2007

Students letters are featured on Voice of America Khmer Service.  The letters plead for people to stop destroying the forest. 

Music program under the tutelage of 83-year old Em Luot resurrects Khmer classical music using traditional instruments. 

Kari Grady Grossman's book Bones that Float, A Story of Adopting Cambodia was published by Wild Heaven Press.

2008

Local villagers trained to produce biomass briquettes as an alternative cooking fuel to reduce impact on the environment.    

Friends of the Grady Grossman School changes name to  Sustainable Schools International to more accurately reflect the vision and mission. 

Local Leadership Development and Sustainablility Plan begins.

2009

The School Supporting Committee forms with 12 members, men and women to begin the 5 year Edcuation, Leadership, Sustainability program.    

Paul Chuk joins SSI as our first community based program director.

6 Students receive scholraships to attend secondary school, high school and college in Phnom Penh. Among them are the first Souy male and female to go to high school.

2010

Chrauk Tiek Primary School is designated #1 by the district chief of education and a model for all others to follow. 

Community starts a power tiller rental business to support the school.

SSI expands the Education,Leadership, Sustainability program to Bonteay P'nak secondary school and Sre Chrap primary school.

 

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