The renovation project included the provision of new school supplies, lab equipment, furniture, restrooms, a reading area and a new school gate. - Supplied
PHNOM PENH: The Indonesia-Cambodia Friendship Primary and Secondary School in Prey Veng province has been revitalised in a heartfelt display of international cooperation and community spirit.
The event took place on July 6, coinciding with the 65th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations between the two nations and the 79th anniversary of Indonesia's independence.
Key dignitaries graced the re-inauguration ceremony, including Santo Darmosumarto, Indonesian Ambassador to Cambodia, Suon Somalin, governor of Prey Veng, and Ton Sa Im, undersecretary of state of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport.
Donors from the Indonesian community and representatives of Indonesian businesses operating in Cambodia were also in attendance.
"This joint effort by the Indonesian community is a testament to the enduring friendship between Indonesia and Cambodia," Darmosumarto stated.
The school, originally built in 1995 with funds from the Indonesian government, serves over 790 students from kindergarten to secondary levels.
The renovation project, with a budget over $34,000, included the provision of new school supplies, lab equipment, furniture, restrooms, a reading area and a new school gate.
The extensive upgrade was made possible through generous donations from staff at the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh and the Indonesian community in Cambodia, numbering nearly 100,000 people.
Arik Mintorogo, chairman of the Indonesian Community Association in Cambodia, expressed pride in participating in the meaningful project.
"Revitalising the school not only provides better educational facilities for the students but also strengthens the bonds between the Indonesian community and our local, kind hosts," he remarked.
According to Darmosumarto, both the embassy and the association remain committed to supporting the educational needs of students at the school.
"These students are the future of Indonesia-Cambodia cooperation," he affirmed.
The revival of the school is a fitting tribute to the longstanding diplomatic ties between the two countries, which were formally established on Feb 13, 1959, with the signing of the Treaty of Friendship.
As Indonesia prepares to celebrate its 79th Independence Day on Aug 17, the event underscored the enduring bond and mutual support that characterises the relationship between the two countries. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
