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The House of Joy and Happiness: The Austin Waldorf School’s Sister School in Cambodia

By Steven Roy

Did you know that the AWS has a sister school in Cambodia? It came about in 2007 when the 8th grade class (Class of 2011) raised $15,000 in two weeks to establish a middle school for children in rural Cambodia, in honor of their class teacher, Steven Roy. The actual building of the school was accomplished in cooperation with World Assistance for Cambodia, an organization that has helped build nearly 600 similar schools in Cambodia.

The school opened in 2009, and AWS thought it fitting to officially proclaim “The House of Joy and Happiness”, as it is named, a sister school. Since then, AWS parents have contributed to the $3,500 needed to pay for the annual salary of a teacher who teaches English and basic computer skills.

Girls’ education in rural Cambodia is severely compromised, and one of the main reasons to build this school was to provide a safe environment for local girls who would not otherwise have an education beyond 6th grade. Currently, around 120 students attend the school, and over 50% are girls; the classes run from 7th to 9th grade. There is a high school about an hour’s walk away for the students to continue their education.

If you would like to contribute to the ongoing English and computer education at the school, please make your check to: The World Assistance for Cambodia and leave it at the front desk in the Main Office, or contact Steven Roy at: sroy@austinwaldorf.org