A project brought to life! Happy Life School for children with special needs in Cambodia
A PIONEERING INCLUSIVE EDUCATION PROJECT
Happy Life School is a pilot initiative providing inclusive education for children with intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum conditions and other neurodevelopmental disorders. The classrooms are located within the grounds of Priek Narin School, which welcomes students from nursery through to secondary level.
For the past two years, Children of the Mekong has been supporting students in partnership with the charity Karuna. By strengthening day to day support and establishing inclusive classrooms within mainstream schools, Karuna has supported more than 300 children with disabilities since 2016.
Today, growing numbers of children with disabilities in the region are eager to attend school. Sadly, provision still falls short, with too few adapted classrooms and not enough properly trained teachers to meet the demand.
THE CHALLENGE OF INCLUSIVE EDUCATION IN CAMBODIA
In Cambodia, people with disabilities are often marginalised and face widespread discrimination. Many believe that disability is the result of mistakes in a past life. Children with disabilities are seen as unlucky, and including them in schools is often considered unnecessary.
The reality for children with disabilities in public schools remains difficult. Despite new government rules requiring schools to welcome these children, only 3% of those with intellectual disabilities supported by Karuna in Battambang province have been able to join inclusive classrooms. Most teachers still lack the training and awareness needed to support them effectively.
With support from Children of the Mekong, Karuna runs five inclusive classes within mainstream schools, giving children with specific needs the chance to attend school. But this is not enough. Children with more complex needs still cannot access education due to limited resources.
Karuna has also set up a home support programme. As the number of children requiring help grows, staff can no longer carry out the four monthly visits originally planned. While these visits are valuable for parents and families, they offer limited opportunities for children to develop socially or interact with other students.
Happy Life School, with its fully inclusive approach, is the first of its kind in the country. It directly addresses these gaps, providing children with a proper place to learn, socialise and grow.
HAPPY LIFE SCHOOL: A HUB FOR LEARNING AND INCLUSION
Happy Life School allows its students to be part of a mainstream school while benefiting from a safe, supportive and stimulating environment. This inclusive model provides a real opportunity for the 60 students from surrounding villages who attend the school.
The project also has a positive impact on the wider community. Parents, especially mothers, can consider returning to work thanks to the daily care provided to their children. Local residents and other students at the school also benefit from this inclusive approach, which fosters a greater understanding of disability and encourages a sense of community.
Karuna sees the school as a national model, not only supporting students with disabilities in their learning, but also serving as a community resource centre, promoting the sharing of best practices, training and awareness-raising for everyone.
WHY HAPPY LIFE SCHOOL IS A GAME-CHANGER
- Happy Life School marks a step change in Cambodia for the education of children with intellectual disabilities. While some inclusive classes exist within public schools, this is the first school with multiple classes fully dedicated to supporting students with intellectual disabilities.
- The school has been designed specifically to accommodate children with physical disabilities, with features such as access ramps, adapted toilets and classroom layouts. It is truly equipped to support all types of intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum conditions and neurodevelopmental disorders.
- Karuna sees the school as a model that goes beyond providing education to students with disabilities. It is also intended as a community resource centre, promoting the sharing of experiences and best practices. In this sense, Happy Life School acts as a pilot project for the wider Cambodian education system, bringing together numerous public and private stakeholders around inclusive education.
- A skilled and committed team: one of the school’s greatest strengths is the expertise of its teachers and staff. Karuna trains many specialised teachers, all recognised for their competence and dedication.
BUILDING HAPPY LIFE SCHOOL:
MARCH UPDATE
Happy Life School is taking shape fast! The walls are up, the roof is going on, and the student list is ready. Karuna’s teams, the district officer and school principals are holding back-to-back meetings to ensure that, once construction is complete, these children with unique learning needs can start school in a fully adapted environment. This project is now becoming a reality!
APRIL-MAY UPDATE
Major construction work is underway: the roof, wall plastering, toilets, access ramps and classroom fittings are all in progress. The windows are being installed.
MAY-JUNE UPDATE
The roof is in place! The building is really starting to take shape, and painting has begun. The team hopes to welcome students in the first week of July!
OCTOBER UPDATE
Construction at Happy Life School is now complete! The building is ready to welcome its students, marking the start of an exciting new chapter for the school and the community.
INAUGURATION OF HAPPY LIFE SCHOOL
Construction took around a year, and Happy Life School officially opened in November 2025 in the presence of the State Secretary and the Governor. The inauguration was a landmark moment, highlighting the innovative nature of the project in Cambodia. The day included traditional dances, a gala meal, and guided tours of the school.
By January 2026, the school was welcoming around thirty students, with Karuna carefully managing a gradual increase in enrolment.
“The purpose of this school is to prepare children to join public schools. While not all of them will go on to higher education, it is important, for both them and the community, that they have the chance to learn alongside other children. It is essential to go at their own pace: before moving on to larger classes, they learn to read, count, and collaborate in a group.”
FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS, THANK YOU
This project would never have been possible without the generosity of donors who saw the challenges faced by these children and their families, and chose to place their trust in Children of the Mekong and Karuna. All the funds needed for construction, as well as part of the first year’s running costs, come entirely from Children of the Mekong supporters. We are deeply grateful for your generosity and your commitment to these children.
The impact of your support is clear. Families, children, and the Karuna team are truly thankful, and your contribution is helping create something lasting, meaningful, and deeply human.
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