On December 20, 2025, the Growing Special Education School (GSES) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, held an official ceremony to receive a donation of 100 million Cambodian Riel from Yeo’s, a Singaporean beverage company with offices and a strong market presence in Cambodia.
The ceremony was presided over by Dr. Kim Sethany, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, together with Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh.
The donation was made under Yeo’s “100 Riel per Can” campaign, through which the company contributed 100 Riel to the school for every can of its soft drinks purchased. The initiative aims to support children with autism who require special care and education.
Founded in 2017, the Growing Special Education School is Cambodia’s first institution specifically dedicated to educating children with autism. The school opened its doors on June 5, 2017, in a rented house adjacent to the Church of the Child Jesus in Boeung Tumpun, Phnom Penh. Today, it serves 360 students with the support of more than 100 staff members.
During the ceremony, Bishop Olivier congratulated Ms. Phork Many, the founder of GSES, for her unwavering dedication in establishing and developing the school. He expressed gratitude to parents and guardians for their continued support and shared his hope that the school would one day have its own permanent building, fulfilling the founder’s vision.
Reflecting on the spirit of Christmas, Bishop Olivier highlighted the birth of Jesus as a symbol of peace. Referring to ongoing global conflicts and border tensions, he said, “We hope that today, the sound of weapons will cease immediately. COVID-19 caused us fear, and current wars bring even greater fear. Therefore, we pray for peace to prevail right now.”
He added that regardless of religious affiliation, all people share a common responsibility and power to unite in spirit and pray for peace to come as soon as possible.
In a further humanitarian gesture, the Catholic Church in Phnom Penh announced that it had mobilized 12 million Riel (approximately US$3,000) from its affiliated schools. This amount will be presented to the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports to support displaced persons and children living in camps who are unable to attend school due to conflict.
Dr. Kim Sethany expressed her deep appreciation for Yeo’s “100 Riel per Can” campaign, noting that it provides an important platform for fostering solidarity, sharing, and love, especially among young people. She also praised the Growing Special Education School for its high-quality care and education for children with autism.
Dr. Kim emphasized that such financial support plays a crucial role in ensuring that children with intellectual disabilities have access to education and opportunities to grow into contributing members of society.
Over the past few years, GSES has successfully integrated approximately 59 students into mainstream schools, enabling them to participate more fully in society.
Plans are currently underway to construct a new 10-story educational building that will provide continued education and support for students as they reach adolescence.
“The construction of this modern building is not only to meet educational needs,” the school director said, “but also to create a space where children can grow, developing skills, life skills, and the ability to live independently.”
At present, the Catholic community and the school continue to mobilize support from benefactors to ensure the realization of this important project.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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