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Dropping out of school and facing a future with limited opportunities had been a norm for a rural community in Samaki Meanchey district, Kampong Chhnang province, but something has since changed. They now have a chance to learn, gain skills and upgrade their lives.
One of the villagers who experienced this was 38-year-old Som Prak, who studied up to Grade 3 but in 2020 ventured into the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) program offered by Smiling Gecko Cambodia (SGC), an opportunity he never imagined he would get.
“I began from scratch,” he said. “Smiling Gecko has helped me and my family earn more.”
Founded in 2014 in rural Kampong Chhnang, SGC helps vulnerable families build sustainable livelihoods through skills development and vocational training. The organization provides hands-on training through its eco-resort and agricultural campus as well as general education to selected trainees from disadvantaged families in the community.
Prak spent two years studying aquaculture alongside general education. Before joining the program, he said he had no experience in aquaculture and struggled with basic literacy. Today, he can read and write and has gained practical skills that he can use to earn a living.
After completing the two-year program, he continued with upskilling and was selected to work at Farm House, which is part of SGC’s eco-resort. The work allows community members to apply their vocational skills directly in a real working environment while gaining further practical experience.
“I am very happy. I have gained the skills and knowledge to move forward by studying here. It has helped increase my family’s livelihood,” he said.
For Prak, the training also gave him the confidence to earn a living after leaving SGC. Armed with skills and practical training, he believes he can earn a higher income in the future.
As of 2025, SGC had 155 trainees enrolled in its upskilling program across eight skills.
One trainee, Yan Sreymey, 21, completed two years of training in culinary arts before joining the upskilling program. She now works at Farm House.
Sreymey dropped out of school after Grade 9 due to financial difficulties. In 2021, she was selected to join SGC through its work-based learning program. “It [this program] is very beneficial because this is a remote area, but students and local residents can access vocational training here,” she said.
The program gave her an opportunity to develop practical skills without having to migrate for work. She learned cooking skills and hopes to eventually open her own food business.
Becoming a TVET school
In the quiet countryside of Kampong Chhnang, SGC is entering a new chapter after over a decade of helping vulnerable families build their livelihood through skills development.
What began as an effort to support disadvantaged families, it has evolved into a broader rural development program combining sustainable agriculture, hospitality, craftsmanship, education and vocational training. Its hands-on approach allows trainees to learn skills and immediately apply them in real working environments.
SGC would turn into an official TVET school which could expand access to formal vocational education for people in the surrounding rural communities.
For 27-year-old Phoeun Pheou, the prospect of SGC becoming a TVET school is especially meaningful.
Prior to joining SGC, he worked as a food service worker after completing Grade 12 in Phnom Penh. He joined the organization’s carpentry training program, gaining skills that have changed his career prospects.
He said being able to study and work at the same time has provided many benefits because it allows him to understand and apply his skills. Pheou said he previously struggled to find good employment because he lacked professional skills and certification.
With practical carpentry skills and a certificate from SGC, he said there are more job opportunities, although he also plans to establish a small business in his village one day.
“SGC is not just a place to learn theory, but a place to train through work-based learning,” said Ngon Sokleap, CEO of Smiling Gecko Cambodia, adding that its hands-on model ensures high quality graduates.
Sokleap said SGC established its work-based learning program in 2016 after seeing many young people, particularly those aged 16 to their early 20s, drop out of school without opportunities to continue their education or find decent work in rural areas.
The program, which is also a model within TVET, was designed to give these young people a second chance through a combination of work and learning. SGC is in the process of transitioning the program into a TVET school.
“Whether participants are literate or illiterate, we include them in the program,” he said. “We teach them Khmer and English, and they progress. Some also pick up computer skills, allowing them to improve their knowledge and abilities.”
“The TVET school is slated to open in September, targeting vulnerable people aged 16 to 35,” Sokleap added.
The initial program would offer a one-year course combining classroom theory with practical training, while allowing students from outside the community to gain hands-on experience at Farm House.
“We are strong in terms of implementation because we have our own resort, food production and customers, and our teachers are good,” he said, noting that these attributes equip students with real skills to prepare them for future employment rather than learning from theory.
He said TVET has become a priority for the government, private sector and development partners as Cambodia seeks to strengthen its workforce.
Bridging the gap
However, he stressed that expanding enrollment should not come at the expense of quality. “TVET plays an important role,” he said. “It is a pathway for those who drop out of school, lose their jobs or need a second chance. But one thing we need to make sure of is quality.”
Sokleap said one-year training programs may not be enough for some occupations and should be followed by longer courses and opportunities for upskilling.
In June, Prime Minister Hun Manet urged the Labor and Vocational Training Ministry to prioritize the quality of technical and vocational education rather than focus on enrollment numbers. He also highlighted gaps between training programs and labor-market needs.
A major challenge is ensuring that vocational training matches what employers actually need, Sokleap remarked.
“Do we have clear data? What does the industry need?” he said. “Sometimes we only have numbers. We don’t know what they mean. On the supply side, how many students have graduated, and how many professionals are there?”
A mismatch between training and demand can leave some industries short of workers while producing more graduates than other sectors can absorb, he said. Better labor-market data and assessments are therefore needed before deciding how many students should be trained in particular fields.
According to the ministry, about 270,000 young people received technical and vocational training between 2024 and May 2026, with more than 85% of graduates either securing employment or starting their own businesses.
Ministry spokesperson Sun Mesa told CamboJA News that they welcome private companies, national organizations and international organizations that are committed to developing Cambodia’s human resources and strengthening the technical workforce.
“We regularly update our labor-market data on a weekly basis through the National Employment Agency, including information on occupations and workforce demand,” he said, acknowledging the challenges. However, he said they have introduced measures to strengthen employment and vocational training.
He also noted a shift in public attitude toward vocational education. While TVET was once viewed as a second choice, more young Cambodians now see vocational skills as a practical route to employment and stable incomes.
The ministry also considers the private sector and development partners essential to improving the quality of TVET. Their involvement includes helping develop curricula, providing internships and sharing technical expertise so that training better reflects the needs of employers and investors.
Ultimately, Mesa said, the ministry aims to build a TVET system that responds to labor-market demand while helping Cambodians secure decent jobs and higher incomes.
