SOSORO Museum's Economic Literacy programme benefits public schools'students

The Banking Sector Programme for Economic Literacy, administered by the National Bank of Cambodia's Preah Srey Içanavarman Museum of Economy and Money (SOSORO), has benefitted 9,000 students from public schools, extending its reach to Kampong Thom province.

The economic literacy programme was initiated in March 2024 with the participation of the Association of Banks in Cambodia (ABC), key banking partners, and local representatives of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, and authorities

The initiative has thus far provided educational opportunities to more than 9,000 students from public state schools, significantly enhancing their cultural exposure and their understanding of Cambodia's monetary and economic history.

The programme, which initially benefitted public school students in Phnom Penh and its periphery, has now been successfully extended to public schools in Kampong Thom province, thereby broadening its reach to rural areas.This achievement underscores the commitment of Cambodia's banking sector to providing high-quality, relevant educational opportunities to all students, irrespective of their financial means, social background or geographic origin. Consequently, it demonstrates the efficacy of cross-sector partnerships in promoting social inclusion.

Key banking partners that have played a crucial role in supporting this initiative include Acleda Bank, ABA Bank, Canadia Bank, Cambodian Public Bank, CIMB Bank, Wing Bank, the Institute of Banking and Finance, KB Prasac Bank and Maybank.

This sponsorship mechanism has been emulated by Credit Bureau Cambodia and MekongNet, who have demonstrated a comparable financial commitment.The collective effort of these stakeholders has not only reinforced their corporate social responsibility (CSR), but has also enabled access to essential educational resources and extracurricular activities for thousands of students in public schools.

Moving forward, the SOSORO Museum and its partners are optimistic about the future of this programme, and plan to renew and expand it in 2025, with the aim of reaching even more students nationwide.

"We are deeply satisfied with the success of this programme and the positive feedback from the students, the educators, and all the stakeholders. With the ongoing collaboration of our banking and private sector partners, we aspire to continue strengthening economic literacy and cultural exposure among Cambodian youth, thereby laying the foundation for inclusive growth," stated Mr. Blaise Kilian, Co-Director of the SOSORO Museum.

The collaboration between the Association of Banks in Cambodia (ABC) and the SOSORO Museum exemplifies our collective dedication to providing Cambodian youth with tangible economic education. The SOSORO Museum offers an opportunity for students to connect their school learning with real-world economic scenarios, thereby enhancing the relevance and significance of their education," stated Mr. Rath Sophoan, ABC Chairman.The SOSORO Museum anticipates the continuation of this productive partnership and the expansion of this educational programme to more young Cambodians in the forthcoming years.

The Preah Srey Içanavarman Museum of Economy and Money (SOSORO) was established by the National Bank of Cambodia with the aim of providing a comprehensive educational experience on Cambodia's monetary and economic history. The museum combines ancient artefacts with interactive exhibits, showcasing a state-of-the-art museography. Since its inauguration in 2019, SOSORO has welcomed a significant number of visitors, reaching a milestone of 100,000 since its opening.