The Cambodian Children’s Fund yesterday held a ground-breaking ceremony for a new $4 million eco-friendly school at the former Stung Meanchey dumpsite.

The five-storey Neeson-Cripps Academy – designed on a pro-bono basis by New York’s COOKFOX Architects and funded by Velcro Companies – is set to provide a free education focusing on science, technology, engineering and mathematics for between 300 and 350 students after it’s completed in October next year.

The school will be fitted out with the latest sustainability technologies and have 20 rooms including eight classrooms, three planning rooms, two conference rooms, two multi-purpose halls, two science labs, computer labs and a multi-purpose production room. A garden and sports courts will be located on the roof.

Cambodian Children’s Fund executive director Scott Neeson yesterday said construction of the school was an exciting step in the NGO’s 11-year journey helping the poor people at the former dumpsite community

“NCA School will provide high-quality education for all the children in the area,” Neeson said.

“They will have a clear path toward a career in engineering, science, and technology. This building will serve the educational demand of the children in the whole community.”

Education, Youth, and Sports Minister Hang Chuon Naron thanked Neeson and Robert Cripps, former chairman of Velcro Companies, for their efforts helping the children of the former dumpsite receive a high-quality education.