Press Release – Opening of Two New Montessori Preschool Classes

Press Release – Opening of Two New Montessori Preschool Classes

On January 5, 2026, Bayon School officially inaugurated two new bilingual Khmer/English Montessori preschool classes in Siem Reap, welcoming 60 children aged 3 to 6.
This opening represents a key milestone in the institution’s development and reflects its long-term commitment to high-quality early childhood education.

The educational program is based on a rigorous integration of Montessori principles and the Khmer national curriculum, within a structured and inclusive learning environment.

Fully renovated classrooms, daily access to balanced meals, and an on-site infirmary contribute to the children’s health, well-being, and overall development.
The active involvement of families in school life strengthens educational continuity and supports the autonomy, confidence, and cultural identity of the students.

Click here to support next generation

New intake at the Pastry and Bakery School

New intake at the Pastry and Bakery School

Pastry School students in the kitchen

New intake at the Pastry and Bakery School

We were delighted to welcome 24 new students to the Bayon Pastry and Bakery School.
All come from disadvantaged backgrounds and are enthusiastically embarking on learning French pastry and baking techniques.

This marks our second intake of the year — and for the first time, we are welcoming two cohorts within the same year. With this new group, our school grows from 18 to 42 students, a milestone that reflects both the growing demand for our program and our commitment to offering more young women access to professional training.

build futur pastry chefs

A new class full of ambition

Over the course of several weeks, they will undergo comprehensive, professional training combining fundamental techniques, discovery of raw ingredients, and learning the precise skills that have made French pastry-making so renowned.

This gradual immersion will enable them to develop real skills, as well as rigor, autonomy, and team spirit.

Very soon, they will begin making their first creations—pastries, cakes, cookies—some of which will be sold at the Bayon Coffee Shop. It’s a great way to get a taste of the reality of the profession.

Later in the year, they will also undertake an internship, which is essential for gaining professional experience and preparing them for a long-term career.

Their arrival marks the beginning of a challenging but promising journey, guided by the desire to build a solid, fulfilling future full of opportunities.

A first step towards a promising career

A warm welcome

Empowering Through Education

The Beginning of an Enriching Journey

Every day at school is an opportunity to develop valuable skills, build self-confidence and discover the joy of creating treats that bring smiles to others’ faces.

This is the beginning of an enriching journey, where our students will be able to flourish, lay the foundations for their professional future and become inspiring role models for other young women. We wish them every success and look forward to following their progress!

Empowering Through Experiences

French Market in Siem Reap

From their very first days, they had the opportunity to get involved in the French Market of Siem Reap, organised in collaboration with the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), the Chamber of Commerce and the Paul Dubrule School.

Our students helped prepare and sell pastries and bread rolls, offering a concrete glimpse into the profession and life as a professional pastry chef.

It was also a special opportunity to interact with visitors, discover how a stall operates, and learn to work as a team in a real-life context.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our donors, whose loyal support makes every stage of our educational projects possible. Thanks to you, our students can access quality training, develop new skills and build a solid professional future. Your generosity transforms lives — day after day — and allows us to continue offering concrete opportunities to the most vulnerable young women.

Join Us in Supporting Next Generations

Two new bilingual Montessori Preschool

Two new bilingual Montessori Preschool

Pastry School students in the kitchen

A new project for Bayon

We have undertaken to set up two Montessori classrooms, environments designed so that each child can explore, create, and learn at their own pace. This approach is intended to be rolled out throughout the preschool so that 60 children can benefit from this education free of charge.

build new classes

In Cambodia schooling officially begins at age 6 and preschool education is often limited by a lack of resources, training, and suitable facilities.

The first room is already build, every shelf, every piece of equipment has been carefully designed to encourage curiosity, independence, and self-confidence.

Now, to bring our second Montessori classroom to life, we rely on your generous support — every contribution helps open the door to more children’s learning and opportunity.

Capture the Essence of Our Classes

Empowering Through Education

Our Goals

Building solid foundations: providing children with the necessary foundations for successful schooling, harmonious development and lasting fulfilment.

Stimulating curiosity and confidence: thanks to the Montessori method – free choice, manipulation, exploration – each child develops their creativity, critical thinking, natural curiosity and self-esteem.

Learning English from an early age: Khmer/English bilingualism becomes a real asset for future integration into the local economy, particularly in the tourism sector.

Inspiring and replicating: a high-quality educational model, designed to be reproducible and adaptable to other schools in Cambodia.

A big thank to our donors and their invaluable support. Now more than ever, we need your help to make this new project a success. .

Click here to support next generation

10 years: A decade of success for the Bayon Pastry and Bakery School

10 years: A decade of success for the Bayon Pastry and Bakery School

On December 14, 2024, the Bayon Pastry and Bakery School celebrated 10 years of commitment to young Cambodian women. `The event brought together students, teams, partners and personalities from the world of gastronomy for an exceptional evening in Siem Reap.

Since its creation in 2014, the School has offered free, comprehensive training in pastry-making and baking. In 10 years, more than 170 young women have been trained and graduated, gaining access to careers in prestigious establishments.

The anniversary was marked by :

  • A buffet created by Fabrice Prochasson, Director of Creation and Innovation at Coup de Pâtes, Meilleur Ouvrier de France, Official Sponsor of the École de boulangerie et de patisserie, and Emma Prochasson, Head Pastry Chef.
  • An exhibition retracing the inspiring careers of students from previous classes. Culinary demonstrations and a competition highlighting the students’ talent.
  • The launch of a new pastry book, combining French and Cambodian flavors.
  • The launch of a unique culinary work

 The evening was also marked by the launch of the new edition of the celebrating creations blending French and Cambodian influences. Signed by Fabrice Prochasson and Sokhoeurn Morn, Director of the School, the book features emblematic recipes such as La Bûche Citron-Pistache, Les Macarons au Poivre de Kampot and Le Saint Honoré, all of which were available for tasting during the evening.

A huge thank you to our partners for their continued support and trust, which helps transform lives and create a better future.

8 Months: A year in review for our apprentice pastry chef and agroecology experts

As the school year draws to a close, it’s time to take a look of the past 8 months for our apprentice pastry chefs and agro-ecology experts. This period has been marked by enriching experiences, challenges met with flying colors, and impressive progress in their respective fields.

The apprentice Pastry Chefs

Our pastry students have had a year full of highlights and learning.

Their journey began with in-depth theoretical training in baking and pastry-making for the first four months. This theoretical training was then complemented by four months of intensive hands-on experience in our kitchens, where they learned how to make classic pastries. In this way, they were able to consolidate their knowledge and perfect their skills. In addition, they were trained to serve in our coffee shop, adding a valuable practical dimension to their learning.

At the same time, numerous events enriched their year, boosting their self-confidence and broadening their horizons. Key moments included their participation in the “Francophonie Market”, open days at partner universities, and a workshop they ran for a class at our elementary school.

Beyond the skills specific to their degree, we firmly believe that art and culture play an essential role in their personal development. As a result, our students have benefited from numerous extracurricular activities, such as visits to museums and participation in one of the famous Phare circus shows in Siem Reap.

As their internship period approaches, they have had the opportunity to project themselves into their future careers thanks to hotel visits and the alumni ceremony last June, where they drew inspiration from the careers of their predecessors.

This year concludes with theory exams in their baking and pastry-making subjects, as well as soft skills, computer and english assessments, delivered by the Teacher Development Support Organization (TDSO). More recently, they received their English certification in a beautiful ceremony.

The final exams will take place when they return from their internships in December. We are proud to have witnessed their evolution over the weeks, a success made possible by the dedication and commitment of their teaching staff.

 

Expert apprentices in agro-ecology and food processing

Our agro-ecology expert apprentices enjoyed a year rich in discovery and practical learning, marked by concrete projects and innovative initiatives.

Their training began with an in-depth immersion in the fundamental principles of agroecology. This initial phase was followed by a series of practical projects that enabled students to apply their knowledge in the field.

Among this year’s outstanding projects, we saw:

Garden: Our apprentices actively participated in the creation and maintenance of the agro school garden, an essential space for experimenting with sustainable agricultural practices and reinforcing their understanding of local ecosystems.

Crickets : They explored locust farming, an innovative method for promoting alternative proteins and sustainable agriculture.

Mushrooms : Mushroom cultivation was a key project, offering an opportunity to learn cultivation techniques in a controlled environment and understand their role in the food chain.

Surface pond creation : Pond fish farming was another important facet of their training, illustrating the importance of integrated aquaculture systems in agroecology.

Tree planting: reinforced their commitment to reforestation and the fight against deforestation.

Like the bakery and patisserie promotion, the students were able to discover an artistic and cultural horizon in the town of Siem Reap.

This year has been a real learning adventure for our students, marked by their commitment and passion for sustainable agriculture. We look forward to following their journey and seeing how they continue to contribute to a greener, more sustainable future.

We wish them every success during their internship, which will end in December, when we will see them again for their final practical exams!

 

Discover how the Bayon School integrates art and culture into the heart of its educational program !

Discover how the Bayon School integrates art and culture into the heart of its educational program !

For 7 years now, our school has had the pleasure of welcoming Gilles, a talented artist specializing in creation using recycled materials. Every year, he travels to Siem Reap to propose unique artistic projects to our Pastry School and Primary School students. For three weeks, in collaboration with our teachers, he imagines and realizes artistic installations designed to improve the daily life of our school community.

Two years ago, Nathalie, an artist specializing in driftwood creations, joined this initiative to enrich our joint project.

The previous year, their creativity transformed our café’s environment, adorning its walls with magnificent paintings.

This year, their vision focused on creating a warm reading space for our pastry students, both in their classrooms and in their dormitories. Their project includes building a library and furnishing the space with mats and cushions, inviting relaxation and literary discovery.

As for the Primary School, our director Vanta has come up with an equally inspiring project: a giant KHMER alphabet created from unused tires, offering a playful and innovative approach to language learning.

At the Bayon School, we firmly believe that art and culture are essential elements of education, and we’re proud to see our students flourish through these creative initiatives.

Offering these artistic activities to our students every year allows them to open up to new horizons, to discover their talents and to develop their skills.

We look forward to seeing them again next year !

Secret Link