Phnom penh: The Cambodia-Japan Friendship School and Italian NGO IL NODO have received a combined total of US$20,000 from a charity concert. The funds, raised during the "Carnegie in Cambodia" event, are aimed at supporting educational projects and underprivileged students in Cambodia.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the official handover ceremony for the concert proceeds was presided over by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Youth and Sport, H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron. The event took place on Wednesday evening at the Canadian International School (CIS) in Phnom Penh. The donations will be used to provide scholarships and educational resources for students at the Cambodia-Japan Friendship School in eastern Prey Veng province, as well as those supported by IL NODO Cambodia.

During the ceremony, H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron expressed his gratitude to ‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬°toile Performing Arts and corporate donors, including Vattanac Bank, OCIC, Cellcard, Sofitel, Singapore Airlines, and the Phnom Penh Autonomous Port, for their contributions to the event's success. The education minister also praised Anna Sophie Abe, the 17-year-old founder of the initiative, for her leadership in organizing the concert to aid children from low-income families.

"This initiative is not just a one-time donation; it is a vital driving force and an investment in human potential for the future of Cambodia," remarked H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron. He emphasized that the ‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬°toile Scholarship Fund will enable underprivileged youth to pursue their dreams.