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Cambodia, Phnom Penh
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Gecko Garden's origins date to 2001, when two playgroups—“Little Gecko” and “Garden”—united to form a not-for-profit, parent-run preschool in Phnom Penh. In 2014 the current Gecko Garden School was established from that original daycare concept, transitioning to a more formal school structure. The school introduced many facets of Waldorf/Steiner education in 2018, and in 2023 opened a new campus with three classrooms, a productive garden, and a custom-built playground to extend provision up to age seven. Over time the organizational structure has evolved from a purely parent-run model to a leadership-and-faculty model while keeping family involvement as a core element.
Parent participation has been described as a hallmark of the school for more than twenty years, with families invited to contribute skills and time across school activities. The campus hosts a volunteer-run Breastfeeding Support Group that offers peer support and free participation for nursing parents. Seasonal and cultural festivals are built into the school year to celebrate the community's cultural diversity, and the school accepts donations and volunteers to support scholarships and campus projects.
Gecko Garden organizes parent involvement through a formal Parent Community framework in which families indicate their preferred level of engagement at enrolment; participation is voluntary. The school uses Class Parents as the primary parent-representation role: Class Parents act as liaisons between teachers, leadership, and other parents and may coordinate field trip logistics, support new families, assist with end-of-year celebrations or graduations, and help organise campus work days. Class Parents meet regularly with each other and are encouraged to attend quarterly in-person meetings with school leadership; the school provides a modest budget for refreshments and meeting space when available. Expectations for Class Parents include maintaining constructive, respectful communication, supporting the school's mission, and mentoring other class parents. In addition to Class Parents, parents can join volunteer groups (for example the breastfeeding group) or contribute to fundraising and scholarship/donation efforts to keep tuition accessible.
Gecko Garden School is a Waldorf/Steiner–inspired international preschool and kindergarten established in 2001. The school runs two nearby day campuses in Tonle Bassac (a preschool campus and a kindergarten campus across the street), each based in adapted homes with gardens used for play and learning. The school teaches in English and offers a Parent & Child programme (pregnancy–3 years), preschool mixed-age classes (from about 18 months), kindergarten mixed-age classes, and an optional Twilight (extended day) programme. The site notes the school was recognised in 2019 for environmental priorities and that Healthy Kids Kitchen provides the school's lunches; fees for 2025–2026 are published in the school's calendar/fees document. All details above are taken from Gecko Garden School's website.
