CCSC

The CATHOLIC CHURCH STUDENT CENTER (CCSC) is the response of the Catholic Church in Cambodia to the needs of poor but gifted students -male and female, Christian and Buddhist- who could not continue their university education without support. Those students came from the programs that the parishes across the three dioceses of Cambodia have established in order to help impoverished Cambodian young people may continue their high school education.

The project started in 1999 under the direction of Fr. John Ashley Evans SJ. 

The CCSC project not only aims to provide accommodation and pay the university fees for its students, but it also provides many other programs which help them to grow and improve themselves as human persons, as committed citizens, and as faithful Catholics if such is their decision. Some of these programs are: the bimonthly political debate; workshops on relevant issues; Christian Life Community group sharing; sports tournaments; special sessions during the liturgical seasons; Taizé prayer; weekly Eucharistic celebration and daily moment of night prayer; English, French, Korean, and Chinese classes; and volunteering on social or pastoral services during the weekends. To this date, twenty-three generations of students (about 450 people) have benefited from this project, completing successfully their university courses. Most of them play an important role in the animation of the local Church; provide their professional services to NGOs, private and public institutions within the country and abroad. Indeed, they are making positive contributions to the society.
The Catholic Church in Cambodian as a significant project considers the CCSC, since it serves as the platform for Christian formation of young lay Catholics.

Ownership of the project belongs to the three administrative districts of the Catholic Church in Cambodia (the Apostolic Vicariate of Phnom Penh, the Apostolic Prefecture of Battambang, and the Apostolic Prefecture of Kompong Cham). Mgr. Oliver Schmitthauesler, Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh, is the representative from the Bishop’s Council, designated with the responsibility of overseeing and ensuring the development and management of the project.