Angelina Jolie visits Battambang school

Angelina Jolie has reaffirmed her enduring bond with Cambodia by visiting Samlot High School in Battambang province this week. The Hollywood star spent time with students, learning about their studies and the progress of dormitory accommodation at the school.

Jolie’s connection to Cambodia stretches back more than two decades. In 2000, she filmed Lara Croft: Tomb Raider at Angkor Wat, an experience that sparked a lifelong attachment to the country. The following year she adopted her first child, Maddox, from Cambodia, and in 2003 she founded the Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation, headquartered in Battambang.

The foundation has since become central to her humanitarian and environmental work, focusing on education, conservation, and community development in Samlot district.

Her contributions were formally recognised in 2005, when she was granted Cambodian citizenship by royal decree. Jolie has often described the kingdom as her “second home,” returning regularly to oversee projects and maintain her ties with local communities.

The visit to Samlot High School highlights her continuing commitment to education in Cambodia. For the students, her presence was more than a moment of celebrity attention; it was a reminder of the long-term support she has pledged to their future.

By returning to Battambang, Jolie underscores the depth of her relationship with Cambodia, blending her global profile with a sustained, personal investment in the country’s youth and environment.

-2026-04-02