Educate Cambodian Kids Impacted by AIDS 2015

This project is YouthSpark eligible program for 100%  donor  match (up to $ 500)  on December 2, Giving Tuesday!

Project update:

Mark returned from Cambodia last week with bittersweet news.

This summer, two of our students, who had each spent more than 10 years  under the care and guidance of our AIDS Patient Family Support Program, were  ready to graduate from High School. In a country where only about 40% of children graduate from high school, these two students   sat for the national high school  exam in August.

One student. Ravin, age 18,   passed her exam  on the first try. Ravin will enter our Build Dreams! Kasumisou Scholars program that helps Cambodian students  to attend college. Ravin has been under our care since age 4 and she has  dreamed  of studying Chemistry and Food Science at University. Now, her dream is coming true, thanks to you, our donors!  Ravin  will enter Phnom Penh’s Royal University to study Agriculture and Rural Development , while maintaining her interest in Chemistry and Food Science.

Our other student, Vichet, age 20, did not pass the exam on his first try,  but we are not giving up! Vichet will repeat his 12^th grade year with tutoring and re-take the exam next year.  Vichet has been under our care since 2002 and he comes from a  resettlement area. Vichet was orphaned as a toddler  ( by AIDS) and he lives with his Grandmother and an 11 year old niece, also an orphan. We are so proud of the great progress Vichet has made in the face of such large personal challenges and we are confident that he will achieve his goal and reach his dream of entering college next year.

The generous support of our donors have gives students like these an opportunity to have an education and by doing so, break the cycle of inherited poverty.