Alumni Cycling for Scholarships in Rural Cambodia

Within this period, there is something meaningful to see young people who previously received support from a community grow into the people who can now support, encourage, and inspire others. During this quarter, our PEPY Alumni Association continued creating opportunities for their teams, current students, and staff to stay connected, learn from each other, and strengthen the community we share.

Celebrating Achievement

On June 14, PEPY brought together graduates, current students, families, staff, and supporters for the Scholarship Recognition Event (Right) at The Royal Angkor Resort and Spa. The event celebrated students who had successfully completed their university studies, with 48 alumni receiving certificates of scholarship recognition and 128 total participants joining the celebration. For graduated students and their families, this event was more than receiving a certificate, but it was also an opportunity to reflect on the challenges they had overcome, the lessons they had learned, and the people who supported them along the way. Our alumni also shared how encouragement, mentoring, counseling, academic support, and motivation helped them remain committed to their education.

Building Connections Across Every PEPY Stages

In August, the PEPY Alumni Association organized the Alumni Annual Team Building and Camping (Left) which brought together 45 alumni, current students, and PEPY staff for two days of reconnecting, sharing experiences, and building stronger relationships. Participants joined team-building activities, cooked together, went hiking, and took part in evening sessions focused on self-development and healthy relationships. Our guest speakers were Kim Ann Klang, an Australia Awards alumna and Partnership Manager at See Beyond Border Organization, and Savoeng Skut, PEPY’s Executive Director, who led sessions that encouraged participants to reflect on personal growth and how healthy relationships can shape everyday life and future development. The camping also created an opportunity for alumni to share their experiences with current students, encouraging their juniors while strengthening the connections that make the PEPY community feel like it is a continuing journey rather than a program that ends with graduation.

Preparing for Our Goal in December

As the PEPY Alumni Association looked ahead to the Angkor Wat International Half-Marathon, alumni and PEPY team members began working together on a fundraising campaign. PEPY also introduced a new team member, Veasna who is a new Fundraising and Engagement Coordinator to the Alumni team to build connection with alumni and become more involved in the wider PEPY community. Together at the Creative House, we discussed fundraising strategies, outreach, campaign tracking, and ideas for reaching more supporters. These conversations marked an important step toward turning the Half-Marathon into more than a personal competition, but also an opportunity to raise support for young people and the communities that PEPY are serving.

A Community That Have Been Continuing

The activities of this quarter showed the continuing connection between PEPY alumni, current students, and staff began from celebrating university graduates to spending time together in nature, creating opportunities to share experiences, supporting each other, and strengthening the relationships. For alumni, staying connected provides opportunities to give back through their experiences, while it also offers encouragement and inspiration for our current students ahead.

Your contribution makes our journey become meaningful!

• PEPY_Alumni_Association_Report_June_to_August.pdf (PDF)