Help keep a Cambodian Music and Dance School open

Growing up in a poor family in Veal Village, Siem Reap Province, 20-year-old Noy understood hardship from a very young age. As the oldest of six children, including three sisters, he watched his parents struggle every day to provide enough food for the family. His father worked in construction while his mother farmed small plots of land, but their income was never enough to support the children’s education.

When the family’s situation became even more difficult, Noy made a heartbreaking decision. He dropped out of school in Grade 9 at Wat Svay Lower Secondary School so he could help earn money and allow his younger siblings to continue their education.

For many young people living in poverty, this could have been the end of their dreams. But in 2017, Noy’s life began to change.

On March 3, 2017, he joined the traditional Khmer music program at the Salvation Centre Cambodia (SCC) community school in Siem Reap. Determined to build a better future, Noy committed himself to learning Pinpeat - one of Cambodia’s most treasured traditional musical art forms. Beyond simply learning music, Noy believed he was helping protect an important part of Khmer identity and culture for future generations.

With passion and determination, he attended classes faithfully, carefully listened to every lesson, memorized musical rhythms, and practiced daily with his classmates. Year after year, his confidence and skills grew stronger.

Today, after more than nine years of dedication, Noy can skillfully perform more than 30 traditional Khmer songs and regularly participates in public cultural performances. During

festival seasons, he and his team are invited to perform at ceremonies and community events several times each month.

Each performance provides him with income that helps support his family’s daily meals and reduces the financial burden on his parents. More importantly, the program has given him dignity, purpose, and hope for the future.

Now, Noy dreams of becoming a professional traditional Khmer music teacher so he can pass this precious knowledge to the next generation. He wants to ensure that Cambodia’s cultural heritage continues to live on through young people like him.

Noy’s story is a powerful reminder that when vulnerable children and youth are given access to education, skills training, and encouragement, they can transform not only their own lives but also help preserve the cultural identity of the communities.

Through the continued support of generous donors, SCC is able to provide opportunities for vulnerable children and youth like Noy to learn, grow, and build brighter futures while protecting Cambodia’s rich cultural heritage for generations to come.

At just 15 years old, Yuth carries responsibilities far beyond his age. As the eldest of three siblings in a struggling family in Siem Reap, he has grown up witnessing daily hardship. His father earns an unstable income as a PassApp driver while battling diabetes, and his mother walks through the village selling vegetables to make ends meet. Medical bills for his father and care for his elderly grandmother add even more pressure to the family’s fragile finances. Many children in similar situations are forced to leave school, but Yuth refused to give up on his education, even when the future seemed uncertain.

With the generous support of donors like you through GlobalGiving, Yuth was given an opportunity that changed his path. In 2016, he joined the Pin Peat Khmer traditional music program at our Siem Reap branch. What began as curiosity and love for Khmer cultural heritage became a powerful tool for hope. Through consistent mentorship, structured training, and a safe environment to grow, Yuth spent nearly ten years developing discipline, confidence, and professional musical skills. Your support did more than teach music; it restored possibility and dignity to a young boy determined to rise above poverty.

Today, Yuth is not only a Grade 11 student but also a skilled traditional musician who performs during festival seasons, earning around 70,000 Riels (approximately $17.50 USD) per performance. This income helps cover his school expenses and eases the burden on his family. More importantly, he now believes in his future—Yuth dreams of becoming a Khmer Language teacher while continuing to preserve Cambodia’s cultural heritage through music. Because of your kindness, he is no longer defined by hardship; he is defined by resilience, talent, and hope.