By Chanika Yat | Network Engagment and Communication Lead
For Mearodey, education has always meant more than earning a degree. As the eldest of three children in a family facing financial challenges, she has long felt a responsibility to build a better future for herself and her family.
In 2019, Mearodey joined AusCam Freedom Project's scholarship program. Without this support, her dream of attending university may have ended before it truly began.
Today, she is in her second year studying International Relations. AusCam contributes 25% of her university tuition fees, helping ease the financial pressure on her family. Through an internship with AusCam, she has also gained valuable workplace experience while earning additional income to help cover her expenses.
But the impact extends far beyond education.
Through regular support from an AusCam social worker, Mearodey has a safe space to share her challenges and receive emotional support. And through AusCam's Safe Sisters program, she has discovered the power of using her voice to protect and inspire others.
As one of the first generation of Safe Sisters, Mearodey led a campaign that reached around 60 participants in person and approximately 6,000 people through Facebook. She helped other girls recognise risks and learn how to protect themselves, particularly from online harm.
Her leadership journey continued when she joined AusCam's Girls Leadership Council. She now helps plan campaigns to prevent online sexual exploitation and raise awareness among girls and young women. She has represented Cambodian youth at an international youth summit, shared her experiences through a podcast and spoken at Cambodia's World Day Against Trafficking event, attended by approximately 3,000 people.
Reflecting on her journey, Mearodey says AusCam's career counselling helped her find confidence in her chosen field. Despite the financial pressures and demands of university, she remains determined to continue her studies.
Your support is helping Mearodey do more than pursue a degree. It is helping her build a future, find her voice and become part of a generation of young women leading change in their communities.
When you invest in a girl, the impact can reach far beyond one life. It can empower her to help protect and inspire many others.
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