Educating 120 street-working children in Cambodia

2018 was a great year for our students. Thank you so much to all of our donors for helping our children and their families get their basic needs taken care of and helping us build our programs so that the kids could receive a good education. Here is 2018 by the numbers:

Last year we taught 54 students in our preschool. We were happy to be able to support 3 children with learning disabilities. 

We sponsored 206 students to go to primary school. The children were in grades 1 to 7. 

We served 120 children in our Afternoon Community Program. When we first started this program a few years ago, about 7 children attended. We are so glad to see the number grow and for so many children to enjoy our informal classes and utilize our safe play environment after school. Some of the children who attend the program do not go to school and either beg or collect recyclables to help their families. We hope to encourage their parents to admit them to our preschool or primary school scholarship program. But for now they receive support, encouragement and a safe play space at the ACP. 

We supported 175 families in need. We provided rice and condiments and support services for these families so that their children could chose school instead of working. After a year-end evaluation, we happily found that 40 families no longer needed our support and were able to stand on their own feet. We are so proud of them and are grateful that we could support them when they most needed our help. Our goal is always to help the families attain independence while making sure their children are in school and receive a good education. Although we no longer provide food and financial support to those 40 families, we still provide counseling and are there if they need us. 

We are so grateful to all of our supporters for helping our kids thrive. We wish everyone a prosperous new year!

Within our Lotus Kids' Club program, we have an Afternoon Community Program (ACP), which offers informal classes such as English, computer, music and dance. ACP provides a safe after-school learning environment for school-aged children. 

A few months ago the teachers took 50 of the kids from our Afternoon Community Program to Angkor Wat and other temples. Even though they are born in Siem Reap, most of them have never gone to Angkor Wat and the other temples. So when they hear that we will take them go to visit Angkor Wat, they are so happy and jump up and down and laugh. Some of them said teacher, I have been waiting for that day. Because I never go there and I want to see Angkor Wat.

So on that day, we prepared snack and food for them to go. They wear the clothes that they love for that day. They all look so nice. So when they arrive at Angkor Wat, we bought them T-shirts as gifts for all of them. All the staff so joyful when they see the kids enjoy that day.