Education for 300 Urban Poor Children

“…supporting providing a poor girl with a study opportunity in Secondary School.”

Ratana was born on 24 April 2010, so now she is now 14 years old. Currently, Ratana lives with her old grandparents in a small house with a zinc roof in Krang Chen Village, Sdao Korng Commune, Ba Phnom district, Prey Veng province. Her parents got divorced when she was a child. Her father did not support the family and children anymore. Ratana’s mother moved to work in Phnom Penh as a fruit seller to earn extra income to support the children’s living and education as well, but she just earns a little income because she also has a chronic disease, and she has to spend money for treatment every month. Ratana’s family’s living conditions are very difficult. Now Ratana is studying in grade 7th at Khlaing secondary school.

According to an interview with Ratana in May 2024, she shared some issues and difficulties relating to her family's living condition and studies as well. In the past, her family was very poor because her mother could not earn any income to support the family’s living and children’s studies because Ratana’s mother also had a chronic disease. Thus, Ratana did not have money for school every day and sometimes her family could not provide her with enough food to eat well. She more often took her mother to hospital when she got sick, so sometimes she missed class and could not attend school regularly at that time and her study results were not good. Ratana’s family also could not support her with enough study materials, such as bags, notebooks, pens, pencils, and when she was studying in grade 6th at Kdey Sangkhoem Primary School. She always walked to school every day because she did not have a bicycle for riding to school like other children. It was so hard for her to walk to school every day because her house is far away from school. All of these problems and difficulties did make her feel hopeless to continue her studies and she planned to drop out of school many times because she thought that if she passed the exam to the next grade in Secondary School, it was farther away from her house.

Fortunately, on July 25, 2023, Ratana was selected for the school development program of Sunshine Cambodia Organization through collaborating with the school principal and local authorities due to the family’s difficulties. This program supported her study materials such as notebooks, pens, pencils, and rulers, etc. and the program also provided her hygiene materials as well as toothpaste and toothbrushes. Her family also provided water filters and food packages such as rice, fish sauce, soy sauce and sugar. Especially in the past year, in December 2023, she passed her exam for the next 7th grade of Khlaing secondary school and Room to Read Organization provided her with a bicycle at that time. The project team also encouraged Ratana to attend school regularly and study hard both at school and home. Then we shared with her that only a good education could get and release her from poverty in the future, although she was from a poor family. The project team also encouraged Ratana’s grandparents to take care of Ratana’s studies, health, hygiene and protection. All these supports really encouraged and made Ratana very happy, and it is also a great motivating factor in improving her education in the future. So now Ratana rides a bicycle to secondary school every day, and she attends school regularly. She studies hard both at school and home and can keep up with the lessons well. As a result, her study result is better than the last time. She ranked 11th in the class for her monthly exam. According to the meeting with Ratana in May 2024, she shared with a smiling face that “… I am so happy that I can continue my studies at Khlaing Secondary School, although it is very far away from my house. Now my bicycle takes me around 8km from home to school every day. Finally, I would like to say thank you to the program team that has supported my family and my studies so far. If I do not have this support and encouragement, may I drop out of school and I will not continue my studies in Secondary School.”

I like children's clubs

“Every time I come to the children's club, I am happy because I can joke with my friends, play fun games, sing songs and dance with them. I like children's clubs because I learn good lessons, understand children's rights, protect children from abuse and know good hygiene, especially since I have a lot of friends here. I used to not speak much when there were a lot of people, I was very shy, not very brave, but now I join a group,” said Dalin, a girl who lives in Tropeang Agnchagn 6 village in Phnom Penh

Dalin, aged 11, is a third-grade student. Her father is a construction worker, and her mother is a housewife. The family faced financial strain as only the father works while the mother cares for a young child and struggles to find employment. This situation induces stress, occasionally leading to verbal conflicts. High anxiety, stemming from low income, strains family bonds, resulting in a distant relationship.

Following support from SCO's program, Dalin's family experienced significant improvement in their relationships. They now communicate more effectively, offer mutual assistance, and provide continuous encouragement. They are better equipped to face challenges together, fostering a nurturing environment where the parents employ gentle language and uplift the children.

In the past, Dalin was shy and reserved in group settings, hesitant to interact with peers. She preferred observation overactive participation, avoiding initiating conversations. However, she now enjoys engaging in group discussions and playing with friends, displaying a newfound willingness to interact and participate.

In addition, the project staff observed that Dalin has changed a lot, such as: she has a happier face, she knows how to prepare in an orderly manner and dress appropriately, and especially better hygiene.

“My daughter, since joining the organization, has seen that there is good order in advance to be clean and hygienic. Every day she tries to learn and help with housework. I truly thank the team for helping my daughter and my family.” Her mother expressed.