Education for 300 Urban Poor Children

“My name is Thavry. I am 19 years old; I finished high school at the end of 2022. Now I have started my first year at a university. I live in Tropeang Anchanh II village with my parents. My father is a security guard, and my mother is jobless since she lost her job due to the factory was closed. Before, my father drank alcohol every day. He drank a lot, which made me unhappy and disappointed. I used to ask him to stop drinking alcohol. Then, he reduced drinking after a quite long time later” said Thavry.

Tharvy is a student selected into SCO’s program in 2019. She just finished high school at the end of 2022 and is studying at a university. Previously, Thavry was not a brave girl. She was shy and afraid of talking with other people. Her parents could not afford her English and computer classes. However, through support from SCO, she has had the opportunity to study both English and computer. Through the children and family development program, she has received extra tuition fees, school uniforms, T-shirts, stationery, sanitation pads, toothbrush, and paste. She also had chances to explore new places through children's outings and youth's trip. Moreover, her family also received food subsidies, water filter, and training with the relevant topics for improving parenting responsibility.

Tharvy used to share with her parents, particularly with her father about his drinking alcohol. She wants her father to stop drinking alcohol as she is worried about her father’s health and the relationship in her family. Nowadays, she observed that her father reduced drinking alcohol and do not have a quarrel with her mother. “I am so happy that when I told my father not to drink much, he listened to me and reduced drinking although quite a long time. My parents sometimes quarreled with each other, but now better, especially when my father changed his attitude on drinking.” Thavry said.

By attending the youth’s club every month, Thavry learned useful lessons to build her self-confidence and courage and had a very good relationship with other children in the club. Through the youth activities, she became an active youth leader. She has changed a lot. She is a brave girl now; she dares to lead a group discussion, share in children’s club, and lead in youth group activities. She became the agent of change in their schools and communities.

Once she learned that SCO offers a small fund for children or youth to do some activities in their community, she formed a group with her friends to discuss their plan and led her group to visit schools and shared with the school principal and teachers. After their meeting and discussion, Thavry led her team to communicate with SCO’s staff to share their ideas and plan. Then, they all joined a meeting with school principals and SCO’s staff to discuss their project and raised their concerns about child projection in school, especially the safety of the girl students when they go to the toilet while it had to renovate. “As students, we want to see our school respect child’s rights fully. We want to see teachers listen to our voices as same as today we have time to talk to you all and share our concern.” Thavry mentioned during the meeting. “In our school, we see that the school toilet is not safe for girl students. It was because the toilet’s wall is not high enough which allowed some naughty boy students can stand on tiptoe to peek at the girl students when they go toilet. This was shameful for us as girl students. So through this meeting, we would like to raise this issue to discuss with you and find some solution.” She added.

As a result, the school principal accepted their suggestion to fix the school toilet. The toilet renovation was finished with the sharing cost from school development plan. “I am so happy to hear what you all raised here. I am so proud of you all who have an act of great courage to join this meeting and dare to share with us your concern. As a head of teachers, I respect your suggestion and appreciate this. I would like to work with you as well as SCO’s staff on child’s rights and to solve all issues in our school,” said Mr. Bunthong, a school principal.

Apart from this, Thavry was also involved in another youth-led project for developing a school compound. Her team members had to work with a school principal to build the drainage system in the school compound with the shared cost from that school as well. Through her team, the school principal, Mr. Kang Thea, expressed that “I am impressed that some youth came to me in November 2022. They asked if I have time to discuss this with them as they want me to share my school development plan regarding the school's compound. They are brave and have good discipline. I was suggested to show them some needs in schools. After the meeting, we all walked into the school compound. Later, we had another meeting again. They shared with me that they discussed with their team about this. They wanted to build a drainage system in front of the school building. They asked me if the school could share the cost of buying the construction tools and materials as their budget will cover only the worker's wages. As a result, we all agreed; I started to look for workers for this project. Right now, the drainage system project is completely finished. It makes our school compound looks nicer. All students are happy to see this. In fact, without this drainage, during the rainy season, this area is cover by flood".

Through involvement in the program activities and the support of SCO, Thavry had self-confidence and more courage. She got more experience in managing teamwork and coordinating meetings and discussions. Through educational support and encouragement from SCO’s staff, Thavry becomes a good student. She always gets good school results. She passed her high school exam and is studying at a university. Moreover, she has started to work as a waitress in a restaurant to help her family earn money.

Her mother expressed “I am glad to see my daughter has changed a lot. Last time, she was a quiet girl, but now she dared to talk and shared her plan with me and what she likes to do. Moreover, my daughter has a good school results. Without the support of SCO, it is very hard for my family, especially my daughter to continue her study as I am a jobless person. My factory was closed I had no job. I would like to give thanks to SCO for providing my family with food subsidy and supporing my daugther study during this tough time.”

“I am so thankful that SCO helps my study. I like attending the children’s club. Through this, I have more friends and learned useful lessons, especially child’s rights, and participation. When I have problems I shared and discussed them with my mother. Sometimes, I discussed with teachers (SCO’s staff). They always encourage me and helped me deal with my issues. At school, my teachers also encourage and motivate me to study hard. When I do not understand my lessons I ask them to explain to me. I am very excited that I passed the high school examination. I want to study at a university and become a teacher when I finish my studies. I would like to express my gratitude to all teachers (she refers to SCO's staff) and donors that support me and my family. Without your support, I cannot do it,” She expressed happily.

A family stops to use violence after they attended the children and mother club.

“Last time, my mother beat me when I did not go to school or when I was lazy to help her to do housework. She scolded me and beat me whenever she got mad at me. However, she stopped beating me and scolding me now. She uses sweet words and always encourages me to study hard.” Sereyvat said.

Sereyvat is 13 years old and he studies in grade 7 at Arunvatey secondary school. He lives in Tropeang Agnchagn village 6. His family was selected into SCO’s program since 2017. His mother, Sokuntheary, is a widow and affected by HIV. His mother is 50 years old and she is a seller. She sells bread patte meat in the village. His father died in 2022 affected by HIV and alcohol drinking.

It is also noteworthy that Sokuntheary had a bad temper and used to beat her children when she got angry with them. She beat her son and scolded him with her loud voice. It was an unacceptable action toward her children. It was also a bad example for them. However, through club, she learned lessons regarding violence and parenting skills. Since then, her attitude has changed toward her children concerning the use of violence and way of her communication and fellowship in her family.

This change (of his mother) leads them to have a warm relationship. “I rejoiced when I joined the club where I have many friends. Now when I have a problem, I dare to tell my mom and talk to her. She always encourages and helps me to solve it. For myself, I see a lot of changing. I have more patience. I used to fight with other children at school. Now I do not have quarrels and fight with them in school. My teachers encouraged and motivated me to come to school regularly. When I had an issue with other students, the school principal advised me not to quarrel with other students. He also encouraged me to study hard. I should think of (pity) my mother, who tries to earn money for my study and future.” He added.

“Now, Sereyvat is a good boy. His attitude has changed. He used sweet words and helps me to do housework. He is not lazy. He listens to me and has not quarrel with his classmates. Last time he talked to me not to beat him or not to use violent in family. He even told me that if I still beat him or scold him, he will complain to organization about this. I am so thankful that the organization (SCO) helps my family and my children to study. SCO supports tuition fees for English class, stationaries, toothpaste, toothbrush, uniforms, bicycle, and water filter. She also provided food subsidies and emergency support to our family whenever we were in need,” His mother expressed.

“Previously, Sereyvat liked to fight and argue with other children. Furthermore, he accused other children and told his mother that students were troublemakers, not him. Then her mother came to school and shouted out loud. She had a bad temper and mood toward us. However, over these past three years, I have noticed that Sereyvat is much better. He no longer argues and fights with other children. He listens to teachers and other people. Besides, I noted that his mother had changed her attitude as well. Nowadays, she always comes to school and asks permission for her son with her smile and uses polite words with us when he does not come to class,” said his teacher.