Education for 300 Urban Poor Children

Project Overview:

Sunshine Cambodia (SC) implements her project in five poor communities in Phnom Penh, Cambodia –Sansom Kosal, Stung Mean Chey, Thnoat Chrum, Prey Tea and Tropang Anhchanh. Totally, SC has worked closely with 350 children from 240 families. Approximately, the project benefits 1223 family members.

On the one hand, Sunshine Cambodia (SC) works directly with children by supporting them for formal education in both state and private schools. They have received school materials and extra tuition for extra courses such as English, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Khmer and computer skills. Moreover, SC’s staff has conducted the children’s club weekly, the youth’s and parents’ club quarterly in all areas. In clubs children, youth and their parents has learnt various topics that relevant to their lives. Actually, they learnt very useful lessons for families and get to know each other. The clubs have played very important role for SC to be able to work closely with her beneficiaries. On the other hand, SC also works directly with those children parents by focusing on home visit/ case management and some activities in their community. These has led us to know more about their family situation and needs. Counselling, parenting skills, vocational and micro enterprise development (MED) training, start-up capital, as well as emergency relief programs are provided.

We have tried our best to improve the living condition and reduce poverty within those families in the hope that each child and family will grow holistically. Actually, it is encouraged to see many children, youth and families have shown their improving. They have got knowledge and skills. Some are studying at university and some has jobs. A few families managed to start small business, while some managed to buy required stuff for their family’s needs.

The following is an inspired story from one of our children’s family.

It was a decision which led to a change and improving for my family...

Samnang’s family has been in Phnom Penh since 2009. They were from Kampong Thom province. They have two daughters now – Chakriya, is 8 years old and studies at grade 4; and You E, is 1 year old. Samnang and his wife work in a garment factory. “As a factory worker my wife and I had no much time to take care our children. We did not have time to send our daughter to school and check her studies, which we suppose to as her parents. Actually, our family has faced many difficulties. We needed to pay for many things such as daily food, room for living, our daughter’s studies, clothes, school uniform, utility and other daily used stuff. ” he said. However, his job could not support his family well. “As a factory worker I did not has enough time to relax and take care of my family, especially my children. I also could not save money for the future.” He added.

When his family faced difficult situation Samnang made an incredible decision. “One day I decided to stop working in the factory. It was a hard decision, I think. However, it was a decision which led to a change and improving for my family. I, then, started to learn a skill, the hand phone repairing. After I finished the course I has started a business, the hand phone repairing. At the beginning it was very difficult for my income was very low and could not support my family well. This was because of my skill was not well at that time and I have not had many costumers yet. That time I really wanted to strengthen this skill further so that I can fix all kinds of hand phones, which will help me to have many costumers. However, I had to delay for strengthening my skill. This was because my family, at that moment of time, lacked of money and faced many difficulties.” Samnang said.

In June, 2014, Samnang’s family was accepted into SC’s program. SC has started to support school supplies, uniform and extra school fee to his daughter, Chakriya. At the same time his family had involved in SC’s programme activities. Actually, SC has provided trainings regarding the social issues such as domestic violence, child rights, child abuse, parenting skill, micro-enterprise development. Moreover, SC also supports families for vocational training course, job placement and emergency relief. Samnang also got support from SC for strengthening his skill of repairing the hand phone. “After my family has got support from SC my heavy burden was released from day to day. I was not worry about my daughter’s education for SC has supported many things for her studies. My family is better than before. I has got more income after I strengthened my skill. I also have had more time to take care my children and to check my daughter’s studies. Now I bought a piece of land and I hope that I can build a house in the future. I was so excited to see my family has growing and improving. Thank you so much for everyone who has supported and cared for my family,” Samnang said.

Thank you very much for your support to enable us to help those children, youth and their families.

Be Blessed,