Education for 300 Urban Poor Children

 Project Summary

Sunshine Cambodia (SC) supports at least 350 girls and boys from five poor communities in Phnom Penh to be educated and equipped for their better future job options and to become active actors and leaders for improving their living and families. Through the project, girls and boys have accessed school, received knowledge and skills, built self-confidence, and exercised their rights fully. They also were prevented and protected from any kind of abuse, violence, trafficking, and exploitation through the participation of the moral and legal duty bearers such as teachers, the community committee of women and children (CCWC) including local authorities.

SC’s project engages the moral and legal duty bearers to enhance their abilities and roles to better serve their community and its people, particularly girls and boys. Apart from this, the project endeavours for improving the responsibilities of parents toward their living conditions, health, and their children’s studies. Through home visits, it is glad to see parents spend quality time with their children regarding their studies, while some family businesses are running well.

The support that provides an opportunity for Lina continuing her study.

“I wanted to stop to study many times because I faced many difficulties in life. My life is not as same as other children. I live with my aunt since I was 5 years old because my parents divorced,” said Lina, a 17-year-old girl, who studies in grade 10 in a school in Phnom Penh. Lina lives with her aunt since she was 5 years old because her parents divorced, and they have no responsibility for her life. Her aunt gives her a good opportunity to study. However, when she was in grade 8, she wanted to stop studying because her aunty had no much money to afford for her study. Fortunately, one day her aunty met SC’s staff, Mr. Kimhon and Ms. Chenda, who work in Steung Mean Chey community. Then she asked them for supporting Lina’s study. 

Lina was accepted into SC’s program in August 2018. She learned many useful lessons such as child’s rights, child abuse, violence, especially, how to set a plan for the future through attending clubs. She always enjoys the club’s activity as she gets to know many friends and has a fun time with them. “Lina is a good student. She goes to school regularly and always have a very good school result every month. Moreover, she is also a zealous girl. She does housework after study; and in her free time, she earns some money by washing our neighbour clothes.” her aunt said. 

During our visit to her house, we were very happy to hear her commitment regarding her study and future goal. “I will continue my study, and I will try to work in my free for saving for my study in the future. I want to be a doctor because I want to help people. I have to study very hard so that I can achieve my goal in the future,” Lina said. This shows her understanding and acknowledging the importance of education and wants to achieve her goal. She, therefore, tries very hard to study. Lina expressed that, “without Sunshine Cambodia, I have not this opportunity to pursue my study at all. I wanted to stop studying and wanted to start to work for supporting my living because my living condition is very hard.”