Education for 300 Urban Poor Children

Project Summary

Sunshine Cambodia Organization (SCO) works in five urban poor communities in Phnom Penh. SC’s project supports 350 poor children and youth, especially girls, to have self-confidence, to enjoy and to exercise their rights, to access education, to receive knowledge and skills. They are also prevented and protected from any kind of abuse, violence, trafficking, and exploitation. Moreover, through this project children and youth are equipped to be active actors and leaders for their families and community.

At the same time, SC’s project works with their parents for promoting and improving their full responsibilities for their family living conditions and their children’s studies. Apart from this, the project has engaged the participation of the legal duty bearers such as teachers, local authorities, and the Community Committee of Women and Children (CCWC) to protect and prevent children from any kind of abuse and harm.

We are encouraged to many boys, girls, youth and their families have shown they are improving. Actually, many of them have got knowledge and skills. Some are studying at university and some have jobs. Through our project, we also see some families manage to run a small business and have jobs, while some of them bought some necessary stuff for their family’s needs. Additionally, they also show that they care for their children regarding study and health.

I want to be a doctor in the future

“Vichika is a tidy and a good girl who always practices a good hygiene. She wears a nice dress.”

Sreypich, SCO’s staff, said.

Vichika is 11 years old and she studies in grade 5. She has a brother. Her father, Makara, is a disabled man, who opens a small shop to repair TV and electronic accessories and to sell electronic items.

She wants to be a doctor. She becomes a good student and pays close attention to her studies. After class, she always spends time doing homework, which results in a good grade. She gets good results both in Khmer and English classes. She always commits to learning. “Even though my parents cannot afford me to study, I still keep learning. I want to be a doctor in the future,” she said. Vichika always takes her lessons (textbooks) with her to read even she goes to the children’s club and what she learned from the club she shared with her parents and friends. “When she has free time or after she has done her homework, she usually takes care of her brother and plays with him; she helps me doing housework as well.” Said her mother, Mrs. Nary.Her father follows up on her study regularly. He takes a photo of her assignments/homework and school’s results every month. He, then, sends it to SCO’s staff. He has a good relationship with teachers at school as well as with SCO’s staff.

• Photos.docx (DOCX)