Education for 300 Urban Poor Children

Story of Change

“…I am so happy that I can be an outstanding student, rank 2, in annual.”

Vichana was born on December 13th, 2014, in Kamrieng village, Sena Reach Otdam commune, Preah Sdach district. Now she is 9 years old and studying in 5th grade at Kamrieng primary school. She lives with her grandmother. She has one brother, Rithy. Vichana was the first child in the family. Her family lives in her grandparents’ house with seven family members because her parents do not have an owner's house yet. Her father is a driver for a factory in Phnom Penh, and her mother is a homemaker.

Vichana shared the challenges and consequences of her studies last time. In general, she was always a bit shy and lazy about studying both at home and at school. She did not have the confidence to talk and raise any study problems or matters with her teachers and friends, especially when she did not understand and keep up with the lessons well in the class. She did not dare raise her hand to ask any questions to the teachers and friends. Before she was a shy and fearsome girl, she was nervous about talking, speaking up, playing and joining any class or school activities or events. As a result, her study results were also not good at that time, and she got a low score every month. Her family also could not provide her with enough study materials such as bags, notebooks, pens, pencils, and rulers, etc. due to the family financial crisis. According to an interview with her grandmother on December 21, 2023, she shared, "…yes, Vichana was always a bit shy and lazy to study both at home and school, so her study results were not good. She always got a low average score every month and year. In addition, I was unhappy with her school result, but I still encouraged her to study hard for her future life…" and her teacher also said that “...it is true that Vichana is a bit shy and lazy to study at school, and her education was poor. She did not get good school result every month and year...”

Fortunately, in July 2021, Vichana was selected for the school development program of the Sunshine Cambodia organization. This program provided her with notebooks, pens, pencils, notebooks, and rulers every academic year. The program also supported her family food packages such as rice, noodles, fish sauce, soy sauce, sugar, and milk. All of these supports really encouraged and made her so happy, and it was a good assistance to help and improve her study and family living condition too. The program team not only provided these materials for her and her family, but we also conducted home visits with her family. During the visiting time, the program staff always talked and encouraged her to study hard both at school and home, and we worked closely with principals and teachers to motivate her to be more confidence and brave in the class and attend any school activities and events. The staff also shared with her the importance of education for the future, children’s rights/participation, child’s safeguarding, and hygiene during the visit, and we encouraged the teachers to teach all students about these topics too.

Now Vichana improves a lot on her studies, courage, and relationships with friends and teachers at school. She shared with the program staff that "…now my study result is good, and I also improve confidence, courage, and relationships with my friends and teachers. I dare to talk and raise any issues related to my studies in the class, and I always ask my friends and teachers whenever I do not understand and keep up with the lessons well. I mostly study hard both at school and home because the teachers and program team always encourage and motivate me to study more at home. Thus, my yearly study result is 2nd among 34 students in the class. I’m happy with this result…” According to an interview with her teacher in December 2023, he mentioned with a smiling face that "...now Vichana improves her relationship with the teachers and classmates, and she also has courage to talk and raise any concern related to her studies to me and her classmates. She has good relationships with friends. She studies hard both at school and at home. As a result, now her study results are also good since she was supported by the program..."