Education for 300 Urban Poor Children

Impact Story

“…support and encouragement that led me to become an outstanding student”

A quote from a twelve-year-old girl from Krosang Char village, Preah Sdach district.

Chantrea was born on June 18th, 2012, in Krosang Char village, Sena Reach Otdam commune, Preah Sdach district. Now she is 12 years old and studying in 6th grade at Kdampuk primary school, and she also passed the exam to the next 7th grade for the new academic year. Chantrea has one younger brother, and she is the first child in the family. Her family are farmers, and her mother is a homemaker. Her father sometimes works as a construction worker in Phnom Penh and other provinces when he has spare time from farming.

Chantrea shared the challenges and consequences of her studies last time. In general, she was always a bit shy, and 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 sometimes did not dare raise her hand to ask any questions to the teachers and friends. Before she was a shy and fearsome girl, she felt nervous about talking, speaking up, and joining any class or school activities or events. As a result, her study results also were not very good at that time, and she got an average 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 in September 2023, she shared that, "… Chantrea was a bit shy and nervous to talk and share both at home and results, so her study results were not very good. She sometimes got a good and average score every month and year. In addition, I was happy with her study result, and I still encouraged her to study harder for her future life…"

Fortunately, Chantrea was selected for the school development program of Sunshine Cambodia. This program with her study materials such as notebooks, pens, pencils, bags, 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 feel happy, and it was a good assistance to help and improve her study and family living conditions too. The program team 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 confident and braver 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, children’s visits and hygiene during the visit, and we encouraged the teachers to teach all students about these topics too.

Now Chantrea 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 ranks are very good, and I get ranked 1st every month and annually too. 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 teachers whenever I do not understand and keep up with the lessons well. I study hard both at school and home, and I am very happy with my study results now…” According to an interview with her teacher in September 2024, he mentioned with a smiling face that "...now Chantrea improves her relationship with studies teachers and classmates, and she also has with courage to talk and raise any concern related to her study to me and her classmates. Now her study results are very good, and she always gets ranked 1st every month and annually. She is an outstanding student in the class and school, and she ranked 3rd for the Commune Outstanding Student Exam in August 2024. I am very proud of her."