Education for 300 Urban Poor Children

Kimhorng’s Journey of Growth and Confidence

Kimhorng is a 15-year-old girl in Grade 9 who lives in Phneat Village, Khan Mean Chey. She has one sister and one brother. Her mother, Ms. Chanthy, is 39 years old and works in a factory. Her father has passed away.

Before joining Sunshine Cambodia Organization (SCO), Kimhorng’s family faced many hardships. Her mother had to care for her youngest child and could not work, which made it difficult to meet the family’s daily needs. They lived with Kimhorng’s grandmother, who helped cover electricity and water expenses. Life became even harder after the death of her father, leaving her mother as the sole provider. This led her mother to seek employment in a factory. As the only income earner, she struggled to make ends meet, and the family could not afford to send Kimhorng to English classes.

Since SCO began supporting them in 2021, life has improved. Kimhorng is now able to study both English and Khmer, subjects she had always wanted to learn. At the same time, SCO has provided food supplies for her family, along with regular home visits and encouragement. Her mother participates in the Mother’s Club, where she has learned valuable lessons about managing household finances and parenting. Through this program, she has been able to start saving money for family needs. Compared to before, their situation has improved significantly, and she can now set aside small savings to help support the household.

Kimhorng herself has gone through a remarkable change, particularly in her behavior. In the past, she was shy, quiet, and lacked self-confidence. She often kept silent at school and at home, fearful of making mistakes. Sometimes her mother and grandmother scolded her for being too quiet. She admitted that she was afraid of people and preferred not to go out, thinking she lacked courage.

After joining SCO’s Youth Club, everything began to change. She has made new friends and feels much happier. Through lessons and encouragement from the staff and teachers, her confidence has grown. She now dares to raise her hand in class, speak up, share her opinions within her family, and even take part in youth-led projects at school—things she never imagined doing before.

Kimhorng reflected, “In the past, I never received encouragement from teachers like I do from the teachers at Sunshine Cambodia, and I had never participated in group work at school either. I used to think I didn’t have much knowledge, and I was afraid of saying something wrong. I feared people and preferred to stay quiet. But now, I am much braver and no longer feel afraid of others. At school, I even dare to answer teachers’ questions. I feel more confident than before.”

She continued, “All these changes happened because I joined Sunshine Cambodia’s program and began attending the Youth Club. In the future, I want to become a teacher. Next year, I will enter Grade 10. Before, my school result was rank number 7, but now, I have improved to number 4. My favorite subjects are Geography and Physics.”

“Before joining SCO, I didn’t know much about children’s rights, positive thinking, or other important lessons. Through the program, I learned how to break bad habits, develop good ones, and build a healthier mindset. I used to think negatively, but now I focus on positive thoughts that give me courage. In my free time after studying, I enjoy reading books and helping with housework.”

Her mother, Ms. Chanthy, shared, “I see that my daughter has become braver than before. She dares to talk to me more, especially about her health, such as during menstruation—something she rarely mentioned in the past. When she has difficulties in her studies, we discuss them together. Every month when school results are released, she always makes sure to tell me about them.”

Chenda, a staff member of Sunshine Cambodia, also noticed these changes:

“In the past, when Kimhorng came to the club, she hardly spoke. But now, she actively participates in all our activities. She has more courage now. She bravely participated in the teacher meetings at Chamroeunphal and Cheasim Samaky High School, as well as community meetings in Stueng Meanchey II. In particular, whenever staff ask questions in the club, she is willing to stand up and answer with confidence.”

Today, Kimhorng is no longer the shy, quiet girl she once was. She has grown into a confident young woman who speaks up in class, shares her opinions at home, and takes part in community activities with courage. With a clear dream of becoming a teacher, she continues to work hard in her studies and strives to build a better future for herself and her family. Her journey shows the power of encouragement, learning, and hope to transform a young life.