Education for 300 Urban Poor Children

A story from SC’s family program

A lady left her hometown for a better.

A strong and committed lady, Chantha, who is now 44 year-old, left her hometown, Kampong Spue province in 1985 to settle down in Phnom Penh, where she hoped that it will bring her a better life. In 1993, she married Mr.Toch, a drunkard man, who is 47 year-old now. It was not much different from the previous situation after married for they were still struggling to survive. This couple had 5 children now. They planted vegetable for their living which was not able to meet their daily expenses. Her husband could not change the bad habit of drinking alcohol, which caused him had no time in making the family grows. All burdens fell on Chantha’s shoulder – daily income generating, all expenses children’s school materials and children study cost, etc. In such critical situation, she could not send her children to school. Some of them were required to help her in earning money by planting vegetable and collecting recycle rubbish. It was a critical situation for an uneducated lady to solve with.

Her burdens were taken away when Sunshine Cambodia accepted all her children – Sokto,Sokdy,Sokrong,Sokrai, who are able to make income for sustaining her family – into its program since 2000. This includes the recent supporting to Bunhong, 13 year-old boy. Sunshine Cambodia has played an active role in providing her children school materials (uniforms and stationary), food subsidy, and paid for the school fee. Moreover, through Family Development Project Chantha had a chance to learn many new things particularly throughout the lessons, which were teaching during the Parent’s Day. Those lessons brought her a new expectation for her family’s future. Furthermore, she knew many new people in SC’s family. She wanted her children have a chance to study, but she could not make this.

“But now, I am very happy; and thank you (Sunshine Cambodia) and all its staff, who always work hard to help my family. I want to pray for you (Sunshine Cambodia) and all staff to get success forever,” Chantha said.

As such, she recognized that Sunshine Cambodia brought her a better by playing an active and important role in her family particularly her children. Now, she has a very good relationship with her community members and also has a hope her children bright future.      

A story from SC’s Children program

“I hope my dream come true”

“I want to be a doctor because I want to save Cambodian people”, said Sreytey, a 14 year-old girl, from a recycle rubbish collector family, who lives at Thnout Chrum village in Mean Chey district, Phnom Penh. This family left their home town, Samraong district, Takeo province, with a very bad situation. At the beginning of their settling in Phnom Penh her parents used to try to look for a proper job, but eventually ended up with collecting recycle rubbish for raising 5 children including Sreytey. In such situation, Sreytey were not able to school regularly, which caused her got just an average score in class. In those days, she lived with no hope and could not imagine what she will be in the future. An unexpected change and hope took place within her and this poor family particularly when Sreytey was accepted into Sunshine Cambodia’s program.

With SC’s supporting program, which providing her school fee, food subsidy, and other study materials, presently, Sreytey is able to go to school regularly and is at her grade 7 in this academic year, 2015, at Daem Thkov Secondary School. She is able to reach the over average (fair) score in her class according to the latest record of the academic observation book of her school. The contribution of SC toward her family and study bring Sreytey a huge hope for her future.

With big smile which shows her hope in mind Sreytey said that, “I want to be a doctor because I want to save Cambodian people. I hope my dream come true.”

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