Education for 300 Urban Poor Children

Sunshine Cambodia (SC), in July 2014, was working with 282 children (Male: 139, Female: 143) from 185 families from poor communities in Phnom Penh: Sansom Kosal, Stung Mean Chey, Thnoat Chrum and Prey Tea. Over the year, 32 stopped coming as families moved to the province (21 cases) or obtained jobs for older children (11 cases). So as at June 2015, 250 children remained in the program.

Each child received a public education and outstanding students also attended private classes. SC uses a community-based approach and there is a children’s club in each of the four main project areas. 

The clubs give the children the opportunity to play sport (soccer & kickboxing) and learn music and other life skills.

SC also works with the 185 families of the children (a total of around 1005 family members) to build parental responsibility and self-reliance.  SC’s programs include a Food subsidy, Parenting Skills Training, Vocational Training & Job Placement, Small Business Development and Start-up Capital, Savings Groups, as well as Emergency and Disaster Relief programs.

ONE STORY OF A BOY:

HOW SPONSORSHIP CHANGES THE LIFE OF A FATHERLESS BOY …

 When he was just 8 years old, Reaksa’s father died. Reaksa became addicted to online games which made his mother angry with him most of the time, and he got poor study results.

Reaksa’s mother sold vegetables in the market and worked hard to support the family but sometimes she could not pay for rent or food. Reaksa felt hopeless and unhappy and so he spent a lot of time with his friends and play­ing games. He didn’t attend school regularly.

In 2008, Reaksa was accepted into SC’s Child Develop­ment Project. SC’s support covered school fees, food subsidy, uniforms, stationery and other school mate­rials. Now he is 13 and in grade 6 at Sansom Kosal Primary School, and goes to school regularly. He is a good son too. Life for Reaksa and his family has improved a lot since receiving support from SC. His mother has moved her small business to another area and is getting better every day. His studies are also improving.

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Reaksa : “Now I study very hard because I want to be a good student and make my mother happy. I also help her in my free time. I used to be a very bad boy, making my mother sad and unhappy, but now I am very different !”

ONE STORY OF A YOUTH:

Chenda’s Story

Like so many Sunshine children, Chenda’s parents were rural migrants, arriving in Phnom Penh in 2005, seeking a better life. However, they found themselves struggling to meet even the most basic needs of food and education for their two young children. Without Sunshine’s assistance, Chenda’s life could have been very different. Children like her in slum communities are at risk of sexual abuse, drug use (especially glue sniffing), violence, child labour and human trafficking.

Once in the Sunshine program, Chenda thrived. She proved a bright, able student and a hard worker. In the past 10 years she completed her primary and secondary education and has just finished the first year of a sociology degree. However, her studies will now be postponed due to the increasing pressure to support her family. This is a common situation in Cambodia where there are virtually no safety nets. Her mother will soon stop working due to ill health and her father makes very little as a motorcycle taxi driver. A relative has given Chenda the opportunity to start a small business selling car tires. If the business succeeds, Chenda will be able to buy a small home for her ageing parents in the outskirts of Phnom Penh. If they can help look after the business, this will give her time to complete her degree sometime in the future. Chenda has thought and prayed a lot about this decision to put her dream of a university education on hold. However, she feels that providing for her family is the right thing to do and Sunshine staff, both past and present, support her decision.

“Because I am from a poor family and was supported by Sunshine, I wanted to become a Social Worker and help others like me. However, I have to stop my studies for now as I need to help my family. I hope that someday in the future I can finish my degree. May God bless all those who have blessed me and so many other Sunshine children.”

ONE PARENT’S STORY: THE SMILES OF A FAMILY OF RUBBISH COLLECTORS

In Thnout Chhrum, a slum community in Phnom Penh where many migrant people struggle to make a living, lives Rin, 33, and her husband. They are rubbish collectors. Eleven years ago they left their home in the countryside to look for work but they could not find any job because of their lack of education. Their family of five lives in a small rented room. The family has faced many challenges over the years and they could not send their kids to school or to hospital when they were sick.

“Dirty Girl, you should be in school!” the villagers would taunt. Channa, known as Dirty Girl, would tag along with her parents as they collected rubbish for recycling. In 2013, Rin’s family was found by SC staff and Channa is now in grade 3 at the Jesus School. Rin has been equipped through Parents Day Trainings and has learnt parenting skills, Micro-Enterprise Develop­ment (MED), communications, money management, setting goals, and other life skills.

They now have a Tuk Tuk which helps them to make more income.

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RIN :“Through Sunshine’s support,my daughter can go to school like other kids. She studies both Khmer and English and learns other useful skills in the Children Club. I am also grateful to have learnt many good lessons during Parent’s Days. Thank you for support­ing my family. My burdens are reduced and my family is much better now” .

These achievements would not have hap­pened without your support. Thank you very much for your generosity which has enabled more and more struggling families to stand own their own two feet. Many others are waiting for our support. Please continue on this journey with us. We welcome more partners and can guarantee that we will use your resources with great stewardship to be effective and accountable in every way.

Please enjoy reading our updated report.

May God bless you and continue to use you to bless others.

With my warmest regards,

Mr. Channy NOP,

Director of Sunshine Cambodia

director@sunshinecambodia.org