Education Cambodia Project #51883

University for Low-Income Students in Cambodia

by Concordia Welfare and Education Foundation

Project Report | Dec 12, 2024
She Held Onto Her Dream

By Hayley Steinbauer | Program Impact Coordinator, Cambodia

University students in white and plaid uniforms bustle around the college campus, paying for the next semester and chatting with friends. The new school year is about to start at Royal University of Law and Economics in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Phunry, a petite girl with a big smile, is in her second year at the school. She is studying public administration and hopes to one day work as an assistant administrator of a commune or district office.

These are big dreams for a girl from Preah Vihear province, a southern province ranked highest in the country in multidimensional poverty (CSES 2016; 2017). Her parents were sustenance farmers, farming a small rice paddy that provided just enough food to feed their family of five.

When her father passed away, the family struggled even more, but Phunry continued to study. She held onto her dream of being something more than a farmer. In Cambodia, women are more than twice as likely as men to have none or only some education (CSES 2016; 2017).

Despite family pressures to stay and work, she continued to pursue higher education. She graduated from high school and enrolled in university, becoming the first in her family to attend university.

“I have the opportunity to study now, and I have to try. I want to be able to support my family and community,” Phunry shared.

In 2023, Phunry applied and was awarded the CWEF student scholarship. The scholarship will cover her tuition fees throughout her education. Her perseverance and grit have served her well during the first year of school and she is excited for year two. Phunry expresses her gratitude for donors who have made this opportunity possible.

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References:

NIS/MoP (National Institue of Statistics/Ministry of Planning) (2018). Cambodia Socio-Economic Survey (years: 2017 and 2016). Phnom Penh. On-line: http://www.nis.gov.kh/index.php/en/14-cses/12-cambodia-socioeconomic-survey-reports

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Aug 7, 2024
We Couldn't Buy Books

By Pov | CWEF Scholarship Recipient in Cambodia

Pov reading in his university English course

When I was a child, I often felt scared. The other people in my village didn't like me. They didn't like me because of my father: he would often get drunk and do violent things. When I was 4 or 5 years old, my mom and dad decided to divorce. In my dad's absence, my mom worked the land as a subsistence farmer, took care of the household chores, and raised me and my four sisters all by herself. Then many years later when I was 17 years old, my dad died.

My mom worked as a subsistence farmer; so she did not earn money like other people do from their jobs. Therefore, it was challenging for her to fund the education of me and my four sisters. The financial situation caused me and my sisters to miss classes. We also didn't have the money to buy study materials. Like books. Or backpacks. Or other materials.

The next concern for my family was that we didn't have enough money to pay for university. When Concordia Welfare & Education Foundation (CWEF) awarded me a scholarship, my situation got a lot better. It relieved the burden on my family to pay for my school. CWEF pays for my school fees and school supplies every year from the first year until now.

Finally, I am so grateful to CWEF for providing me with a scholarship to help me purchase my study materials and pay for college tuition. I appreciate that the donors support my university education. It is so helpful to all the students that need knowledge who come from from impoverished communities or other places where people do not have enough support.

Today, I am 22 years old, and I'm in my 3rd year at Phnom Penh University of Arts (PPUA) studying visual communication.

Thank you!

- Pov

Items Pov created to sell for a business course

A project Pov created for his visual design course

Discussing class assignments with other students

Working on a visual design project

Pov speaking in church

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Apr 15, 2024
Becoming a Banker

By April Chiasson | Communications Manager

Dyna, CWEF University Scholarship Recipient

Dyna, a Cambodian teenager, dreamed of having a stable job as a banker. She wanted a wide range of professional opportunities. In order to fulfill this dream, she began studying accounting at a university in the city. But now...not far into her studies...she struggled with whether or not she should continue.

Her father had served God as a pastor for almost thirty years in Cambodia where they live; and during those years, his income was irregular and unpredictable. Because of the irregular income, he had to take out loans which he then struggled to pay off completely. Because of her family's debt, Dyna's family could not pay her school fees or support her life in the city where she studied. Dyna saw that whenever she needed money to pay for tuition or buy school supplies or just pay for life in the city itself, it all increased the heavy financial burden on her parents. Should she continue to study when it would put so much stress on her family? "But," Dyna says, "the whole time God never forgot me."

At this point, Dyna got connected to CWEF. After completing the application and interview process, she was eventually selected to receive a university scholarship. This would allow her to continue pursuing her accounting degree!! In addition to the scholarship, Dyna also found a Christian dormitory where she lived for the beginning of college.

"The faith that I have in God has helped me a lot in my life and my living...without God, I also wouldn't be here."

I'd like to thank my scholarship donor because if I didn't have the scholarship to support me, I wouldn't be able to study here because we don't have enough money to study; and we'd also have to spend a lot of money on school fees, textbooks, and other expenses. That is hard for me. Without the donor who gave me my scholarship, my life after 12th grade may have beeen uncertain. I may have found a random job to do. Studying at university is very important. After finishing grade 12, I don't know what (marketable) skills I would have had."

Dyna volunteers her time teaching English and Khmer at her church and also teaching math to children. Someday she wants to educate people in her community about how to budget and invest wisely as well as how to resolve financial hardships and avoid money-related scams.

Dyna says:

"Thank you, God. I prayed to you for my future plan. Thank you for answering my prayers and my family with support by giving me a scholarship from CWEF. I am excited and very happy...The fact that I received a scholarship from CWEF was a blessing in disguise as it helped me to continue my studies at the school I wanted to attend and helped ease my family's burden of paying for school fees and school supplies...I truly thank CWEF and the staff for helping me continue my studies at the university, and God bless CWEF and all the staff."

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THANK YOU to each of you that has sacrificially given to bridge the gap for young people like Dyna! Without your help, she may have never been able to finish pursuing her dream of becoming an accountant. But now, her education will be a blessing not only to her but also to her family and community! It's exciting to see the ripple effect of kindness, isn't it?

Singing at church

Tutoring children in math

Studying accounting at the university

Volunteering with children's activities at church

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