University Education for Young Women in Cambodia

Lotus Outreach’s CATALYST program not only offers assistance to ensure girls finish tertiary studies and/or skills training programs, but also provides timely employment and further education orientation for high school girls under the Girls Access To Education (GATE) scholarship program and which is implemented by a local partner, Cambodian Women's Crisis Center, (CWCC) at Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.

Earlier this month, Lotus Outreach Cambodia collaborated with the GATE Siem Reap Officer to offer orientation on higher education, vocational skills and career options to 29 GATE Scholars at Samrang High School and 17 GATE scholars residing in Kompong Kdey District, Siem Reap Province.

Preparing students at this higher level ensures they understand what subjects they should be studying to match their further education and training choices. It also helps them understand where and how to apply to universities and training institutes, as well as where they can get scholarships to reduce their tuition costs. In some cases, they can secure a full residential scholarship.

The day started with a game: balloon piercing! The students were asked if they have ambition. They were asked to blow a balloon as big as their ambition and raise the balloons up in the air as high as possible to show just how ambitious they were. Afterwards each of them was given a toothpick and asked if they believed they could poke the balloon with the toothpick without popping it. Most said it wasn’t impossible, except for two students who believed it could be!

Then the students were asked to pierce their balloon. Everyone gave it a try despite their hesitations and fear, except one student who was too scared to bring herself to do it. Another girl who believed it would work managed to pierce the toothpick into the balloon without bursting it! She was asked to come to the front of the room but keep her balloon behind her back so the others couldn't see how she did it.

Soon after, the other students began to figure out how to do it, too-- screaming with excitement! It was fascinating for both those who could do it and those who couldn't when those who had figured it out were asked to share how they did it. Sun shared her wisdom. "It's our mindset and belief that hinders us from getting the best out of ourselves,” she said. “Once we believe in something, we will find ways to make it possible." Another student, Yin added that "believing alone is not enough; thorough analysis and strategies need to go hand in hand. Evidently, one of us who believed it would be possible to poke the balloon without popping it didn't make it as she didn't study the balloon and analyze how to do it."

After the game, students were asked to write down all the jobs they knew on a flipchart and then a self-assessment test was introduced. The test asked a series of questions about likes and dislikes, matching these to careers classified into six categories: Realistic Jobs, Conventional Jobs, Investigative Jobs, Artistic Jobs, Social Jobs and Jobs of Enterprising. Job suggestions where given for each category so students could cross check the career they had in mind with the career that suited their personality and interests. Knowing this would help them decide what skill or major to apply for after high school.

The program enlightened the girls to all the opportunities available to them after high school and taught them how to apply. It also provided students with a a set of 30 Career Introductory Videos produced by Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, of which they were asked to pick 6. These videos helped them to have a better understanding of what each job is all about such as Researcher, Travel Agent, Computer Networking, Administration, Project Facilitator and Logistics.

Students were very interested in all the topics and they were actively involved throughout the workshop. The happiness and excitement were palpable over having received more knowledge about vocational skills training, university scholarship opportunities and job opportunities. They asked that the program continue, crediting the workshop with opening them up and positioning them for a better future!

In partnership with Cambodian Women's Crisis Center (CWCC), the Lotus Outreach International CATALYST program at Siem Reap and Phnom Penh offers assistance to ensure girls finish tertiary studies and/or skills training programs and provides timely employment and further education resources for high school girls under GATE scholarships.

CATLALYST program is designed to provide extracurricular activities that will build confidence and bridge gaps in experience and knowledge. With this goal in mind, every year CATALYST Project takes its scholars on a study visit. This is the second year of a CATALYST study visit. This year, 33 CATALYST scholars from Phnom Penh Capital City, Battambang Province, Banteay Meanchey Province and Siem Reap Province all traveled to Siem Reap Province on September 1-3, 2018.

The group visited Khmer Cultural Village, Angkor Wat Temple, Bayon Temple, Taprom Temple, and a sacred place called Preah Ang Chek Preah Ang Chorm. They also went to see the sun rise at Angkor Wat and the sun set at Preh Roub Temple. 

The main objective of this study visit is to help build confidence, team work, and improve networking and leadership skills among all of the scholars. In addition, the teachers work to broaden their student's knowledge of the rich history of Angkor Era and the Khmer culture. For example, the students achieved these objectives by attending a half day workshop on Communication & Self-Confidence. The Program invited its very own Social Affair & English Literature graduate Ms. Noryrath who is now working at Friend Organization in Siem Reap Province. She was very happy and excited to share knowledge with the younger generation. She was a good mentor and had impressive techniques to train CATALYST scholars.

The program compensated the trainer for her time, but she contributed the amount back to CATALYST program saying that it was her great honor having been invited to deliver this training and that what she just did could not be compared with what she has received from Lotus Outreach. Ms. Noryath stated, “I would not have today without the support from Lotus Outreach."

Scholars’ Reflections:

Samnang: One thing that I will never forget about the study visit is the friendship with other students. They gave me warmth and we got closer with each other even though we are from different places such as Phnom Penh City, Siem Reap Province, Banteay Meanchey Province and Battambang Province. Also, we learned a lot how to work as a team. We studied about history of Angkor Wat and many other temples. More importantly, on the third day, we had a training on Communication & Self-Confidence. This course enabled us to open up and dare to share about ‘what fears make us feel not confident and cannot do it’. At this point, some of us became emotional and some even cried. I couldn't forget that moment. I am really thankful to Lotus Outreach, donors, staff, and senior for working hard with this study visit.

Sophin: Usually I work from Monday to Friday and study at the weekends. Going on this study visit made me feel refresh and reduced 80% of my stress. This was the first time for me to visit Khmer Cultural Village although I am from Siem Reap Province. Another thing that I cannot forget was the explanation by tour guide about history of Angkor Wat Temple, statues and other temples. I think I am a lucky woman being part of CATALYST Program. For third day, there was a Communication & Self-Confidence training. It made me brave to share what I had hidden since 2016. This is a good chance for me and everyone to open our mind to share personal story in the training and a good time that everyone had given me good advices how I might get over these feelings. I would like to say ‘thank you’ to the donors for supporting this trip.

Kimheng: It was 2 nights and 3 days of study visit in Siem Reap Province and it was a good memory that I will never forget. I have a lot of memories in my mind. I went to places that I have never been to and met people I have never met. It made me feel both strange and very fresh. When I arrived at Angkor Wat Temple, I was very excited and very happy, especially because there was a tour guide with us who explained about Khmer history since Angkor Wat was constructed. During that time, I felt like I was in that situation. It was an amazing experience for me because I like reading history books. One more thing that I cannot forget is meeting new friends. They were very friendly and we cared for each other like blood sisters. I was very happy to meet all of them. Not only study visit, there was a Communication & Self-Confidence Training too. It was so great because the speaker is our senior and she spent her valuable time to come to train us. Her presentation was very clear and interesting. Even though some students were a bit tired or sleepy, her presentation woke everyone up. I would like to pay my gratitude to Lotus Outreach and the donors for supporting this trip for us to learn new things.