Education Cambodia Project #14245

University Education for Young Women in Cambodia

by Lotus Outreach

University Education for Young Women in Cambodia

Project Report | Dec 28, 2017
CATALYST/GATE update

By Glenn Fawcett | Executive Director

We asked the beneficiaries "how high can you fly?"

In its first year, our Cambodian Tertiary Education and Leadership Youths Training Program, (CATALYST) supported tertiary studies for 28 female Cambodian youths through the 2016-17 academic year and after which 3 graduated from the Nursing stream.

The new academic year for Cambodia commenced in November 2017. Post-graduation, 25 of 28 youths remained in the program and after which Lotus Outreach International approved an additional 10 seats for a total of 35 scholars to be supported for 2017-18.

After an arduous social audit of year 12 high school graduates from our Girls Access To Education (GATE) program, we have now filled 34 places, most popular majors being; 7 English Literature, 8 Accounting and 5 in Finance/Banking and Management.

When the young women from underprivileged Cambodian families come to us they are not strong in English and Internet communications, further they are very shy and unworldly.

CATLALYST program is therefore designed to provide extracurricular activities that will build confidence where there was shyness and bridge gaps in their experience and knowledge, especially where English and internet communications are concerned.

Activities that are being provided at present include multiple approaches to improving English language including, learning how to introduce themselves and tell a story, keeping a daily journal in English, regular interaction and sharing information and experiences as a group on the CATALYST Facebook Messenger page.

In order to help these village girls become more confident while navigating a city environment, we take them on excursions to places of cultural interest such as the National Museum, the Royal Palace and also to local movies and restaurants. During these visits the young women are given jobs to do such as approaching the ticket booth to get everyone’s tickets and passes, taking charge of refreshments and ordering the food and drinks, being the group leader and etc.

The group play trust games to build a sense of solidarity and which also builds individual confidence.

It is difficult for us to imagine how completely green and innocent these girls are when they arrive in the city from small villages where they know and are known by everyone. On arrival they are not able to converse with anyone as according to their custom, all are strangers. Even when in the group with us they still take time to come out of themselves.

We need help them transform so they can present themselves confidently at a job interview and it is wonderful to see how quickly they open up and mature as the gaps in their knowledge are filled. Conversing in English is a tremendous confidence booster and we are currently developing ways to further accelerate their learning and confidence using internet technology.

Some confidence building activities:

English language skills including; practice self-introduction, telling their story, keeping diary in English and IT based group interaction
Computer skills Training
Career Higher Education Orientation workshops
Study Visits to National Museum, Royal Palace, Tuol Sleng Prison and Angkor Wat
Taking charge of group’s needs; buying tickets, managing refreshments and learning how to find their way in an urban environment

Thank you for being an integral part of the team that supports these young women!

Study visit to Royal Palace and Museum

Visit to Angkor Wat to honor Khmer culture

Playing a group solidarity game.

Honoring their cultural heritage.

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Oct 2, 2017
A visit to Huth's home.

By Raksmey Var | Country Representative in Cambodia

Huth and her parents

Huth is a twenty-year-old that is currently in the 12^th grade. Huth’s family lives 24 kms away from school so we traveled to her home to conduct a check in with her and her family.

Because of the distance, when school is in session Huth stays at her high school’s residential housing. Huth has been enrolled in the GATE program since the 9^th grade. For the last four years she has been receiving support from Lotus Outreach. She is the fifth of six children in her family and she is the only one that has remained in school for this long. Three of her siblings are married and her younger brother recently dropped out of the eighth grade so that Huth could remain in school.

Huth’s mom tells us that their family has been having a hard time making ends meet. She stated that even with support from the program it’s hard to keep food on the table. She tells us, “I’m the only one earning in this family and for which I do farm work. My husband is not strong and can only catch fish for us to live on so all our cash needs are provided by me”. Huth’s mother also experiences chronic neck and shoulder pain which requires expensive medicine.

Even so, her mother is a strong advocate for her continued schooling beyond the 12^th grade. She states, “the reason I have kept her in school this long is that I didn’t get a chance to be education and I always wanted my children to be educated. Unfortunately, all of my other children had to drop out around grade eight due to our poverty. I even told Huth to drop out in grade nine but one of Huth’s teachers told Huth to push back and she refused to stop studying. We could not afford it but we somehow made it happen.”

It was at this time that one of Huth’s teachers presented the opportunity of the GATE program. Huth secretly applied for it. After a scholarship officer conducted a social audit at their home, she was selected. Huth’s Mum then agreed to let her remain in school as long as she was getting the support.

Huth tells us with tears in her eyes, “I was so happy at that time I cannot describe it. I loved studying at that time, I was enjoying it so much, I cried when I got the news. In terms of my academic performance, I was 5^th of 25 students in grade 9 and now I’m around 20^th of 60. After completing year 12, I want to continue studying to be a high school teacher, though it’s up to my parents if I can.”

Huth and her parents discussed with us about how important it is for her to remain in school and complete a course of professional studies in order to be sure she gets a well-paying job. Huth’s parents voiced concern about paying for college. We told them that we have supported hundreds of girls just like her and that she will be able to apply to our CATALYST program and receive the same support she has been receiving through GATE while she is at college. Huth’s mom replied, “if she gets support from Lotus Outreach we will allow her to continue”.

Our Cambodian Office Manager Pisey shared with them that she has also come from a poor background and was supported by the program since the eighth grade until college and is now earning a great salary with Lotus Outreach.

At the end of the visit, Huth’s family was optimistic about the education opportunities in front of Huth. We were happy to know that Huth will be applying to the CATALYST program and will continue to strive for a bright future.

Huth

Huth making a meal.

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Jul 5, 2017
Somnang

By Raksmey Var | Country Representative in Cambodia

Somnang

Somnang who is twenty-one years old, has been supported by LO’s GATE program since 8^th grade. Somnang attended a skills training program in Siem Reap and was hired directly after completing it. She will now be continuing her education with the support of our tertiary education program, CATALYST. Below is an interview with Somnang that was conducted by Raksmey Var, our Country Representative in Cambodia.

“My name is Somnang and I’m 21 years of age. My village is at Sonikum, about half an hour out of Siem Reap town. I was supported through high school by Lotus Outreach’s Girls’ access to Education program since the eighth grade. With assistance from Lotus Outreach International was able to eventually reach and pass grade 12.”

“I did my training from at the cooking department in Sala Bai, a college that provides free residential training to prepare Cambodian youth from poor backgrounds to get work in professions sought by Hotels, Restaurants and Tourism based industries at Siem Reap. I chose to train as a Chef’s assistant. Once I finished my training I applied for and began working at the Heritage Hotel in Siem Reap and I’ve been working here for 5 months.”

We asked Somnang - When you were in the 12^th grade what inspired you to continue your education? Somnang responded, “I was told about the program by the scholarship program officer and assisted by the program to find out where to go, how to make the application. LO really did everything for me.”

Are you happy having a job at this hotel as a cook? Do you enjoy cooking? - “Yes and yes!” How about your family? “My family is happy and hopeful"

“Actually, my dream is to become a teacher and while I’m happy to have this part time job as it helps me support my family and pay for my further study, my main aim is completing a 4-year Bachelor in Chemistry and bio-chemistry! For the past 5 months I’ve been working at this Hotel and studying for a 4 year degree at the same time. I begin at University at 7am and until till 12 noon. Then I start work at 2pm and until 11pm, every day! My salary supports my family and my studies.”

Once we heard that this bright young woman was planning on going to college to obtain a chemistry degree we wanted to help in whatever way possible. It turns out that the timing couldn’t have been more perfect as we just had a few spots open up in our CATALYST program. We explained to her that we would be happy to include her in the tertiary support program. This news delighted Somnang.

Along with Somnang, we are working very hard to ensure that we follow up with all the scholars we’ve supported in high school so that none of them fall through the cracks. While Somnang has managed to succeed up to this point, the CATALYST program offers a lot of material, psychological support, soft skills, English and IT which benefit tertiary scholars a great deal and carry them onward and upward.

To conclude, Somanag expressed “I am very thankful for the support from LO that brought me here today. I would not have even finished high school without LO. I’d like to wish you all good health and success in your work.”

Somnang cooking at her job.

Grateful Somnang!

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