University Education for Young Women in Cambodia

Sreyreath is a second year student in Management at Build Bright University in Siem Reap Province. Her parents died of HIV/AIDS when she was small and she has been living with her grandmother who sells vegetables to pay for Sreyeath’s education. After high school, she left her house in Soth Nikum District (~46kms from Siem Reap Town) to stay at CATALYST's residential house in Siem Reap Town in order to pursue a university degree. 

Sreyeath was at high risk of dropping out as she grappled with dedicating time to her studies while also helping her grandma with business in order to get by financially. She said she often thought about leaving school and that from Grade 1 through 11 her grades were average, she fell sick often and had to miss school and was bullied for being an orphan. Finally, in Grade 12, Sreyeath heard about Lotus Outreach and the GATE program which would support her to finish high school, she was accepted for the scholarship and graduated. 

After graduating, Sreyeath had the opportunity to apply for the CATALYST scholarship. She applied and was accepted after a social audit conducted by field staff from our Lotus Outreach Cambodia (LOCAM) team. We wanted to share this reflection from Sreyeath after one year with CATALYST.

“Going to university is a good thing for anyone who wants to pursue their dreams. A university education was not a possibility for me due to my circumstances, until I applied for a scholarship through CATALYST. 

Since I've been attending university and in the CATALYST Scholarship Program, I am very happy and grateful for the donors who don’t ask for anything in return for their support. In this one year as a university student, I've changed my mindset, followed my dreams, learned to understand people around me, and grown close with my university friends and CATALYST fellows.  I am very proud to be a student and for all that I have learned this past year.  

Lotus Outreach has given me a valuable gift by exposing me to different things. Living in the city, I have attended workshops and classes and experienced nice hotels and modern foods. Through all of this, I learn about life. Life is a mixture of all tastes: bitter, happy, unhappy and sacrifice. Living away from my hometown in the city, I have gained a lot of life experiences and learned so much about myself and others. I hope that in the next two or three years I will gain even more knowledge to prepare me for life after school. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity!"

Thank you to our donors for supporting girls' access to higher education in Cambodia. We believe that when you empower a girl, you transform her community.