Breaking the Cycle of Poverty in Rural Cambodia

Here is a true story of a 13 year old girl, named Salong, who received a bicycle from Trailblazer and how it changed her and her parents' lives.

Salong lives with her family in Dong Pa Av village, Pongro Krom commune, Chikreng district, Siem Reap Province. She is in grade 5 at Ta Por Primary School in Tapor village, Pongro Krom commune. Salong’s family is very poor. They live in a small house and have a small rice field located far from their village. Salong is the oldest daughter of four siblings. They had only one old bicycle to share between the entire family, which was used for traveling to work in their rice field and care for their cows in a field outside the village.

Before Salong received a bicycle from Trailblazer, Salong's father needed to take her by their only bicycle the six kilometers distance to school. She often missed class when her father was busy with supporting his family. Sometimes Salong traveled to school with her friend, but getting home was difficult because her friend’s class finished before hers, and traveling alone was unsafe.

In May 2018, the head teacher of Ta Por Primary School asked Salong and her parents to come to the school to receive a bicycle from Trailblazer Foundation.

Salong now uses her bicycle to get to and from school every day. Her father has more time to care for his cows and tend to their rice field because he doesn’t need to take Salong to and from school. The family is very happy.

On Sundays Salong uses the bicycle to help her parents in the rice field, and to take care of her younger brother while they watch the cows together. Salong also uses her bicycle to take her friend to school because now her friend’s bicycle is broken. Salong is happy and loves to go to school.

Salong's parents promise to do whatever its takes to see that Salong finishes school and finds a good job. They thank Trailblazer Foundation so much for giving Salong the bicycle.