Build dreams! Send Cambodian Students to College!

GIVING TUESDAY IS NOVEMBE 28 AND DONATIONS UP TO $2500 PER UNIQUE DONOR WILL RECEIVE AN INCENTIVE MATCH FROM GLOBAL GIVING

Program Update Autumn 2023

As we discussed in our last program update, all of the students in our " Build Dreams" program have now graduated. Your support created a profound change in these students' lives.

For now, as we continue to evaluate our path forward, donations are used to help primary and secondary students with basic needs, such as supplies or enough money for lunch. A hungry student will leave school to find a job. Our goal throughout all of our programs is a focus on education , as the way to break the cycle of inherited poverty and this means keeping students in school.  In Cambodia secondary education is broken into 2 segments, lower school  grades 7 ~ 9 , like our "middle school" and upper secondary school , like our "high school"  which covers grades 10 ~ 12.

In 2021, the World Bank estimated that about 58% of students finish lower secondary school and of the 42% remaining students, about 65% finished upper secondary school. This means that about 38% of all high school students finish high school and of those 28% will pass the national exam.

We have several students attending our arts classes at Champey who are in "middle school" and "high school"  and who show the determination to both stay in school and attend our classes. We are continuing our internal discussion about what might be next for this program. Economics plays a big part in the success or failure of a students’ ability to finish high school. Many students drop out to find work to help support their families. And, of course, a high school diploma, which is only obtained after passing the national examination, is a requirement for college.As you can see it is a lengthy process to position a student for college entry.

We will keep you posted regarding our next steps with this program. Helping a college student is a multi-year commitment and we must be certain that if we make that commitment, we can see it through.

It is worth noting that two of our graduates have dreams of graduate school. Ms. SP, an English major, wants to become an English teacher. Ms. S , graduated with a degree in international relations and her goal is to eventually work for an NGO with an education focus that helps poor kids to go to school.

These are wonderful goals and dreams but at the present time, plainly put, we do not have donor  funds and therefore  the ability to make this sort of financial commitment. As we mentioned, in order to consider this type of multi-year commitment we would need to be certain that we could see it through.

Thank you for your kind support. We will keep you posted as things develop. Truly, your generous support has changed the lives of our graduates and we area deeply grateful to you.

Barbara & Mark Rosasco

Next steps? 

The students in  our " Build Dreams"   program have now  graduated. It is amazing to consider that together we have changed these students'  lives.  So the question becomes, what comes next? In fact,  we are evaluating our next steps. As was the case with all of our programs, the interruptions of COVID had a profound impact. Now as we consider our next steps, we are reminded that we currently have several students  attending  our arts classes at Champey who are still in high school and who show the determination to both stay in school and attend our classes. These students  are from families that would be  unable to even consider helping  with any possible  future tuition. We are now in the very early  stages of internal  discussion  about what might  be next for this program.

It is worth remembering  that in  the US,  nearly  everyone goes to high school and most students  graduate . In  2021 it  was estimated that between 5% and 8% US students dropped  out of  high school.

Similar to the  US, secondary school structure  in Cambodia is broken into 2 segments, lower secondary education which covers grades 7 ~ 9 and  upper secondary education which covers grades 10~ 12.  However,  in 2021, it was estimated by the World Bank that just 57.7% of students finished lower secondary school and of the remaining students, about 65.6% finished upper  secondary school. In plain numeric terms this means that of 100 students, only 58 finish the lower school and of the 58 students remaining,  65.6% or just  38 students will finish  upper secondary school. Of those 38 students, it is currently estimated that 72% or 28 students out of 100 students will pass the national exam for graduation.

Economics plays a big part in the success or failure of students’ ability to finish high school. Many students drop out to find work to help support their families.     And, of course, a high school diploma, which is only obtained after passing the national examination,  is a requirement for college.

We will keep you posted regarding our next steps with this program. A committment to help a college student is a multi-year committment and we must be certain that if we make that committment, we can see it through. 

Thank you for your kind support. Truly, you have changed the lives of our graduates.

Barbara & Mark Rosasco