Build dreams! Send Cambodian Students to College!

This report is the third in a series that highlights the accomplishments of three young women in the Kasumisou Scholars program. The first two reports highlighted the accomplishments of two of our students who have now completed  or who are within weeks of achieving their goal of a college degree.  This third report will introduce  Ms. T, age 19 and  new member of the group. 

Ms.T has been studying dance at our Champey Academy of Arts since 2017. She graduated from High School in December 2023, passing the national exam.  Ms. T  is an extremely talented and committed student of dance. Earlier this year, in recognition of her skill as a dancer and her teaching skills, particularly with  some of the younger children, we promoted  Ms. T to the position of Assistant Dance Teacher. She earns a living wage that is similar to an entry level office job. 

Like other  members in our program, Ms. T , despite her young age, has experienced significant hardship and the need to take on great responsibility. Approximately one year ago, Ms. T’s father abandoned the family. Ms. T  has one younger sister who dropped out of high school without graduating  and who does not work. Ms. T’s mother works selling soft drinks from a cart on the city streets but, very sadly, she suffers from a serious  gambling addiction which consumes most and sometimes all of the income that she earns from selling soft drinks. With her father gone, the situation left Ms. T  with the responsibility of paying for  the rent and most of the costs of living for the family.

Earlier this summer, exhausted by her mother’s constant need  for money to pay off  gambling debts, Ms. T  asked for  permission to live at our school. We agreed, and she has made a space for herself. She now lives, rent free,  occupying part  of a storeroom in the school. Ms. T’s goal is to enter a bachelor’s degree in English language and literature in the coming autumn while continuing to work full time at Champey.   It is our hope that we will be able to help her by covering the cost of her tuition  which is approximately $500 per year for four years.

Our Ms. T, a dedicated student for more than 7 years, is another shining example of a brave young women who refuses to accept a lesser future, instead choosing , with great courage and conviction, to move forward in her job as a dance  teacher and to dare to  aim for the dream of completing a college education.

None of this would have been possible without the generous and kind support of you,  our donors. You have transformed the world for Ms. T and others. We hope that you will  continue your support of Kasumisou Foundation.

We hope that you will join with us on July 10 for the GlobalGiving July Bonus Day when GlobalGiving will offer a donor match of 20%  to 40% on donations of $100 to $1000.

It is easy to lament that we, as individuals, cannot change “ the world” as we stand by and watch world events. Yet,  Ms. T  is an inspiring  example of  an accomplished young woman who has stayed the course, overcoming great adversity to move herself forward as she works to change her own world.  Our sincere thanks to you,  our wonderful donors. This is another opportunity that has been  made possible  by each one of you.

We are deeply grateful to you all for your support.

Barbara & Mark