At the start of the new 24-25 school year, we have awarded the highest number of high school scholarships to walk-in students ever.
While the majority of PLF’s students are enrolled in the schools where we work at a community level and ‘grow up’ through our projects, we have also always been ready to support those students who find us independently. By showing the self-determination, courage and pure grit it takes to seek out the assistance that their families or circumstances can’t provide, we know that they already have all the personal skills required to persist with and complete their education. All we do is provide the essential resources, tools and encouragement to help them achieve their potential.
Our first-ever walk in was Vannak. She approached PLF while living in the most basic conditions in Siem Reap, far from her village and family, with a bunch of friends in a similar position. We were instantly struck by her sheer determination and optimism. We supported her immediately to finish high school and into university, and then employed her after graduating.
Vannak now runs our workshop and mentorship program, brilliantly leading her team and inspiring countless young students on a daily basis. She is the epitome of how education can help young Cambodians overcome the circumstances they are born into – if only they are given the right opportunity.
And now we are widening that opportunity to reach even more deserving and driven students.
For 18 years the only student cohort we supported in Siem Reap city was at Wat Bo Primary, but since opening our Urban Learning Center in 2022, more and more walk-in students are finding us, mostly through ULC’s library.
These students reveal the growing demographic of urban poor in Siem Reap. The city’s tourism-reliant economy received devastating blows during Covid, and is yet to fully recover. Previously ‘middle class’ families are now not able to pay all the extra costs of resources required to fill the many gaps of the Cambodian government education system. Students of all ages come to ULC looking for library resources, IT classes, workshops. A small number even need to be on food relief from our urban food bank.
In the 23-24 school year just ended, we were able to take 62 walk-in students into our programs across all the grades. For the 24-25 year ahead, the demand from high school students especially has been incredible, and we are focused on getting as many of these older students over the Grade 12 finish line via high school scholarships. Armed with their high school diploma, they will go on towards better economic prospects that will in turn create a ripple effect and help them to support their families. For the last few months, Vannak and the tertiary team have been on the road busy conducting interviews and home visits to assess who are the most deserving candidates.
With that process now complete, we are thrilled that being able to serve this new cohort brings a 25% increase in the total number of scholarships awarded compared to last year. And, as part of our strategy to encourage more students towards STEM subjects, these are all for students opting to study the science track in high school. This aligns us with Cambodia’s own development goals in recognizing the importance of STEM for the future of the country, while leading students towards stronger economic prospects in STEM careers. (Ministry of Education 2016)
We are able to fund these extra awards due to the phase out of our Siem Reap dorms which were established to specifically address the needs of PLF students in Preah Vihear. We opened the dorms in 2016, at a time when there were no local high schools that could serve these rural students. The only way they could complete Grade 12 was to leave home and relocate to the city. Now that the high school in Srayang has expanded to include Grade 12, and with the support of our Srayang Learning Center, these students can get their diploma AND stay at home with their families.
As the dorm doors close, literally dozens more open. We are relieved to be able to finally turn the page on the need for residential housing for underage minors. And we are thrilled that we can serve these determined new students with the essential educational opportunities they deserve.
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For as little as $10 a month, you could contribute to the ongoing education of our students. $120 goes a long way in Cambodia: that’s 5 village children on the road to education, with access to school and clean drinking water for half a year. Or a million other things, all of which coalesce into the tools needed for life to change for the better!
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