For many teens in rural Cambodia, the dream of completing high school and earning a university degree is well beyond their reach. Since 2017, it’s been our honor to help put this dream well within reach of four cohorts of incredible young adults. These impressive students are dedicated not only to succeeding academically but also to helping improve the lives of their families and communities.
Two weeks ago, we asked for help from our community to send a cohort of 22 Cambodian teens to college. Our community came through with flying colors! As a reminder, our higher education project in Cambodia provides college scholarships to rural teens who pass the national entrance exam for university and who volunteer regularly with our community programs. In the particular rural area where LWB is working, poverty is most people’s reality. Many parents put a great deal of pressure on their children to drop out of school to work in order to make a few dollars a day to feed their families. Only 18% of children in this region graduate from high school, and less than half of those will successfully pass the college admission exam.
On this very last day of 2014, we give thanks for all the lives changed this year because of your support. This week we’ve been reflecting on just how much we have accomplished together and have chosen a few special moments to highlight. Join with us in remembering a very special year of hope and healing, and please know that none of it would have been possible without you.
