College Scholarships for Young Women in Cambodia

First, I wish to thank everyone who has donated to The Chelly Foundation's campaign to provide college scholarships for young women in the rural district of Chumkuri in Cambodia. 

The current school year at Hun Sen Chum Kiri High School in Chumkuri has just ended, and 12th grade students have taken both a final year exam and the national exam administered by school officials.  We are expecting results back from the national exam in another week or two.  When the results are in, the Principal of the high school will make his recommendations to our in-country director, Nop Ess, on which two young women should be selected to receive scholarships.  Ess will in turn interview the students' families to discuss the scholarships and determine eligibility.  Only students who come from poor families that cannot afford the cost of their children going to college are eligible.   In the next year's cycle, two more young women will be selected in the same fashion to receive scholarships. 

We are presently supporting six young women and one young man going to the Royal University of Phnom Penh and a second four-year college in the city.   So far, everyone is doing excellently in school, and some of the students have part-time jobs to send money back to their families.  Thanks to this GlobalGiving campaign, two young women will join this group starting this Fall. 

Going to college changes one's life's possibilities, especially if you are poor in a rural village in Chumkuri district.   Here is what our first scholarship student, Manouv (pictured on far right), says about her receiving a Chelly Scholarship:

My name is Monouv, I am 20 years old. This year, I am a second year student in Royal University of Phnom Penh. My major is chemistry. I love this subject ever since I was in high school. Becoming a teacher is my future goal. Now I am on the way the reach my goal because of The Chelly Foundation. The Chelly Foundation not only provides me with an opportunity to study in the university, but also motivates me to study hard. I make a lot of friends in the class. We all study together when we are free. All that I have today is because of The Chelly Foundation. Thank you very much to The Chelly Foundation that makes my life better.