College Scholarships for Young Women in Cambodia

As everyone knows, COVID-19 is a worldwide phenomenon.  As I write this, in Cambodia currently there are restrictions on travel in-country, and many schools at all levels are intermittently closed.  Universities are conducting online learning where they can, but are otherwise closed to face to face classroom teaching.  Accordingly, there have been disruptions in the lives of our Chelly Scholars.  Some have been staying in Phnom Penh with friends and family.  Others are back in Chum Kiri District, where they grew up and went to school. Our students are doing the best they can to cope in continuing their education in difficult circumstances.  These circumstances have been made more difficult by the loss in some cases of part-time jobs due to economic conditions caused by the pandemic.  These jobs helped supplement student income as well as providing extra funds for their families back home.  In cases of hardship while in school, The Chelly Foundation is assisting with providing additional school supplies and other needed items.

Despite all of the hardships, I can report that our students still very much care about their home community.  For example, two of our Chelly Scholars who reside at the Harpswell Foundation spent time in faciitating the delivery of food to over a dozen of the poorer families in the local area these students came from.  

The Chelly Foundation is committed to making sure that all of the young women in our scholarship program have what they need to continue their university education through to graduation, even during a pandemic. Let's all hope that conditions improve in Cambodia and elsewhere.

In the meantime, we remain so grateful for all the wonderful support we continue to receive from our donors.  We cannot thank you enough.