DARA Europe supports the community of Andong, a village near the capital of Cambodia, where people work tirelessly to break the cycle of poverty. Channa is one of the many young people living in this village. She dreams of studying so that she can secure a good job in the future. Since 2018, she has been part of a youth self-help group set up by SCCO.
Channa is eighteen years old. She lives in Andong with her mother and four siblings. Her father passed away when she was young. Channa is in her final year of high school and is studying hard for her exams at the end of this school year. In her free time, Channa enjoys staying active and loves sports.
SCCO’s Self-Help Groups
SCCO offers self-help groups organized by Poutheary, the social worker. These groups teach young people how to handle both personal and societal challenges. For example, they are provided with tools to safely navigate social media. They also learn to take care of the environment by participating in neighborhood clean-up activities.
Channa is an enthusiastic participant in the self-help group. She shares, “At first, I was nervous about meeting new people. But after joining the group, my confidence grew, and now I enjoy being part of it.” Channa takes part in training sessions and also supported with the clean-up initiative.
Poutheary, the social worker, not only organizes meetings for youth but also for parents. She aims to encourage them to send their children to school regularly, improving their future prospects. With access to education, the youth of Andong have a better chance of securing good jobs, allowing them to build a better life.
Channa’s Future Plans
Channa dreams of studying at the Royal University in Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital, after her exams. “I want to become a geography teacher,” she says. Teaching is in her blood; even as a child, she enjoyed teaching her friends. Channa continues, “I hope to help the children in Andong as a teacher and contribute to a brighter future.” However, she’s unsure if she can afford to study, as her family cannot pay for her education. SCCO remains in close contact with Channa and her family to see how they can help make her dream come true.
Channa is not the only young person in Andong dreaming of a better future. DARA Europe supports SCCO, our partner organization in Andong, which helps young people build better lives. Youth like Channa want to study and contribute to breaking the cycle of poverty, but they cannot do it alone (yet).
Do you want to support youth in Andong to build a better life? Every donation makes a difference! Choose your way to support us, and feel free to contact us for special sponsorships.