Boeung Toem Village, situated in the vicinity of Tonle Sap Lake in Tapoun Commune, Sangker District, Battambang province, Cambodia, is home to Thy Veasna, an 11-year-old girl. Living with her grandmother, mother, and cousin, Veasna faces various challenges in her family life. Her mother, Mrs. Thy Chenda, experiences intellectual disability, leaving her unable to work. Consequently, Veasna’s family situation becomes more challenging, especially with her grandmother dealing with a serious illness like high blood pressure.
Despite these difficulties, Veasna, the only child in the family, actively contributes to household chores and caregiving. In her free time, she engages in tasks such as harvesting rice and supporting villagers for financial assistance. However, her family struggles persist, and the support from her aunt is not sufficient.
Veasna is a diligent student in grade 5 at Boeng Toem Primary School, facing obstacles due to the lack of study materials and the distance she needs to walk to school, approximately 1km. The school director, Mr. Kun Sophea acknowledges Veasna’s commitment but expresses concern about the potential of her dropping out due to family circumstances.
In 2022, Operation Enfants Du Cambodge (OEC) collaborated with Aide et Action (AeA) and Education Above All through its Educate A Child program to implement the CCOSC project in Tonle Sap Lake, with Boeng Toem Primary School as one of the target schools. This initiative focuses on enhancing education and preventing student dropouts through scholarships and study material support.
Veasna’s situation took a positive turn after receiving assistance from the project. Her renewed motivation and dedication led to success, and she progressed to the 5th grade in the school year 2022-2023. Veasna’s grandmother expressed gratitude for the project’s support, ensuring her grandchildren have adequate learning materials.
Veasna, with newfound determination, declared, “I will work hard to continue my studies, even in difficult situations. My dream is to become a doctor and contribute to helping my grandmother, treating my mother’s intellectual disability, and assisting people in the village.”
