Celebrating five new college graduates

“After I became a member of CVF, I feel I have two families. I can say I am so lucky that they gave me this chance,” Malay said after her graduation. Malay is one of five college graduates that celebrated this milestone in 2024, made possible through our scholarship program. What were her odds? Read on…

After her graduation, Malay wrote on Facebook:“ I used to think how can I complete university for 4 years while my parents had no salary to support me on my studies, since mom just sells vegetables in a small market. Furthermore, the income that she received from selling was paid to all parts of the family. It was the reason that I decided to apply for a scholarship from Cambodian Village Fund. I can say I am so lucky that they gave me this chance.”

Five young women from the rice farming villages in Prey Touch Commune have worked hard to earn college degrees. With their success, the number of CVF graduates has grown to 32. Each one of these young women feels empowered and confident for the future. They bring hope and pride to their families. We, too, are proud of them and wish them the very best. Your support gave them a chance. Malay’s heartfelt message of self-esteem and gratitude is included at the end of this blog.

Sreynoun majored in English Literature. She works as a Customer Service Advisor at ABA Bank in Battambang.

Sreynoy, known as YaYa, is the oldest of three children. She majored in Law and found employment as a customer representative at APD Bank in Phnom Penh.

Sreyneang, one of five children, graduated with a degree in Accounting. She is married and has a baby. She lives in Prey Touch Village where her husband works in agriculture.

Sarom received a degree in general management and works as a Payroll Service Officer at Canadia Bank in Phnom Penh. After graduation she got married and is expecting her first child.

Malay is the youngest of five children. Her older siblings are farmers. She earned a degree in English Literature. Malay works as a teacher for the CVF English Language Program in the Prey Touch Commune.

We wish all of them the very best as they embark on a new path. By earning their college degrees, they have already taken the first important steps towards a promising future.

After graduating Malay expressed her feelings with these messages on Facebook: 4 Years of bachelor’s degree was over. Congratulate to myself for this accomplishment, and thanks to myself that I didn’t give up during 4 years in college. Moreover, it was so hard for me to reach this goal only me myself. I used to think that how can I complete the university for 4 years while my parents had no salary to support me on my studies since mom just sells vegetables in a small market. Furthermore, the income that she received from selling was paid to all parts in family. It was the reason that I decided to apply for a scholarship from Cambodian Village Fund that Bill and Nancy Bamberger are the founders and Venerable Vy Sovechea is a coordinator of CVF. After I became a member of CVF, I feel I have two families. I can say I am so lucky that they gave me this chance. They support me not only with the finance, but also with my emotional problems. They try to motivate me and encourage me. In short, deeply thanks for what you did for me, especially your support on my studies almost 4 years in college. You help not only me, but also my parents because you’ve reduced their burden. So, I would like to express my gratitude to all of you that you work so hard to do fund raising from other sponsors in your country even we have different nationality.

Malay’s homage to her mom: My mom studied only in grade 2. She dropped the school because of poverty. Moreover, my grandparents have many children. Because of her good heartedness, my mom decided to stop studying in order to reduce my grandparents’ burden by helping to feed the cows and buffaloes. You see, she’s uneducated because she didn’t have a chance to study. Anyway she’s still a great mom for me since I was born until now and forever! ម៉ែស៊ូលំបាកខ្លួនឯង តែម៉ែមិនព្រមឲ្យកូនលំបាកដូចម៉ែទេ។. ទោះម៉ែមិនបានរៀនជ្រៅជ្រះខ្លួនឯង តែម៉ែមិនព្រមឲ្យកូនមិនបានរៀនដូចម៉ែទេ។ម៉ែពិតជាអស្ចារ្យណាស់ – Mothers struggle with hardships themselves, but they don’t let their children suffer like them. Even though they haven’t learned deeply themselves, they don’t let their children fail to learn like them. Mothers are truly amazing.