What’s it like for a young woman in Cambodia to pursue an education? For Noy, it meant getting up before sunrise and riding her bike six kilometers (3.7 miles) to school. The unpaved road was bumpy and dusty, except during the rainy season, when it turned into a muddy, slick obstacle course.
“As a single woman with four children, my mother had to work hard in many different jobs to support us. Seeing my mother work so hard, my eldest sister quit school after 2nd grade to work and help take care of the younger siblings. My mother and eldest sister were farm workers, from rice seeding to harvesting, and dish washers for weddings. They also worked to help build the Chinese dam in Cambodia. My second oldest sister quit school after 7th grade when she found out my mother was borrowing money to pay for our schooling. She worked in a factory and then went to work in Thailand. My younger brother quit school after 6th grade due to my family’s ongoing financial hardships. I am the only child that completed high school because my mother and siblings saw that I was perseverant and had potential. My family was determined to do anything for me to finish high school so I would have a better education and earn a Bachelor’s degree.” – Noy wrote in her application to CVF in 2021.
“Because I care so deeply for my education, I was willing to bike over six kilometers from home to get to school every day.” Noy stated in her application.
Noy’s heart skipped a beat when she learned about the Cambodian Village Fund. Really? There were people out there in the world that cared? Strangers gave money so that girls like her could go to college? Possibilities began to race through her mind. Could she really have a shot at college? Could she help her family and make good on the sacrifices her mother and siblings had made for her? After all, education wasn’t just Noy’s dream. Her mother and three siblings had set aside their own schooling to give Noy a chance for more.
“My future dream job is to work in finance and banking. If I receive the scholarship, it will help reduce the financial burden on my family. After I graduate, I will have a job and will help my mother pay off the loans she borrowed to keep me in grade school.” –Noy wrote in 2021
Noy received a CVF scholarship. She studied diligently, attended English classes at COERR six days a week, and joined extracurricular courses to learn computer skills. By her third year, she was interning and working full time for an NGO in Battambang.
In the summer of 2025, Noy graduated with a BA in Accounting. She works as an accountant for a nonprofit organization.
“Dear Bill, Nancy, and Our Generous Donors,
I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for the support and assistance you have provided me over the past four years. Your generosity has not only shaped my future but has also uplifted my family, giving us hope and keeping our dreams alive. My goal is to use everything I have learned to make a meaningful difference, support my family, and honor the faith you have placed in me. Thank you, the Cambodia Village Fund, and all donors, for helping me achieve my dreams. Your support continues to inspire me and countless others.” – Noy Set, 2025
Noy’s education would not have been possible without supporters who believe young women in Cambodia deserve the chance to improve their lives. Each opportunity creates ripples of progress — for one woman, her family, and her community. $1800 will pay for one year of college. This includes tuition, study materials and living expenses.
Your donations help us sustain and scale our programs – like the college scholarship program – for maximum impact. Explore our website to learn more about all the programs and projects we sustain in Cambodia and how your donations are helping to make it possible.