Scholarships

Our scholarship program empowers students from poor, rural families to break the cycle of poverty through education, offering life-changing opportunities with the help of dedicated sponsors.

Scholarships – Breaking the Cycle of Poverty

Our scholarship program transforms lives. Students from poor, rural families defy the odds to pursue higher education and return to their villages with newfound confidence, empowerment, and the respect of their peers and elders. We proudly celebrate their achievements as they graduate and secure jobs in finance, education, human resources, nursing, engineering, hospitality, and banking. These students are embracing opportunities their parents never imagined possible.

Their dedication not only transforms their own lives but also uplifts their families and communities. As one of our college graduates put it, “If I didn’t go to college, I would be married, have kids and be a poor farmer.” Instead, in a single generation, these women are breaking the cycle of poverty, creating lasting change for themselves and those around them.

Scholarship girls from the village just starting out
Venerable Sovechea and the graduates
Sreynuth’s first day of college

Selecting the Students

We select students who have graduated from high school and demonstrate a strong commitment to continuing their education through college. These students come from poor families and their limited financial resources offer no path to higher education.

A village screening committee comprised of our English teachers, school officials, and our operations manager Venerable Sovechea, a prominent local Buddhist leader, identifies potential candidates. The candidates along with their parents submit an application to the Cambodian Village Fund review committee, which make the final selections of scholarship recipients.

What the Program Costs

Cambodian Village Fund (CVF) scholarships cover tuition, room and board, school uniforms, books, supplies, and English classes. We also provide groceries so students can prepare their own meals. New students receive a laptop and access to eye, dental, and hospital care. In the U.S., a scholarship like this could cost between $30,000 and $50,000, but in Cambodia, it’s just $1,800 per year. These eager students have the chance to break free from poverty and transform their future. Now that’s a life-changing opportunity at an incredible value!

Our 24 scholarship students rely on the generosity of sponsors who help cover the annual $43,000 budget needed to support their education.

  • Become a sponsor and fully support one student for $1,800 annually.
  • Alternatively, you can become a sponsor for as little as $25 per month ($300 per year).

We welcome any contribution you can offer.

If you’d like to learn more about our scholarship students, visit the Scholarship Students page.

New scholarship students with their new laptops

Words from our graduates – How Scholarships Change Lives

Proud Graduates – Samey, Sreyha, Vanna and Sokhom

Will You Join Us in this Effort?

If you’ve ever hesitated to be the one person who makes a difference, now is the time to take action. Sponsor a scholarship student and witness the transformative impact of your support firsthand. With help from generous donors like you, these dedicated students are working hard to achieve their dreams.

Thank you for changing lives.

Thank You, Soroptimist International of La Jolla

The Cambodian Village Fund Scholarship Program began in 2010, thanks to the generosity of Soroptimist International of La Jolla. Their continued support, including sponsoring a university student, has been instrumental in helping us provide life-changing educational opportunities.

“Investment in girls’ education may well be the highest-return investment available in the developing world.”

Lawrence H. Summers

Former Chief Economist of the World Bank