Through previous blog posts, you have already grown familiar with Yean’s story. Yean grew up with his older sister Srey Nek and his single mother, who lost her job in 2021 and was therefore unable to continue to pay for her children’s high school tuition. The then 16-year-old would have had to drop out of 10th grade and take up work to support his mother.
Fortunately, thanks to your donations, Yean was able to stay in school and focus on his education. We provided him with school supplies and covered the costs for additional lessons with a tutor to ensure that he got the most out of his education and was prepared to pass his grade 12 finals.
Last December, we were ecstatic to see Yean successfully graduate from his high school in Sihanoukville. This achievement paved the way for Yean’s next endeavor: Law school in Phnom Penh.
Read the now 18-year-old’s story in his own words below:
Hello!
My name is Yean. Last year, I got my high school Diploma and then I decided to continue my studies at Pannasastra University in Phnom Penh. My major is Law. I chose this particular university because it is an English-speaking university and it will be an advantage for me to be able to speak English so well. The reason why I want to study Law is because I love this subject a lot and I want to be a lawyer or public servant in the future. After I study Law for four years, I will be able to apply to many of the major government institutions in Cambodia.
However, in order to fulfill my dream of studying at university, I need help from this NGO because my family doesn’t have enough money to support me and my life. I have to pay for food, a rented room, and of course, university tuition to study a 4-year Bachelor’s degree. I am so lucky that I have an NGO like this that supports me. Thanks to you, I have the opportunity to continue my studies and your support truly changes my life and my future.
I would like to thank you so much for supporting my education, renting a room for me, giving me a moto to drive to my university every day, paying for my daily expenses, and supporting me with everything that I need in my life.
All the best,
Yean
Since Yean grew up in extreme poverty, university enrollment would not have been in the cards for him. However, the 18-year-old has proven time and time again that he has great potential and deserves to be able to pursue the academic path that he has always dreamt of.
Thomlang – Cambodian Youth Supports currently covers Yean’s entire life. This includes all education-related costs, such as university tuition, school supplies, and computer classes, but also his everyday expenses like groceries, hygiene products, clothes, gas, and medicine. As mentioned in previous blog posts, Cambodia lacks a public transportation system. Therefore, it was crucial to also provide Yean with a moto, so that he can navigate through the big city, commute to and from school, and run daily errands.
We are incredibly proud of the aspiring lawyer and are so happy to see our teenager grow into a responsible, determined, and successful adult.
