While the country of Cambodia has been undergoing lots of progress throughout the past years, the poor mostly remain stuck in the poverty trap as opportunity is not distributed equally within the country. This particularly affects children and teenagers who grow up orphaned or whose parents suffer from illness, and are therefore forced to drop out of school and join the workforce early on in an effort to make ends meet.
Neath is one of those young adults who did not have the privilege of growing up with a traditional familial background. His father was never in the picture, and his mother has been suffering from chronic disease, which is why he and his 3 siblings grew up in a Cambodian orphanage in Kampong Cham. While this allowed him to attend school all the way through 9th grade, he was left without any opportunity to pursue higher education.
The now 20-year-old has shown great interest in becoming an electrician, and Thomlang – Cambodian Youth Support stepped in to help him realize this dream. Cambodia’s government runs a number of trade schools across the country that offer free enrollment to underprivileged students like Neath, which allows him to study without having to pay tuition. Neath was in desperate need of support for his other living expenses, mainly for his meals and school supplies, and has been receiving this form of support from us all year.
Learn more about his story in his own words below:
Dear Thomlang-Cambodian Youth Support
My name is Sok Neath. I’m 20 years old. Last year, I finished studying in grade 9. I did not proceed to study in high school, because I wanted to learn a profession at trade school: Electrician. Nowadays I study at the National Polytechnic Institute Techo Sen in Kandal. I have been studying there for 7 months and like my lessons a lot. I also live in the school’s dormitory. I want to become an Electrician because I am very interested in this skill and I know that it will be easy for me to find jobs, which will help me to have a better future.
My family comes from Kampong Cham province. We have 6 members: my mother, my sister, my three brothers, and me. Unfortunately, none of them can support me these days. This is the reason why I would like to thank you so much for helping me with studying. I will try my best to study well and make you proud.
All the best to all of you and your families,
Best wishes
Neath
Neath will be in the Electrician Trade School for two years and will be rewarded with an official certificate of completion, which will allow him to apply for various jobs in the future.
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