Panha’s father passed away before he was even born, leading to his mother and aunt struggling for several years to make ends meet and provide for the young boy. The family started doing slightly better for a while after Panha’s mother got remarried, but finding reliable work opportunities has gotten more and more difficult in rural Cambodian communities. Panha’s mother, Srey Mom, has gone through various positions as a cook, street food vendor, and waitress, while Panha’s step-father works as a construction worker, struggling to get hired for new projects. The family has managed to get by, but as Panha was approaching high school graduation in late 2023, his future remained uncertain, as university tuition was far outside of the family’s budget.
This is when Thomlang – Cambodian Youth Support stepped in to support the 18-year-old in order to have a chance at a better future. CYS helped Panha move from rural Kampot to Phnom Penh in January 2024, where we have not only been covering his university tuition but also his rent and living expenses. Additionally, we provided the dedicated student with a moto to be able to commute to and from school and enrolled him in English language school.
Read more about Panha’s story in his own words below:
Hello everybody. My name is Panha and I am 18 years old. I come from a small village called Kan Trong in Kampot province. I am currently studying in Phnom Penh. I study Public Administration at the Royal University of Law and Economics (RULE). I chose this major because I find it very interesting, and I have really been loving and enjoying my studies.
Besides university, I attend English classes at another school called Pannasastra University. It is important for me to improve my language skills for my future jobs.
I would like to thank this organization for supporting me to study, providing me with accommodation in Phnom Penh, sponsoring a motorbike, and covering all of my living expenses. I am very happy that you support me to continue my education, because this will really help me to have a better future.
I wish all of you good health and happiness. Thank you so much for everything!
All the best,
Panha
Panha is currently in the second year of his Bachelor’s program at the Royal University of Law and Economics . He has a very busy schedule between university classes and language school. Nonetheless, he has adjusted to the big city life in Cambodia’s capital incredibly fast and has already found several friends in class, which is also important for his personal development.
Support underprivileged students like Panha in university by donating to CYS today!
