LOM VICHEKA

I am the eldest of six in my family living 30 km from Angkor Wat. My father works in a brick factory without specialized skills, barely earning enough to support us, while my mother cares for my two younger brothers. My grandmother recently died because we couldn’t afford hospital treatment. I walked 7-8 km to school every day without enough food or decent clothes, but my parents believed education was our only hope. I watched my father drink heavily from stress and exhaustion, and often cried alone wondering if l’d ever escape our poverty.
After passing my grade 12 exam, university seemed impossible until my cousin told me about Global Children’s scholarship program. I applied and prayed every night for the opportunity. When I received the call that I’d been selected, I was overwhelmed with gratitude. Now l’m studying Architecture at National Technical Training Institute in Phnom Penh, determined to change my life and my family’s future.