SIN SREYTEY

I grew up in a very poor family. I’ve lived with my mother in the Kompong Speu Orphanage Center since I was very young. My mother and I don’t own a house. She was born with a disability in both of her legs; she can’t work to support us. My father left us when I was small. It’s been hard, living without my father. Growing up, I saw other children who had a father, and I felt so jealous. From grades K-12, I got to school on a bicycle and sometimes on foot. I finished my high school in 2014. Now, I am continuing my education in the university with the support of Global Children. This organization gives me hope for a better life. If not for Global Children, I don’t know what I’d have done after graduating high school. I would have been so lost. Coming to university for the first time, I was overwhelmed by all the new faces. But in time, I’ve learned confidence. I’ve gained a lot of new experiences. My life has changed completely since I left the Orphanage Center: I’ve learned English, basic computer skills, literature and social responsibility. I now feel hopeful that I have a good future in store.

I’m lucky to have learned of Global Children. I first encountered them when they helped support a program for traditional dance in the Kampong Speu Orphanage Center, where I lived. At the time, a man named Som Savann, a manager of the organization, told me that the organization provided university scholarships to students who met the criteria.