The Cambodia Border Prevention project continues to work with vulnerable youth along the border region in Cambodia providing opportunities for education and skills training. One such program that they focus on is informal education for children who have fallen out of the mainstream education system. This informal education brings the children back to a level that will allow for them to return to government school. Below is a story of a young boy who had the opportunity to participate in a Border Prevention program and return to government school with other children his age:
“I am 11 years old. In 2007, my parents took me to Thailand with them to look after my younger sister while they were at work.”
“A year later, my dad had a second wife and then he got divorced with my mum. Then mum sent me and my sister back to live with my grandmother in our village where I was introduced to the non-formal education program at a church. In 2008, I started attending the class at the non-formal education where I could feel love and care. Their love and care helped me to have a lot of courage.”
“Now, I am a student in grade 3 at the governmental school. I also continue to attend the supplemental Khmer education at the church’s project for strengthening my education. I am always an out-standing student at the public school as well as the church’s project. In the future, I want to be a teacher so that I can help the people in my village.”
