Help Two Cambodian Orphans Attend College
For 14 years, TSF has supported Kampong Speu Orphanage in various ways. Kampong Speu is a poor government orphanage, about an hour from Roteang, partially supported by the Cambodian Government, the World Food Program, by Aspeca, a French NGO, and for the last several years by CAMTOM, a Seattle organization which set up an excellent English school program.
Five years ago an outstanding girl student, Leng Sopharoth, badly wanted to go to University, but there was no provision for her to do this. She joined our own girls’ dorm in the city, and a TSF sponsor paid her way through four years of University, interrupted by a serious medical! surgical problem- quick action by Elephant and his knowing from experience with TSF where to send her for skilled medical care- saved her life. She has now graduated, is well, and is working.
Now come two more young orphan women who have grown up in Kampong Speu orphanage, who will graduate from the local Sokhaphally High School at the end of next summer. They have been studying English diligently in the KS program. They would love beyond hopes they dare to have, to go to college.
Keo Savon, an orphan since age 9, but now 20 years old has steadily held a place as #3 to #5 in her high school class of 65 students. This year she is taking chemistry, math, physics, biology and Khmer literature. She really wants to study architecture in college.
Sum Srey Roth, orphaned at 10, and now 18 years old is currently #2 of 65 students in her class. She is taking the same senior year courses at Sokaphally High school as Savon, and continues to study English at the orphanage English school. She really wants to become an accountant.
There is no provision for any education past High School at Kampong Speu, and Keo Savon and Srey Roth will be let go to fend for them selves upon High School graduation. Both were interviewed in January in Cambodia by NWH: she found them impressively bright, personable young women, with fluent English. If they can pass the National High School Graduation Exams in August- and then score level 4 or more in English on the Australia Center testing, and IF we can find sponsors for them, TSF would like to add these young ladies to our own incoming group next fall, in our TSF dorm at Norton University. They would be held to our same standards, and we expect they would fit in well. It would be an almost unimaginable chance for two orphaned girls to end up at University, and we feel these two would make the most of it.
If you or your organization would like to sponsor either Keo Sovon or Srey Roth, please email Lee Steppacher, lsteppacher@sharingfoundation.org, our TSF Board member in charge of university sponsorships. The cost would be $1000 each for the year (we make up the rest), payable in quarters if needs be; you would also be asked to write your student 4 times a year, and your student would write you back, and send photos. A life long connection with a young person, who began with nothing, might result!