Cambodian Threads Establishes Scholarship Fund!
Cambodian Threads Supports English Classes in Kampong Cham Province
Cambodian Threads is happy to announce the establishment of a scholarship fund! We were approached by a great friend, Venerable Kou Sopheap, to help support an English studies project he started a year ago in his home village of Cheang Wat.
Venerable Kou Sopheap, a Khmer monk who has reached the highest level of intellectual prowess through studying at the Troy University of Alabama and Pannassasstra University of Cambodia (where he currently is completing his Masters of Education and is teaching Buddhism), is a brilliant and gracious person. Jacob Daniels, founder of CT, taught English to Sopheap from August to December 2009 before Sopheap went to America on an exchange scholarship. About this experience Jacob said, “It was immediately clear after meeting Sopheap that he was a special man. His critical thinking was obvious, but beyond was a sincere altruism that reflected in every conversation and action. Venerable Sopheap is the future for Cambodia.”
Venerable Sopheap started the project last year for students in his village to study English on the weekends, and it has been successful thus far. His project aims to help two groups of students: young learners of about 6 years old and teenage students of about 13 years old. In total the group equals about 50 students. This program is about to expire in April and needs support to continue for another year. Therefore, when Sopheap informed us about his project and asked for a $250 contribution, we were eager to help.
About 150 kilometers North East of Phnom Penh, his rural farming village of Cheang Wat (in Kong Chey Commune, Oring Ov District, Kampong Cham Province) is a very disadvantaged village with minimal access to resources. His project is great because it aspires to give students necessary English skills , which are highly desirable to employers in more urban settings like Phnom Penh (where many of the participating students want to work to make more money and sustain their family). Sopheap understands the importance of English as a communication medium and is working to help his fellow villagers empower themselves through knowledge like he has done for himself.
Cambodian Threads is happy to form a partnership with Venerable Sopheap and his education efforts. We hope this collaboration will blossom in the future and empower the Khmer students studying in Cheang Wat Village. We will keep you updated on how the program is progressing!
Help support this initiative and others like it buy purchasing a beautiful, handmade, fair trade scarf now at http://www.cambodianthreads.com!
