Vocational Training and Undergrad Education

WAH decided to focus on the education of young women in the province, by launching a degree level scholarship program at Bright Hope Institute for 32 girls. We also decided to fund a midwife program for 10 young women, at a local medical training college. In addition to these projects, two young women from the government orphanage in KC have been given a scholarship at University in Phnom Penh, one to study banking and the other architecture.

Giving young women the opportunity to get a higher education gives them a step up in their careers, and allows them to play a key role in their family to help improve their standard of living and prosperity. There is a strong long term impact in the community by educating women who can achieve a successful career in many sectors, benefitting the community, their families, and boosting the local economy

Bright Hope Institute and
Undergraduate Degrees

WAH entered discussions with BHI in 2017 to send 32 young women in the province to study to degree level in various subjects including accounting, agriculture and English. We had been kindly donated funds from Carli Bybel, a famous US Youtuber, who made a trip to BHI to meet the girls and spend time with them.

All the girls are from the rural communities, and they were all keen to further their education. Our plan was to give them all a nurturing environment, safe, comfortable and near their families. Many young people move to the cities which can be dangerous if they do not have family or friends there. We decided to design a warm and cozy dormitory space for the girls, with six girls per room. We installed wardrobes, new beds, a working area with desk, and facilities to cook in the back. Fortunately BHI had built a new accommodation wing on the premises, and we were able to use that to accommodate the girls.

All students will be graduated by 2022. We have employed three of the girls on paid internships at WAH, involving them in education, management and logistics.

Vocational Training

Nursing Students in Kampong Chhnang

WAH has been involved in healthcare since 2013, when we ran our first emergency midwife training program, and before that we spent a few years researching the issues and potential solutions with KKH and PHDKC. There is always a need for more midwives in the community, and we decided to offer a scholarship for ten young women from the community to study to become professional midwives. There is a medical university just outside Kampong Chhnang city, with excellent training facilities. All the young women have now graduated and are working in the rural communities.

Tertiary Education in Phnom Penh

WAH has a long term and close relationship with KC government orphanage. As the children reach 18 years old they leave school, and are not able to get higher education because of lack of funding. Two bright young women from the orphanage received places at University in Phnom Penh in 2017, and were unable to go, so WAH decided to sponsor them. One of the students is always top of her class in architecture. The other girl is prospering with her degree in banking. We make sure the girls have a caregiver in Phnom Penh, to look after them and check they are doing well, and are safe.

Future of Education

WAH is committed to education programs in Kampong Chhnang and Cambodia.  We have already witnessed the incredible impact that education can have on a community.  Educating midwives has brought down the mortality rate for mothers by 90% in 5 years.  Educating paediatric nurses and doctors has helped save the lives of many children.  Giving young women the chance to get a degree and further their careers in higher paying jobs has a knock on effect in their community and their families.  Education is one of the keys to building local economies and improving standards of living.  WAH will continue to keep educating young people, medical staff, and children from the local orphanage, to give them all a chance to realise their dreams and have a choice of the life they want to lead.

We hope to continue the Bright Hope scholarship, and aim to train every nurse, midwife and doctor in the province.  We will also employ some of the young people who we help educate, to further their careers.