I’ve always pictured “mentors” as older, wiser people who gave me guidance and coaching during my career. (As I write this, several names and faces for which I am eternally grateful come vividly to mind.)
Recently we sponsored a mentoring program with our NGO partner in Cambodia – The Global Child. (TGC) This version of mentoring was quite different however . . . and an eye opener for me. In this situation 39 TGC students became the mentors!
I’ll let Chayylon Kheang from TGC tell you the story:
Our Mentoring Program was designed to improve education, health awareness, and family well-being in rural communities. With the active involvement of 39 TGC students as mentors, we worked directly with more than 100 rural students in a village school. In addition, we engaged over 50 parents in sessions about the value of education, preventing domestic violence, and financial literacy.
Here you can see our mentors in action working with the students
In addition to educational sessions, we provided:
· Story books, classroom books, and study materials for school.
· Hygiene kits, including toothbrushes and toothpaste for all.
· A first aid box filled with essential medical supplies.
The feedback we received was gratifying:
• The parents said they understand how important it is to support their child’s learning at home. They further commented that they learned skills to create a safer home.
• The students were excited to engage in reading and group activities. They said they loved the new books, learned more about hygiene, and could now safely treat small wounds at home.
• The teachers noted that the students were confident and brave while studying in class – and how they cooperated to help one another.
And perhaps best of all – the 39 TGC student mentors
improved their leadership and communication skills.
Parents, the School Principal, and Staff asked us to conduct this mentoring program again next year because we helped them a lot.
We sincerely thank the SE Asia Foundation donors
who made this project possible.
You brought meaningful change to the lives of
rural students and their families.
I’m sure you’re getting the picture here.
This is a HUGE Thank You.
YOU are the ones that make all this and TGC’s work possible.
Thank You
If you’re interested knowing about the work that our other Cambodian NGO partners are doing in service to those most in need, you can click here.
Life is good — at least for some of us it is.
Others need a bit of help.
Together we can provide exactly that.
At the SE Asia Foundation we do not simply “help” people
We Help People Help Themselves
That is our focus
That is our commitment
That is where our actions show up
Please help us keep doing that with a tax-deductible
donation. Just click the button below
