Chivy almost had to drop out of school because of poverty — just like her two older brothers who now work to support their family. But thanks to Holt sponsors and donors, Chivy is going to school this year in Cambodia — and has big dreams for the future.
When Chivy was in just second grade, she nearly dropped out of school.
Times had always been tough in her family. Her father is a truck driver and her mother sells chicken and duck eggs to try and get by — but the income was inconsistent, and certainly not enough to support Chivy and her two older brothers.
In fact, her brothers had already dropped out of school, one in eighth grade and the other in sixth grade. Instead of being able to continue their education, they went to work to help support their family.
Chivy went to school, but not very often. Because her brothers didn’t go, she didn’t think it was very important. It also didn’t help that the walk to school was long, and she struggled to keep up in class with her peers because her parents couldn’t afford the basic school supplies she needed.
So when poverty got even worse in her family, the solution was for her to drop out of school. But just in time, the local government referred her and her family to Holt Cambodia.
“With support from Holt sponsors and donors, Chivy received school uniforms, a backpack, shoes, pocket money, books, pens, pencils, a ruler and more. It was all she needed for an entire successful year of school!”
In Cambodia, Holt has education programs in four provinces — serving some of the country’s most vulnerable communities. Through increased access to education and more stable enrollment in school, more children have the chance to grow financially stable as adults. Holt child sponsors and donors cover supplemental school fees and other material costs — like books and uniforms — for the children in the program. Local, on-the-ground staff visit regularly with school-aged children to teach them leadership skills and raise their awareness about child traffickers and how to identify and avoid them. Local advocates also provide tutoring and meet with parents and teachers about children’s performance in school.
This educational support was just what Chivy needed to stay in school.
With support from Holt sponsors and donors, Chivy received school uniforms, a backpack, shoes, pocket money, books, pens, pencils, a ruler and more. It was all she needed for an entire successful year of school!
She even got her very own bicycle! Now, every day she can ride to school quickly and safely.
Her Holt social workers keep up with Chivy’s family, encouraging them to continue Chivy’s education and offering resources to help the entire family with hygiene and healthcare.
With all of this help, Chivy is thriving in school. She gets great grades and says she wants to be a doctor or teacher someday.
In places like Cambodia, where child trafficking rates are high, being in school even helps keep girls safe, where they learn to stay away from common dangers, and have the daily support and advocacy of a devoted teacher.
As a new school year begins, so many girls like Chivy are thriving in school — getting the education they need to be safe, learn, grow and thrive.
Send a Girl to School, Keep Her Safe
So many girls in impoverished communities around the world become victims of child trafficking, domestic violence and child marriage. Your gift of school supplies will help keep her in school, and keep her safe.
