Morm Kanda

University: University of Health Sciences
Major: Nursing

In Her Own Words

My name is Morm Kanda. I am 20 years old and was born in Somroung Village, Somroung Commune, South Nikum District, Siem Reap Province. My father’s name is Morm Thy (deceased), and my foster mother’s name is In Yuthsany. There are 3 children in my family (1 boy, 2 girls).

My family is very poor. My father died when I was one and a half years old, so my mother became the breadwinner. Even as widow who has nerve-related problems after giving birth, she has to raise and educate 3 children. Sometimes I work on other people’s farms planting and harvesting rice to get some money to treat my mother and to buy rice and food. I can earn from $2 to $2.5 per day.

In 2008, Cambodian Women’s Crisis Center (CWCC) announced they were selecting poor girls to be scholarship recipients. I saw the announcement on school bulletin board, and I applied for it. After that, the program staff and its local education working group came to interview me at home. I was selected to be one of the beneficiaries under funding support from Lotus Outreach.

From the scholarship program, I received everything necessary that enabled me to stay in school. Now I am studying at University of Health Sciences, majoring in nursing (a 5-year program). My uncle on my mother’s side took out a loan to pay for my school fees, but I had difficulty in surviving in the capital. I didn’t have enough money for food, accommodation, school uniform and study materials.

I really want to be able to help myself and my family to get out of poverty and to prove to people who look down on my family that a poor girl like me can also be successful and fortunate. Therefore, I am very grateful for the support from Lotus Outreach that gives me back hope in life. Being in the program, I benefit a lot. The program doesn’t just give me financial support but also spiritual support. The program staff continues to motivate and encourage me and other girls to be confident, brave, and more capable.

I would like to express my gratitude to Lotus Outreach’s donors who are living in other countries for their support through CWCC to me and other girls. I will try my best to study hard for my family and Lotus Outreach, and I will use all the knowledge I have gained to teach other girls who are poor and can’t afford education in order to develop my country.