Hoeun Sok Kheang

Place of birth: Lak Nim Village, Seang Kvang Commune, Komchay Mea District, Prey Veng Province
Current address: Roluos Village, Roluos Commune, Svay Chek District, Meanchey Province
Father’s name: Tuon Vanny, Occupation: Farmer
Mother’s name: Ya Sokhea, Occupation: Farmer
Siblings: 2 (the first child)
University: University of Battambang (4 years)
Major: Accounting

In Her Own Words

I left my hometown since I was 4 years old because my parents got divorced and my mother took me to live here in Banteay Meanchey with my grandmother. Two years later my mother had another husband. I was 6 years old then but was not enrolled in school because my stepfather kept moving here and there and took us with him. When I was 8 years old, I went to live with my uncle and my younger sister went to live with my grandmother; we stopped wandering around with the stepfather and it was then that I could start school.

When I was in 7th grade, my stepfather got liver and stomach problems. My mother was pregnant then. We had to take a loan from the bank by putting our home as collateral and spent all we had on his treatment, but unfortunately he still couldn’t survive.

After my mother gave birth to a baby boy, she couldn’t work and had to stay home taking care of the baby, so she asked me to drop out to earn a living to support the family. I love studying and didn’t want to drop out at all. The teachers and the GATE program staff knew about my condition but they couldn’t help sooner because there were no more scholarships available. Luckily for me a spot opened up and I was selected for a scholarship! I also got special rice support of 50kg every month and had been in the program since I was in 9th grade.

Now I already passed high school board exam and am doing my Bachelor’s Degree at Battambang University in Battambang Province. I am here today because of the support from LO, otherwise I would have to drop out in the 9th grade. I strongly hope that you continue to support me through these 4 years at university because my family cannot afford to support my schooling.

I promise that I will continue to study hard to repay LO and donors for the support thus far and for the sake of my own future and family, as well as contributing to developing my country which heavily relies on educated people.