Assisting Children To Schools
Our Assisting Children into Schools (ACTS) Project focuses on helping children from the most impoverished families in a community, who for a variety of reasons are unable to attend school. Some lack even the most basic necessities, such as food and shelter, because of their poverty.
Breaking the Cycle
In rural Stung Treng, many children cannot access public education because of no uniforms, school supplies, transport, and poverty. Parents attitudes often prioritise farm work over education. Since 2017, our ACT's project has supported children by getting them into schools and encouraging them to stay, aiming to break the cycle of poverty. Education brings hope and unlocks opportunity, especially for those in rural Cambodia.
Giving Children a Chance to Learn
We work to identify families in poverty and provide the means of getting these children into primary school. In 2024, we supported 165 kids with school essentials like shoes, uniforms, pens, and books. We fund extra classes and in some cases provide bicycles for distant commutes. Our goal is to give rural Cambodian children access to education and future opportunities.
Parent Workshops
Asian Outreach Cambodia holds workshops in 8 villages, teaching parenting, safety, communication, and education's importance.
Happy Clubs
ACTS hosts 'Happy Club' weekly in 8 villages, providing a joyful and safe space for local kids to dance, sing, draw, and play games together, all with a focus on Jesus.
Home Visits
ACTS staff maintain ongoing relationship with parents through regular home visits, discussing challenges and encouraging the family.
Lai Sreyto's Story
"Education will give me a better future.”
Lai Sreyto is a 12-year-old student in grade four at Sam Ang Primary School. She is the sixth of nine siblings in her family, which includes five girls and three boys. They live in Sam Ang village, a peaceful rural area surrounded by cassava and cashew tree fields.
Life has been difficult for her. "I didn’t have enough school supplies or new uniforms, bags, or shoes each year," she says. "With so many siblings, my parents couldn’t afford it." In their small home, Lai Sreyto stays very busy. After school, she helps her mother by watering vegetables, washing dishes, cooking rice, carrying water, and collecting firewood. During holidays, she works with her parents in the cashew nut and cassava fields to earn extra money. "We earn 7 to 10 dollars a day including me and my sisters, but it’s not steady work," she explains. "We depend on farm owners for work because we don’t have our own land."
Despite her young age, she holds a deep responsibility toward her family. She often felt sad for her parents and considered dropping out of school to help them financially. "I thought about leaving school to work and support them," she admits. "I didn’t want to add to their burden with school costs." She also wishes that when she grows up, she will move to the city and find a job to support her family.
However, things improved when Asian Outreach Cambodia (AOC) stepped in to help her. "I was so happy to receive new uniforms, bags, shoes, and school supplies," she says with a smile. "It reduced my family’s struggles, and I even shared some supplies with my sisters." Now, Lai Sreyto is determined to continue her education. "Education will give me a better future," she affirms. "I want to study hard and become a teacher in my community. I'm very grateful to AOC for supporting me and other students in need."
