Three New Journeys, One Shared Dream

Every student has a unique path, but they all share one powerful dream: to build a brighter future through education. Meet the three more members of the CEDO family as they follow their journey toward university and lifelong impact. For all the journeys visit our STUDENTS page. MEET SOKHIM

Miss Sokhim is a determined and resilient young girl from a rural area about an hour’s drive outside of Siem Reap town. She is the only daughter among five siblings, raised in a family of four boys and herself. Life has not been easy for Sokhim and her family. Her father passed away before the COVID-19 pandemic, and tragically, her mother died during the pandemic. Since then, all five children have been under the care of their elderly grandmother, as their grandfather had also passed away.

Despite the family’s deep poverty, Sokhim showed remarkable dedication to her education. She biked long distances to school each day and worked hard to continue her high school studies. Through her perseverance and discipline, she successfully passed the national exam—a major milestone in her life. Her grandmother, although old and frail, continues to support the family by riding her bicycle around the village to sell traditional cakes, doing what she can to help feed and support the children.

In 2022, Sokhim received a life-changing sponsorship from CEDO (Cambodian Education and Development Organization). Through this support, she was able to enroll in a midwifery course—a field that deeply inspired her from the start. Her passion for caring for mothers and newborns, especially her love for babies, grew even stronger during her studies. She has shown strong self-discipline, commitment, and gratitude throughout her journey, never allowing economic hardship to stand in the way of her goals.

Now in her final year, Sokhim is set to graduate at the end of 2025. Her dream is to work at a government hospital, where she hopes to provide safe and high-quality care during childbirth. She also aspires to help her younger brothers—two of whom have already dropped out of school (one is currently unemployed, and the other works in handicrafts). She wishes for her two youngest brothers to continue their education like she did. In addition to her studies, she also takes responsibility for looking after her grandmother, balancing her caregiving role with her academic commitments.

Sokhim is a shining example of resilience, hope, and determination. Her story continues to inspire those around her, and she stands as a role model for other young girls in her community who face similar struggles.

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MEET KHIM

Not far from the majestic towers of Angkor Wat temple, in a remote corner where Khim is living, he is the only son in his family. He has two sisters. The older one left school early, dropping out in primary school to help around the house and the fields. His younger sister, now in grade 11, still holds on to her education, and Khim silently cheers her on—knowing how hard it is to keep going when this family is down by poverty.

Their father once drove a tuk tuk, guiding visitors to the world heritage of Angkor Wat, watching to admire the history through the people lived. But Khim’s father didn’t speak English, and as tourism became more competitive, he was pushed out. He returned to the land, where he now farms rice—year after year, chasing a good harvest that doesn’t always come. Their mother stays home, helping with what little she can in the fields and keeping the house in order.

Growing up, Khim knew what struggle looked like. His family’s life depended on rain and soil. Some years, the rice grew well. Other years, there wasn't enough to feed them all. But through every season, Khim studied hard, keeping his head down and his hopes high. When he passed high school, that year, CEDO selected him for a university scholarship. It was the chance he had quietly worked for—a door opening out of the fields and into opportunity. Now, Khim is studying Business Administration at a university in Siem Reap.

Khim dreams of running his own business, though he’s still figuring out what kind. For now, he’s focused on learning, growing, and saving every bit of wisdom he can for the future. “I don’t know yet what kind of business,” he says with a shy smile. “But when I have experience, I’ll know. I want to create something for my family, for my village.”

'I would like to sincerely thank you for your kind support in helping me pursue my university education. Your generosity has given me the opportunity to continue my studies and work toward a better future. I truly appreciate your kindness, and I will do my best to study hard and make the most of this opportunity. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.'

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MEET CHAMNAN

In the quiet fields of rural Siem Reap province, Cambodia—just an hour and twenty minutes from the bustling heart of the city—Chamnan grew up where and with the rice paddies and lake. The oldest of three children, she carried a heavy responsibility from a young age. Her younger sister and brother looked up to her, though they all shared the burden of a troubled home.

Chamnan's father, once a bright man, had fallen deep into alcoholism. Traditional wine was his escape. He disappeared for days, sometimes even a month when he drank too much to cause to the mental problem when Chamnan was in her primary and secondary school years.

In grade 2, she was soon sponsored by CEDO, a local organization that believed in the power of education. That moment changed everything. From her small village, she was brought to the city for high school—a leap not just in geography, but in possibility.

Life in the city was different. Chamnan was determined to compete with city students, she studied hard, excelling despite the quiet ache for her family, especially her younger siblings who remained behind. She dreamed big—her heart set on becoming a doctor, imagining herself in a white coat, stethoscope around her neck, saving lives with skilled hands.

But fate, as it often does, had other plans.

Chamnan didn’t pass the national exam required for medical school. She was devastated, but not broken. She chose midwifery instead—a path she hadn’t imagined, but one that slowly unfolded into something she loved. Now at university, she’s embraced the course with both curiosity and compassion. "It’s not medicine," she says, "but I still get to bring life into the world. That’s something."

Her future remains unwritten. She doesn’t yet know if she’ll work in a government hospital or a private clinic, but she believes the answer will come in time.

Back in the village, her family is healing. Her father has given up drinking and now repairs bicycles for the neighbors. Her sister, now in grade 12, carries the same quite brilliance that once earned Chamnan her scholarship. Her younger brother, in grade 7. They are all walking forward together—slowly, surely.

Chamnan still visits home when she can. Her story, shaped by hardship and hope, is still unfolding—but it is hers, and she is proud of it.