In 2010, Lotus Outreach International celebrated our first graduating class from the Girls’ Access to Education (GATE) program, a comprehensive scholarship initiative that ensures impoverished and at-risk girls in rural Cambodia can attend and excel in public school.  Of our 62 graduates from GATE in Banteay Meanchey, an astonishing 70% of them were accepted into tertiary education programs, primarily at the university level.  This unprecedented and groundbreaking outcome led to the establishment of GATEways – the GATE Women and Youth Scholarship Fund.  GATEways will carry on the fledgling tradition of GATE in order to see through our long-term investment and help rebuild the intellectual class that was completely decimated by the Khmer Rouge only a short generation ago.

 

It is a tragedy that less than 2% of women in Cambodia possess education beyond high school, and Lotus Outreach is deeply committed to reversing that statistic.  Our first class of GATEways scholars have begun their university studies with the committed support of Lotus Outreach.  A full scholarship (covering tuition, food, residence, utilities, additional class fees, and daily allowance) costs approximately $1,200 per girl, per year.

Partner: Lotus Outreach Cambodia, Cambodian Women's Crisis Center

Supported by: Buddhist Global Relief, Lotus Outreach Society Canada