Category Archives: News
In partnership with our local affiliates, last year 50 bicycles were provided to children at Garden of Peace School. Ever vigilant with respect to follow-up, we called in the scholars during a recent visit and 39 bikes arrived within the afternoon. Look at these smiling faces!
14-year-old Manisha from the village school in Dhamaka was told by her school teacher when she received her certificate of graduation, “there is a free bus ride available in case you want to study further”. Manisha was nervous. She wanted to study further, but was not sure if his father would allow it.
Srey Pich left school to help her mother with a small home-based grocery business after only completing fifth grade. At 13 she was lured into a relationship with an older boy. The boy was arrested and Pich ended up at a shelter filled with a sense that she’d brought a great shame on her family. But after receiving counseling and skills training, she is empowered in her life again!
More than half of the rural communities in Cambodia have difficulties with access to water. Added to this, the country is currently in the midst of a severe drought. We have responded by identifying 12 lucky communities in which we will locate a pump well in the coming weeks and months. Each well will totally transform lives, providing life-giving, clean water!
Meet Chanda. A bright, spirited, determined 24-year-old from Son Long Village, Chansor Commune at Sonikum who has been a scholar in our GATE program since the 9th grade and now in our CATALYST program, is learning to become a pastry chef while studying at university.
We're so excited to announce our 2nd annual 1000 Bikes Campaign! This is an awesome opportunity to provide access to education to at-risk girls and young women in India and Cambodia. Our goal for this campaign is simple: raise funds and awareness around the challenges these girls face. If you're local to Santa Ynez and available May 11th, come ride with us!
For the past three years, our CATALYST program has taken its students on annual study visits. This year our scholars are planning to "pay it forward" and raise money for a school in need in Mondolkiri. It's amazing to see the big hearts of our CATALYST students in action. They are an inspiration and a powerful example of how when people feel empowered, they empower others!
The Hindustan Times, India wrote a wonderful feature article about our Blossom Bus program!
We recently connected with visual artist, philanthropist, and writer Nancy Hilliard Joyce to talk about her commitment to educational access and women’s rights, as well as the role these themes have played in past and current creative projects.
Phach Meas – Even though Phach grew up in abject poverty, she always wanted to get an education. From the age of 5 Phach harassed her father to send her to school until he finally relented when she was 8. They couldn’t afford books or stationary. Her father fashioned home made chalk from river clay and a chalk board from a piece of off-cut timber. Phach was supported by LO at high school and assisted her entry into a course for Pastry Chefs. Phach recently graduated and is now working and earning a good living.