In 2010, Lotus Outreach International celebrated a groundbreaking success. Of 62 girls in our first graduating class from the Girls’ Access to Education (GATE) program in Banteay Meanchey, Cambodia, an astonishing 70% were accepted into tertiary education programs, primarily at the university level. This joyful outcome led to the establishment of CATALYST – the Women and Youth Scholarship Fund for our GATE program graduates.
The CATALYST program carries on the work of GATE by seeing through our long-term investment to help rebuild the intellectual class that was completely decimated by the Khmer Rouge only a generation ago.
Less than 2% of women in Cambodia possess education beyond high school. Lotus Outreach is deeply committed to reversing that tragic statistic.
Since 2010, six groups of GATE graduates have joined the CATALYST program. Since we celebrated the first class of CATALYST college graduates in 2013, we have seen over 200 young women finish their tertiary studies. Nearly all of the graduates find employment in areas related to their degree.
A full scholarship (covering tuition, food, residence, utilities, class fees, and daily allowance) costs approximately $1,800 per girl, per year.
Partner: Lotus Outreach Cambodia • Cambodian Women’s Crisis Center
Supported by: Buddhist Global Relief • Lotus Outreach Society Canada • GlobalGiving Foundation • Angus Lawson Memorial Trust• Francesco Mombelli
