Cambodian Children's Fund student Mengcho has a way with words and a dream to reach the stars.
At school, he's known for his English language ability, hard work, desire to learn, and sky-high ambition. At just 13 years old, Mengcho has set his sights on becoming an astronaut and going where no other CCF student has gone before - to space!
“I want to study in America and then work at NASA (the National Aeronautics and Space Administration) as an astronaut,” says Mengcho, who is in Grade 7 at CCF's Sambok Chab community satellite school.
Meeting Mengcho in person, it’s not hard to see why he's aiming high. He’s polite and charming with a flair for English and, at just 13 years old, has the quiet confidence of a more senior student.
Next year, he may have the opportunity to fulfill his dream of visiting America by applying for one of the CCF positions at the Tony Robbins Global Youth Leadership Summit (GYLS) in San Diego. The summit is open to youth between the ages of 14 and 16.
Mengcho joined CCF five years ago.
Despite attending a public primary school before, his parents could not afford to pay extra for English lessons.
Now, it's his favorite subject, and he excels in class, keen to help others enjoy education as much as he does.
“I like to help other students to learn,” he says.
Mengcho is the youngest in his family, following in the CCF footsteps of his brother and sister.
Elder brother Phearum (pictured when he was a CCF high school student) is now at university studying ICT, while sister Srey Nich (pictured at a CCF young leadership event ) is in her final years at our Neeson Cripps Academy.
His dream of working for NASA (The National Aeronautics and Space Administration) captured the attention of local media, and an online news site recently interviewed him.
Their mother, a cleaner at a hotel, is raising them alone, staying in a rented room near the Steung Meanchey communities where CCF works.
“ I want to do well to make my mum proud,” says Mengcho.
With his ability and ambition, it seems the sky really is the limit for Mengcho.
