In a year of remarkable milestones, Cambodian Children’s Fund (CCF) has 24 reasons to celebrate. That’s the number of CCF students who now have scholarships to one of the top private schools in Cambodia, the International School of Phnom Penh (ISPP).
Varady, 11, a Grade 5 student in CCF’s Rice Academy primary school, became the 24th after being chosen for the 2024 scholarship.
Neither of her parents went beyond Grade 8 in school. If all goes to plan, Varady will become the first in her generation to attend university.
This a dream for me
Flanked by her proud parents, Varady cannot stop smiling.
“I am so happy. This is a dream for me,” said Varady, one of four children.
It’s an opportunity that will change the family's life, made possible by CCF.
CCF has been collaborating with ISPP since 2018 to give students from impoverished backgrounds the opportunity to study alongside some of the country’s brightest young minds on a full scholarship.
Varady will join ISPP in Grade 6 in the next academic year on a seven-year journey learning an international baccalaureate curriculum.
She was chosen after undergoing a series of demanding assessments alongside other students from CCF and another local NGO. Potential scholars are evaluated on their reading, writing, and spelling, as well as their verbal and social skills, in both individual and group settings.
Eileen Niedermann, ISPP Director, said: “I wish to congratulate our new joinees and their families for joining our Scholarship Program. You belong here. And to the parents who also belong here, we welcome you to campus and hope you come frequently to join us.
“The two new students joining us today represent our 27th and 28th scholars at the school, and next year at this time, we will have graduated some of our very first cohort scholars, including some in this room.”
The graduation of the first CCF ISPP cohort will provide the first chance to measure the Program’s success based on where they head next, with the expectation that many ISPP graduates secure overseas scholarships.
Sonita, 17, one of CCF's first ISPP scholars, hopes to secure a scholarship through the SHE CAN program, which offers top female Cambodian students a fully funded scholarship to a top U.S. college.
She will be the second CCF student to receive a SHE CAN scholarship if she is successful.
Giving students opportunities to secure scholarships and realize their academic and personal potential in a setting of educational excellence is central to CCF’s mission of empowering youngsters from Cambodia's most impoverished communities to become tomorrow’s leaders.
Varady has overcome a tough start in life to earn a scholarship.
Her mother was widowed with a three-month-old after her husband was killed in an accident while scavenging at the old Steung Menachy garbage dump. Varady later stayed with her grandmother and a foster carer before the family was reunited. Her three siblings are all in CCF’s Education Program.
“I am very excited and so thankful that my daughter has the opportunity and it’s all because of CCF. I hope she can get a scholarship to a good university to help herself in the future,” said Varady’s mum.
Varady’s dad, Kan, a moto-taxi driver, said, “I am very proud of her.”
Phanith Yon, CCF’s Satellite School Manager, said: “I would like to thank ISPP and all the partnerships that give this opportunity to all our students and give them a good future.
“We hope the partnership continues growing and more students can come to ISPP.”
