From Uncertainty to Accounting Degrees. Two Sisters - One Dream

"MY LIFE STARTED THEN"

A STORY OF TWO SISTERS AND YOUR SUPPORT

I am always inspired by the resolve of our students. Many have lost parents young, walked anything up to 10kms, often through monsoon floods trying to get to school, and faced hunger, yet their resolve to learn didn't waver. Today, we want to share the stories of two sisters, Ry Sung and Ry Mereak, who along with many others have truly changed the course of their lives at ODA.

Always happy to be around, these great sisters have worked hard to make their ‘Lucky Lives’

Ry Sung Accountancy Graduate

I came to ODA in 2013 at 9 years old, and my life started to change then. Before that, after our mother passed, our older sister took care of us. We moved wherever she could find work. It was so hard for her working and caring for us, and a hard life for us, finding new schools all the time.

The,n finding ODA, suddenly, everything changed. I had good food 3 times a day, a safe place to stay, and I was going to school every day.  Just what I wanted! I then had a dream to graduate in Accounting—I didn’t even know what that was before!

And look, now I have done my dream!

I have graduated from Vanda University in Accounting

Mr Leng and Sry On taught us so much.  English, IT Word and Excel, Creating Art,  Khmer Culture Dancing and all about living a good life and helping others. We learn to cook, clean and wash our own clothes so we can do everything when we graduate and move out to work somewhere.

One of the government schools where I teach.  They are good students, and I love it.

Currently, I am teaching English and Khmer at two government schools close to ODA, giving back to the community as I was helped. I want to tell young students to study as much as they can, so they can also change their lives.

My great young students are so keen to come to school.  They make me very happy.

My older class learn very well, and I am proud of them all.

Ry Mereak Accountancy Student

I can’t imagine how my life would be if I still lived in the villages. My mom passed away when I was five. My older sister then cared for Re Sung and me.  We had to go where she could find work, so we were moving all the time and hard to go to school.  When she got work in Siem Reap, she heard about ODA and went to talk to Mr Leng.  He said Me Sung and I could live there and go to the government school there, so we didn’t have to move all the time.

So when I came to ODA at age seven, my whole life changed.

I went from having nothing to coming second in my whole school by Grade 12.

Putting my class work into action, assisting Lai Hun.        Studying at Vanda University   

Now, I am at university studying to be an accountant, and I assist with the ODA accounts and government reports. At first, I was shy at university, but now I feel ready. I will work hard and work smart. I hope that my future results will not betray my struggle. I promise to become a person who helps others, just like I have been helped."          

A note from ODA: We are so grateful to the wonderful USA family who provide the scholarships that make these university attendances possible. Whether a student is "exceptionally intelligent" or just hardworking, everyone’s combined support ensures every child at ODA has the chance to reach their own potential.

THANKS  FOR HELPING US HELP THEM

Thanks more than we can express to our wonderful supporters sending funds to help the families who still aren’t allowed to return to the border villages due to safety concerns in certain areas.

So happy to have rice, and especially happy to be given eggs for protein and iron as well

Leng and his team did a rice and eggs run to 3 pagodas near ODA schools, where families are still camped.  They would normally be tending their small farms and producing their own food from their land or working on other farms or small market stalls selling their produce, etc. – now they feel so helpless.

  So grateful for another 10 kg of rice                 Loading every family up with fresh eggs.    

They eagerly welcomed Leng and his team recently when they appeared with rice and eggs.  What a treat to have these to quell the hungry tummies of their families. It’s a desperate time for them all.  And yes, even very poor people themselves are giving what they can, as the position overall is so daunting.  If they have family who experiencedthe Khmer Rouge back in 1970’,s they know firsthand what it is like to have no food or home!

If you wish to contribute further, please make a note saying rice on PayPal so we can direct it correctly.  We do have to be careful, as obviously, we still need to attract funds to keep our schools and operations running.  If ODA doesn’t survive,e we won’t be able to keep schools running as well as help others when needs like this arise. So huge thanks for funding our operations as well as providing emergency food for these people and their families.

Looking like ODA Champions except for the footy boots.  Maybe see if your friends would group together with you, or if your local football club would donate even one set, $15- 30USD  depending on quality.

Our ODA Football Team was overjoyed when Ruedi arrived from Switzerland with these donated footy uniforms from his local Club at Steckborn. Now all they need are footy boots, and they’ll look like Champions!  Can footy fans or your local club donate a pair of boots so they are totally fitted out?  It’s pretty painful kicking the football with bare feet!

What does it take to break the cycle of poverty?

For sisters Ry Sung and Ry Mereak, it took a caring older sister

A safe haven and full education at ODA

And the vision of wonderfully kind supporters like you

Akun Tom Tom, Thank You Big Big

SUPPORT STUDENTS DREAMS

Donate Button  SUPPORT STUDENTS DREAMS  Please make a note on PayPal where you want your support directed to, and Lai Hun and Ry Mereack in ODA Accounts will make it happen for you!