Here at ISF, we find that one of the biggest challenges we face in education is high dropout rates. Only 5% of youth (aged 15-24) in Cambodia have completed their high school education. Many drop out due to pressures to earn an income and other familial commitments.

In an attempt to respond to the needs of our students and to address this problem, we’re developing an Employment Programme to offer students  support and guidance. Our programme aims to educate students on the benefits of completing their education and to offer them opportunities to gain new skills to help them find gainful employment.

Vasson* joined ISF’s Catch-up Education Programme in 2013, to study grade 1 at the age of 11. Now, he is 17 years old and studying in grade 8 at high school.

His family moved to Phnom Penh in 2010. Before joining ISF, he had never gone to school. There are eight members in his family and his mother had to take care of them all on her own. Vasson’s two eldest brothers are living in Preah Vihea Province and the rest of his siblings are here in Phnom Penh.

Vasson recently told us a little bit more about the impact ISF’s programmes have had on his life to date:

“Two of my brothers are also students here at ISF and other three have never attended school because my mother cannot afford to send them. Our family’s living situation is very difficult and it made me want to stop studying so I could find a job and work full-time. But, after ISF’s social worker talked to me, I realised that if I graduated high school I would have more opportunities to find a job and earn a better wage. Their advice led me to change my mind and continue my studies.

ISF also gave the opportunity to join their Employment Programme and access vocational training. They support me to attend barber training every Sunday at a private barber shop. I hope that this skill will help me to earn an income while I am studying at high school. I have been attending barber training for one year and four months and I’ve learned how to do many different mens hair styles. I want to run a small business when I graduate the training, but I don’t have enough confidence to start the business yet, let’s see when I graduate.

When I have free time, I help to cut the hair of other ISF students who don’t have money to go to a barber shop. Doing this allows me to improve my skills, build my confidence and also helps ISF’s students.

I will continue try to overcome all my challenges until I can reach my dream to become a doctor in future.”

*Names of those under 18 have been changed.