London Scholarship Programme

Education can break the cycle of poverty. But young adults are often tempted to forsake education in favour of fast cash, especially in difficult circumstances. Our London scholarship programme aims to inspire them to pursue education despite the obstacles. The flagship scholarship programme was started in 2017 thanks to the generous sponsorship of Credit Agricole (CA-CIB). It offers a life-changing experience for two outstanding graduates who show great leadership potential. They get a chance to come to London for 3 months to improve their English language skills, engage in job shadowing opportunities, get exposure to international commerce, build confidence, improve their life skills and meet friends from all over the world.

What was on the agenda in 2019?

After a welcome week to help them acclimatise to London, they attended intensive English courses for one month. From early December, CACIB welcomed them for a three-weeks work shadowing experience in their London office. Following the Christmas holiday period, they had the chance to do more shadowing experiences in their fields of study before returning home at the end of January.

Read the 2019 impact report



Meet the beneficiaries

2017

Kosal Soeum

Kosal was one of the scholars sponsored in 2017. He now lives in Beantey Manchey, Sisophon and works on the Road number 5 project (motorway) to connect Thailand to Phnom Penh, for Daiho Corporation, Japanese Company. He is a CAD Operator, helping to chart the progress of the works and claim money from contractors. Not only is he sponsoring his brother’s university education and re-building his parents’ house but he and a group of his friends have also begun contributing towards school supplies for less fortunate children in their neighbourhood.

2017

Chhengtay Toeur

Chhengtay was one of the scholars sponsored in 2017. Today she works as a finance officer in an international management company. She has invited her younger sister to come to live with her in Phom Penh, so she can support her high school education.

Like all the scholars featured here, she is a source of inspiration for many young girls and boys back home.

2018

Virort Nao

Virort was one of the scholars sponsored in 2018. He currently works in QA department as a Raw material inspector at NVC Corporation Co., Ltd, which produces premium water called “Vital” in Phnom Penh.

2018

Cheang Che

Cheang was one of the scholars sponsored in 2018. He found a job shortly after he returned home. He currently works as an actuary in a Japanese Life Insurance company in Cambodia and enjoys what he does. In 2019, he passed his first actuarial exam and is on his way to becoming a fully certified professional.

2019

Sreylang Long

Sreylang comes from a family of farmers. Her parents didn’t have the opportunity to go to school due to the Khmer Rouge regime. But thanks to the help she received from Children of the Mekong, Sreylang graduated from the Royal University of Phnom Penh in Tourism Management. She found a job as an HR Manager within a record one week after her return from London!

2019

Chinda Haing

Chinda’s parents are farmers too. She was supported by the Children of the Mekong for 11 years, from 2008 to 2019. She graduated from the Institute of Technology of Cambodia, majoring in Chemical Engineering. The London Scholarship has inspired her greatly. She wants to be a researcher and work in the environmental field in Cambodia because she wants to see her country develop in an environmentally sustainable manner.

We’re now looking for sponsors for the London Scholarship 2020, if you’d like to partner with us, please get in touch with Eugenie below.

Eugenie Munakarmi
Eugenie Munakarmi COO of the UK office - International Development Coordinator Contact