2 weeks ago, JWOC closed our Learning Center once again under the guidance of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport in Cambodia. 

The team continues to provide ongoing support for our students, which remains our number one priority. We moved back to online classes, provided phone top-up cards for accessing the internet, and have counselling, career support and cash transfers available to ensure the wellbeing of our youth.

In March, we re-launched our Better Futures Program for post-high school students (including both graduates and drop-outs) and invited 68 new students to our Learning Center – 90% of whom are still unemployed due to the collapse of the tourism industry in Siem Reap.

Exactly 1 year ago, you supported our COVID19 Emergency Relief Program, enabling us to put choice (and cash) in the hands of Cambodian youth. Thanks to your support, over the last year we have provided:

• 30 food packages (April & May 2020)
• 97 cash transfers (June 2020 – April 2021)
• 330 phone top up cards

From our monthly cash transfer surveys, we have collected the following data over the last 10 months:

Although the numbers of students supported by the cash transfer have been decreasing every month, less have felt able to make their own financial decisions as the impact of COVID19 continued into 2021. Due to the most recent wave, the number of students requiring financial support in April due to their personal and family circumstances is now 10 (18% of Scholarship Students). 

We appreciate all the support that you have given us over the last year – not just your financial support, but your words of encouragement and trust in our programs. 

JWOC currently has sufficient funds to support the most at-risk students for an additional 1 month (end of April, 2021), but we are predicting that the impact of the pandemic will continue until the end of the year. If you would like to support this program, please make a donation here.