Friday, 30 January 2009

Call to help Cambodian girls get university education

Westmorland Gazette
Thursday 29th January 2009

By Lizzie Anderson

A TEENAGER who has spent three months volunteering in Cambodia is appealing to local people to give young Cambodian women the chance of a university education.

Sally Murray, 18, of Wray, near Lancaster, has recently returned from a voluntary placement in the Far East, organised through the Life and Hope Foundation -a Cambodian charity that works to improve the lives and prospects of orphans, vulnerable children and disadvantaged people.

“I lived with 14 wonderful but very poor girls, who were being supported through high school by the charity, but have no chance of getting through university without external financial help,” she explained. “They are the kind of girls who will always work for society, not just themselves and Cambodia needs people like that. However, to serve society most effectively these young women need a higher education.”

Miss Murray explained how the girls all dreamed of becoming teachers, doctors and managers, adding: “This cause is especially important in Cambodia, where a whole generation of educated people were killed by the Khmer Rouge genocide just 30 years ago.”

The cost of providing a university education is around £600, which can be paid over three years in monthly installments.

Anyone who would like to get involved can visit www.watdamnak.org/lha/ or contact Miss Murray on caniseethemenu@yahoo.co.uk.

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