School starts: Teenager's dreams come true
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OBI's Bless-A-Child program covers educational expenses for 50 children.
In addition to providing children with an education, OBI also offers a daily lunch program.
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POSTED: Aug. 3, 2007
By Staci Dennis
CAMBODIA - Mov might be the oldest student in his class, but for this 14-year-old, going to school is like a dream come true.
Mov's parents couldn't afford to send him to school, causing him to fall behind others his age. Today, however, he is now studying at a primary school thanks to educational assistance from Operation Blessing's Bless-A-Child program.
"This means so much," his mother said. "(I'm) happy he can go to school everyday."
With Mov's father working construction and his mother depending on neighbors to give her odd jobs, the couple didn't have enough money to send their son to school.
OBI's Bless-A-Child program now covers his educational expenses, allowing Mov to study with other fifth graders at Sambour Meas Primary School.
In addition to Mov, Operation Blessing Cambodia is helping 50 other children in three Cambodia provinces by providing daily meals, medication and a free education.
Most of the students are living with elderly parents or grandparents who earn only enough money to buy the family food.
"All of (the children) under this project are from the poorest families,"said Kittima Onlahoog, an Operation Blessing representative.
In addition to providing children with food and an education, OBI workers regularly travel to various provinces in Cambodia to administer anti-parasite medicine. At a recent distribution, more than 500 children were treated for parasites.
OBI also offers life skill programs where qualifying families receive aid to start their own business.
How You Can Help
Be a part of OBI's ongoing efforts by making an online contribution to help those suffering from extreme poverty, hunger and sickness.
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