Dollars For Scholars Scholarship Fund

While many young Cambodians are eager to attend university and acheive a higher education level, they are not able to afford the cost tuition and textbooks. It is not uncommon for students to save enough to begin their studies, but later they are forced to drop out because they do not have enough money to continue. JWOC has developed a scholarship program which links donors with Cambodian university students to offer motivated and intelligent students the chance to complete their university degree. JWOC currently sponsors 30 students to attend university in Cambodia. In return for receiving a scholarship the students give back to the community by volunteering weekly with JWOC's projects. They teach in our language schools, collect loan repayments, scout locations for new wells and inspect recently installed wells.

Microfinance Program

Small loans, sometimes as little as $100, in the hands of poor entrepreneurs can transform the lives of individuals, families, and entire communities. Currently, there is no banking system in Cambodia where the poor can borrow money without some form of collateral. Often the only option they have is to borrow money from a money lender at such a high rate (80-300%) that they cannot escape a cycle of poverty. JWOC has created the Microfinance Program to give the poor the ability to borrow money at fair interest rates so they can start a business or expand an existing one.

Clean Water Project

The Clean Water Project helps to improve the living conditions of poor and rural villagers by replacing existing contaminated water sources with hand pump water wells. Often these villagers and their families drink from pools of standing water or from streams and rivers. In both cases, the water is usually contaminated with water-born diseases and polluted with waste. JWOC developed the Clean Water Project to offer a clean water source to villagers that need support but cannot afford it.

Language School Sponsorship

JWOC sponsors two Language Schools in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Both of them are at Buddhist temples which are traditionally the community centers for education. One of them is Wat Thmei which is located at the Khmer Rouge Killing Fields Pagoda. This school provides daily language training in English. The second school is at Wat Chork and offers a wide range of classes including English, Japanese, computers, traditional Khmer dance and photography. All classes are offered to students free of charge.

Peace Village

The Thanh Xuan Peace Village in Hanoi, Vietnam provides shelter, food, education, and supervision for some 100 second and third generation children who are the victims of dioxin (or agent orange) used during the American-Vietnam War. The children at the center range in age from 1 to 18, and all children exhibit a combination of physical and mental problems. The Peace Village is making tremendous progress helping these young folks toward independece, and is in need of support to continue its fine work.

To make an online donation to a JWOC project of your choice, please follow the link: