Phay Narla always has a smile on his face. It is nearly impossible to catch Narla in a bad mood. Born in the Thmar Puok District in Banteay Mean Chey Province near the border of Thailand, Narla has one sister and one brother. He worked hard in school and also for his parents in the rice fields when he was younger. Upon graduation of High School, Narla says,

“I know that my parents are farmers and not want me to stop study and living with them in the future like them. They want me to have a good job and good future that can help them and my brother and sister, so they decide and let me study at Siem Reap province.

My parents have borrowed the money from the person in the village for me that I didn’t know they borrowed with the high interest. When I was studying in the Year III, my parents called me and needed me to hurry to come home with my motor bike because a person who my parents borrowed money needed the money back quickly. When I arrived at my home I sold my motor bike to repay the women but the amount of this money was not enough.

After this problem, I decided to stop study at university because now I know my parents do not have the ability to pay school for me. When I came back to Siem Reap, I went to school and saw JWOC has a scholarship for students. This is the very good news for me and any student who does not have money.

My hope to achieve graduating from university is if possible I want to work in a travel agency in Siem Reap. This is my first purpose because Siem Reap is a province that is full of ancient architectural and historical significance of the temple that no other country has like Cambodia.

If I can get a scholarship I’ll try to do all of the work that is beneficial to my involvement with Journeys Within Our Community especially, the work that give me the opportunity to help the people in the community to be healthy and have education and good living.”