Sokunthea is 23 years old and was born in Pursat Province to the south of Siem Reap.  She is the youngest child in her extremely large family, having 7 siblings – 4 brothers, the oldest being 41, and 3 sisters, the youngest being 29.  While she was growing up this extensive family shared just 2 rooms between them! Sokunthea would split her time between helping her mother sell fruit and attempting to gain a decent education.  Sokunthea learnt quickly and was considering entering further education when tragedy struck her family.

In 2002 Sokunthea’s father unexpectedly died.  After his death, Sokunthea’s family struggled financially.  Her father had been a taxi driver and the loss of income meant that her mother had to work extremely hard to support her family, making her ill in the process.  During this time a number of her siblings were forced to give up their schooling in order to work full-time to be to increase the family income.  In 2003 Sokunthea left Pursat Province to study in Phnom Penh and learn English.  During this time she was financially supported by her elder brothers and sisters who saw that the young girl was naturally talented and wanted to give her a better future than simply selling fruit.  Sokunthea undertook an Associate Degree majoring in English.  She spent two years studying there but eventually her family could no longer support her, and her job as a receptionist paid just $35 per month – not enough to be able to continue studying in Phnom Penh.  However, in 2005 one of Sokunthea’s brothers found her a job as a part-time English teacher in Siem Reap.  After saving money from this job and using financial support from her ever devoted brother, Sokunthea re-entered higher education.  She is now in her first year studying Finance and Banking at Build Bright University in Siem Reap.

In August 2007 Sokunthea was awarded a JWOC scholarship. On hearing the news that she had been successful with her application, her family held a celebration in her honor.  She now helps with the Microfinance Project.  She thinks it is an extremely important project for the people of Siem Reap as it helps lift them out of the poverty cycle.  After she has graduated from university Sokunthea hopes to work in her local community – helping Cambodian people to find jobs and giving them fair interest rate loans.  She thinks that helping people to help themselves is the way for Cambodia to develop.  This social conscience coupled with her own personal need for funding were the main reasons behind her decision to apply for A JWOC scholarship.  Resolute and determined, Sokunthea wants to be able to support herself and sees the JWOC scholarship as a true opportunity to change her own life.  She also believes that JWOC can expand in the future and move it the sphere of gender issues in the workplace.  She hopes one day to be able to help more women find more varied work in Cambodia.

In the future Sokunthea hopes to see the whole world – a dream she thinks can be realized now she has the support of JWOC.