Scholarship programmes

Sponsoring children is a concrete and effective gesture : a donation of 24 euros or 18 pounds per month allows a child to go to school.
In 2006, Enfants du Mékong delivered 4,151,605 euros donated by sponsors to families.

Scholarship is a personal relationship between a child and his/her sponsor. Thanks to newsletters and the school reports, the sponsor can keep up with the development of the sponsored child.

Scholarship programmes are coordinated by the local person in charge, appointed by the association managers. Our French volunteers, the “Bamboos”, regularly visit them to check on the progress of operations.

Enfants du Mékong UK - Our Objective for 2008:
To raise the operating budget for 2 student homes in Phnom Penh aimed at 160 underprivileged rural students (£61,000)

For the past 10 years, EDM has been operating two student homes in Phnom Penh for gifted students from poor families of North-western Cambodia. New financing for this program now needs to be found. At present, 40 first year students are housed in 2 centres. After the first year, students get a small monthly allocation of $20 to live out, but retain access to the centres facilities. 120 live-out students are currently supported. Besides housing, each centre provides tutoring and help with homework, a language lab, computer room, library. The centres are managed by a veteran french volunteer in post for 3 years. He is assisted by a cambodian social worker and 2 more young french volunteers who live among the cambodian students.

Daily life in the students homes

• Home chores such as preparing dinner are shared on a rotating basis

• Meals are taken together and evenings are devoted to study. An assembly is held weekly

• Free classes of computer science, english and French are available both to live in and live out students

• Each student receives a medical cover and glasses if necessary

• A bank account is opened for each student

Personal development and girls education

• Conferences on the history of Cambodia are held regularly in order to encourage students to become involved in the development of their country

• Cultural and recreative outings are organized in various locations around Phnom Penh

• Despite the low girl/boy ration in secondary schools, EDM’s intake in the student homes is now at parity.

Summary of the budget

Expenses

Overheads £9,650

(salaries of permanent staff, insurance, office expenses)

Students homes general expenses £21,400

(rents, gas, electricity, food, allowances for live in students)

Expenses for live out students £23,000

(tutors’ salaries, library costs, cultural outings, medical cover)

University fees £37,200

(incl. uniforms, books, bicycles, stationery…)

Allowances for live-out students £25,300

($34/month)

Total expenses (net) £116,550

EDM’s overheads 15% £17,500

TOTAL EXPENSES £134,000

Revenues

Individual Sponsorships £49,000

Participation of the

students’ families £24,000

Amount to be

financed £61,000

TOTAL REVENUES £134,000

How can you help ?

• Companies can pledge money as a single donation during events such as corporate “charity day” .

• Individuals can raise funds for one project while taking part to special events (marathon, bicylce run, walk…)

Some companies in the UK will match the individual gifts and donations made by their employees.

Donate now

Enfants du Mékong UK, as a Charity, is qualified for "Gift Aid" which makes your sponsoring or donation worth more at no extra cost to you. For every pound you give us, we get an extra from the Inland Revenue.