December is often referred to as the month of giving, and no one knows that better than the PeopleStories team.  The team's work in the rural villages of Cambodia is only possible because of the generous donations of our supporters.  Every contribution, big or small, has a significant impact on the lives of the children we support together. 

Charles is one of the many PeopleStories donors who has been with us since 2017, supporting the School for Life scholarship program. Charles is a strong believer in education, and he and his friend, Victoria, the founder of PeopleStories, discussed her work in rural Cambodia.​

Describing the family house as a terraced house with a front doorstep that opened to the street, I caught a glimpse of Charles’ sense of humor when he shared, “It used to amuse me but every Sunday morning all the ladies spent 30 minutes washing their front doorstep as they were so proud of them!” 

By the time Charles was 7, he and his immediate family moved out of that terraced house and found a house of their own on the other side of Nottingham. This is where Charles would go through his school years and at age 11 he entered his grammar school education. By 16, Charles was Head Boy of the school of 2,000 students. He didn’t stop there as he also represented his school as captain of the rugby team for 5 years. ​

The child Charles has sponsored just graduated from Year 12 because of his generosity! He beamed, saying, “When I read the news of my sponsor child’s graduation I was soooooo proud of her and quite emotional. Being able to support someone from early in their life is advantageous. It maximises the influence as they go through life.”

Giving Charles the opportunity to share a message to his newly graduated sponsor child, he humbly shared, “I would like her to know that I am so proud of what she has achieved. I appreciate all the effort and determination that she has put into graduating. I am happy to further sponsor her if she decides to progress further in education or vocational training of some kind.”

If we don’t have you on “Team Charles” yet, let me tell you more! Going forward Charles has made a commitment to sponsor 2 children!! I had to know what moved Charles to commit to this kind of amazing support, and he said, “I was thinking of further charitable contributions but for me sponsorship gives me a sense of personal contribution to something that is tangible to someone I can relate to in a way I believe it.”

Thank you so much, Charles, for sharing your story with us and what it’s like to sponsor a child with PeopleStories! 
 
It is people like Charles that help make our mission to bring education to the children of Cambodia possible. Every charitable journey is different. Every single donation makes a difference. You can make a difference! 

Let’s change lives together: https://bit.ly/PS_Donate2023

Written By: Volunteer Kathy Aunkst
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Making an impact takes effort and time, and we don’t often have an opportunity to witness the ripple effects until years after.   Today, this is not the case!  Come and join us to congratulate 15 of our deserving children who have just tossed their graduation hats in the air!

These children come from different walks of life with some being orphans at a young age or their families are living below the poverty line.  However, one thing connects them together and that  is the thirst for education and their dreams to a brighter future.  

Our founder Victoria caught up with these fresh graduates recently in the village which brings so much joy.  While chatting with 17-year-old Sreymey who has been on PeopleStories scholarship since 2019, she shared, “My favourite subject at school is Biology, the reason is because I love to do Biology exercises and having discussions with my friends. Everytime I study this subject I always think about my health, it makes me feel connected. I can apply a lot of lessons into my daily life.”

Vic was also curious about Sreymey’s high school years, especially being away from home as a young girl and Sreymey explained, “High School memories with friends and all the activities we did together. I could finish High School in Phnom Penh because of the scholarship from PeopleStories, I am so grateful to get this scholarship and receive all the care from the PeopleStories family. I am also feeling proud that I can go through all the hard times and continued my journey until I finished it without thinking to stop in the middle of the way” 

We are so proud to witness the personal growth of Sreymey and her hard work plus determination to a brighter future is inspiring.  What about her proudest moment?  Sreymey echoed, “My proudest achievement is getting the scholarship in grade nine. This first year scholarship is the most important point. PeopleStories noticed me and offered me more opportunities, especially the STEM4GIRLS scholarship which let me go to PP and continue High School.”

Not everyday we get to change someone’s life but we can always help to make those positive changes to the many deserving children.  Our sincere invitation to you to join our purposeful journey and support a child’s education.

With less than $1 a day, you can also help a child like Sreymey to pursue their dreams and to a brighter future.  Make a donation today: https://bit.ly/PS_Donate2023

Story written by volunteer: Josie Lyttle

In 2017, our founder Victoria Miloschewsky embarked on her journey of living a purpose-driven life and she shares, “In the past 7 years, I have invested plenty of time, effort and expertise in helping deserving children in rural Cambodia access quality education.  Along this journey, I have the opportunity to lead a team of 32 culturally diverse volunteers from around the world to live a purpose-driven life.  My perception of great leadership – whether in personal or business settings – has transformed significantly.”

When it comes to leadership, Victoria is no stranger as she was in leadership roles for over 2 decades leading small and big teams in the corporate world.  She also specialises in building leadership capabilities, enhancing organisational culture and bringing in greater inclusiveness to workplaces. Her expertise in leadership, culture and diversity has earned her a number of industry awards.

Victoria shares, “An idea for a new dimension of leadership development is born! I am so excited to invite leaders to embark on an ultimate leadership experience – PeopleStories HORIZONS!”

Join us to elevate your leadership and self-growth to new heights with an exclusive six-day Horizons Ultimate Leadership Experience in the heart of rural Cambodia.  Immerse yourself in a transformative experience designed for leaders from diverse backgrounds, where we focus on navigating your unique leadership journey through a purposeful Dharma leadership approach based on ancient wisdom.
 
Horizons goes beyond traditional leadership development courses by placing a strong emphasis on your leadership narrative and legacy within a rapidly changing global context. You will delve into the rich tapestry of Cambodia's culture, listening to firsthand accounts of adversity and inspiration from individuals who have overcome challenges. This unique approach fosters empathy and understanding outside your current context, broadening your perspectives in ways that traditional leadership programs cannot match.
 
As part of our commitment to making a positive impact, your investment will contribute to the PeopleStories School for Life scholarship program.  For every participating leader, five children in rural Cambodia will be supported with their scholarships for 2024.  By participating, you invest in your own growth and in the education and development of Cambodian youth, leaving a tangible and meaningful mark on the communities we touch.
 
PeopleStories Horizons is a Cambodian informed approach created by Victoria in collaboration with Damien O’Malley, Founder of OMC Group.  There are plenty of incredible thought leaders, speakers, facilitators, and experts getting ready to meet you in Cambodia! 
 
Join us in 2024 in Cambodia and redefine your leadership legacy while making a lasting impact on both you and the world around you.
 
Register today and to secure your place on this extraordinary expedition.

More details about Horizons: https://bit.ly/PS_Horizons