Starting a new career

For many, what comes after graduating school is quite clear and attainable.  For the children in rural Cambodia, the path is not always clear. Quality education is not a given in these rural villages. With high dropout rates and families not having money or transportation to send their children to school, the future is often uncertain and scary. 

​As our children and community grow, Peoplestories is growing too.  We are right there on the ground, helping many deserving children access quality education. There are success stories along with a lot of work still to be done.  

SreyMey and Tola, who have both recently graduated from school (high school and university), have just completed their 3-month PeopleStories Elevate Work Experience program!  ‘Elevate’ is designed to offer hands-on work experience and further learning and development opportunities to young people who are yet to have a taste of professional working life.

I was very excited to learn more from Tola and SreyMey and how they feel about this wonderful opportunity and what they’re learning since being selected into the program.

Tola couldn’t wait to share his experience up to this point and said, “The Elevate Work Experience program has truly been a transformative journey for me. It’s more than just a program to me; it is a springboard for personal and professional growth.”  Tola jumped right in and in addition to being exposed to technical and soft skills development he further explained, “This program also immerses participants in real-world projects, providing hands-on experiences that can’t be replicated in a classroom setting.’

SreyMey shared with me how she learned about the Elevate Work Experience Program saying, “I was about to graduate high school and at that time I was so confused, and had no specific goals. Victoria introduced me to this program in PeopleStories and I was so interested as I always believe that working will let me learn more skills.”  SreyMey continued, “I also wanted to give back to the community and PeopleStories as I feel so grateful to have gotten support from them for four years of my education.”

Tola also learned about the program from Victoria, saying, “Victoria shared her positive experience with the program and highlighted its emphasis on skill development and hands-on experience and it immediately piqued my interest. With Vic’s recommendations and my own research about this opportunity, my decision to pursue it was solidified.”

There are so many lessons to be learned in our experiences and the same is true for Tola and SreyMey. The Elevate program is giving SreyMey a big lesson in communication and she shared, “No matter how good you are, if you can’t communicate well you will have difficulties during work and this is a skill I need to work on pretty hard.”

Tola reflecting on his Elevate journey thus far, explained, “One of the most profound lessons I’ve learned is the importance of embracing change and uncertainty. Adaptability is not just a desirable trait; it’s a necessity. He thoughtfully continued, “I’m learning that setbacks are not roadblocks but rather opportunities for growth and innovation.”

The congratulations don’t end there for Tola and SreyMey!    They now have earned permanent roles with PeopleStories!

Tola was overwhelmed with the news of being appointed as our Program Officer for Mobile Digital School, sharing, “It was a culmination of months of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. I felt so many emotions - joy, pride, gratitude, and even a hint of nervousness.” Knowing that his contributions during the Elevate program had been recognized and valued enough to warrant a permanent position with PeopleStories had Tola feeling proud and he said, “It instilled in me a renewed sense of purpose and commitment to making a positive impact in my new role.”

SreyMey is equally proud of her new role with PeopleStories as a Learning and Administration officer and she said, “After three months of Elevate work experience, I found myself enjoying going to class and I love to do administration work so I am so happy to get this role. I hope to work along with the team for continuous learning and development.”

The idea that education has the power to uplift individuals and entire communities resonates strongly with Tola as he explained his decision to take on this permanent role with PeopleStories, “Joining PeopleStories isn’t just about advancing my career; it’s about being part of a movement toward positive social change.”

He continued, “By contributing to programs like Mobile Digital School, I feel I can make a difference in the lives of those who need it most.” 

Learning new skills, having new experiences, and working in different roles can certainly bring on changes to goals and dreams and as SreyMey explained how she was a little bit lost about her future she thinks this new role with PeopleStories will be a very good thing and she shared, “I hope this new role will lead me to find my dreams again. I wanted to be a teacher and now I have a role as a Learning Officer. They are so related to each other, so I hope this role can help me be sure if I still want to be a teacher or not.”

Tola feels his new role will also help him realize his goal. He explained, “My goal remains the same - to make a meaningful and lasting impact in the field of education and technology.” He continued, “With this new role at PeopleStories, I am one step closer to realizing those dreams. A future where education is accessible to all, regardless of background or circumstance.” 

SreyMey and Tola are very focused and taking advantage of the opportunities their hard work is offering them. I look forward to following them along their continued education journey and watching them make their dreams come true. 

Congratulations SreyMey and Tola!!! 

Help us to empower children in rural Cambodia complete school: https://bit.ly/Donate_PS2024

Story written by: Volunteer Kathy Aunkst