This year’s International Women’s Day (8 March) shines a light on the power of giving.
By giving donations, resources, education, respect, opportunities and a voice to women and to projects that target women, we can all gain and help create a more just world where all of humanity flourishes.
This year’s theme reminds us that when we foster a culture of support and shared responsibility, real change becomes possible. Jenny’s story is a powerful example of what that giving can achieve.
Jenny’s story
Growing up in a village in northwest Cambodia, Jenny, 22, understood responsibility as the eldest daughter in a family of five. Her parents worked hard, but limited income and the distance between her village and the city meant higher education was financially out of reach.
“There was a time I feared I would not finish school,” she recalls.
Through the compassionate generosity of our supporters, Jenny was offered a scholarship and accommodation at the Svay Sisophon Catholic Centre, allowing her to complete high school.
She later received a Jesuit scholarship to attend the Tep Im Centre, one of six student centres run by the Battambang Education Project in partnership with Jesuit Mission Australia.
“Thank you everyone for all your support. Not only for me but for my peers and my community.”
Jenny
The Battambang Education Project is committed to uplifting vulnerable youth in northwest Cambodia, providing students with scholarships, accommodation and holistic care so they can complete their university education with dignity and support.
Jenny went on to study law at the National University of Battambang for four years. This support for Jenny is much more than financial assistance. It is the gift of opportunity; the gift of dignity and inclusion; the gift of a voice and choice in shaping her own future.
Giving back to her community
At the Tep Im Centre, Jenny lived in a community built on mutual respect and encouragement. She gave back by teaching children, visiting people living with disabilities and volunteering as a translator at a local health centre. Supported to grow, she in turn supported others.
Today, Jenny is employed in an administrative and human resources role, earning an income to help care for her family. She continues to dream of becoming a professional lawyer, determined to use her education to serve her community.
“Thank you everyone for all your support. Not only for me but for my peers and my community.”
The power of educating young women
By educating a young woman, we not only transform one life, we strengthen a family and invest in the future of an entire community.
When girls are given the opportunity to learn, to grow and to lead, they become confident women who shape society with courage and compassion.
As we approach International Women’s Day, Jenny’s journey reminds us that equality begins with opportunity, and that our generosity can empower young women to build a more just and hopeful future for their family and their country.
Find out more about the Battambang Education Project
