Reaksmey’s Journey Back to School Through Follow-up and In-Kind Support
Reaksmey, 11, is a Grade 6 student of a primary who loves mathematics and enjoys taking care of her school garden. She is living with her aunt in a village of Krokor district, Pursat province. Her parents work as seasonal construction workers far from home and previously worked as factory workers in Phnom Penh, the capital city. Because of the nature of their work, her parents often moved from place to place, causing disruptions to Reaksmey’s education.
Looking back to the past year, when Reaksmey was in Grade 5, she frequently missed school, sometimes for up to a month at a time, as she followed her parents for work. These long absences made it difficult for her to keep up with lessons, and she became afraid of returning to school, worried that she would fall behind her classmates.
“When my teacher called me back to school, I was very scared at first. I was afraid because I couldn’t keep up with the lessons.” said Reaksmey.
Limited resources added to her challenges. She has only one school uniform, which she had to wash every day in order to attend school the next day.
Despite these obstacles, timely support helped Reaksmey find her way back to learning. RFCD, with support from ActionAid Cambodia and Aide Et Action Cambodia, worked closely with schools in Pursat province to bring children at risk of dropping out back to schools through home counselling, in-kind school support, and scholarships.
Reaksmey was one of the students whose relatives received home counselling, and she received essential study materials, including a school bag, notebooks, pens, a ruler, and an additional set of school uniforms. These simple but vital items made a meaningful difference in her daily school life.
“Before, I had only one uniform and needed to wash it every day. Now I have two, so it is easier to change,” Reaksmey shared. She uses the materials every day and has even learned to save money to replace school supplies when needed.
With encouragement from her teacher and relatives, Reaksmey slowly regained her confidence. At first, catching up was difficult, but she began asking her friends and teacher for help. By the end of the school year, her hard work paid off. She passed her exams, adapted well to the school environment, and progressed to the next grade, mentioned by her home teacher.
Her teacher, Dara, 25, observed a clear change, “She didn’t attend school regularly before, sometimes missing up to a month. But now she is engaged in school activities with her friends and is doing well.”
Today, Reaksmey is an active student in school life. She especially enjoys caring for the school garden, proudly saying that she loves it because the garden is beautiful when the flowers bloom.
Looking ahead, Reaksmey dreams of continuing her education through high school in her village. With strong encouragement from her relatives, she hopes education will lead her to a stable future. One day, she dreams of opening her own clothing shop in her community.
“My relatives encouraged me to go to school so that I can have a good future and a good occupation,” Reaksmey said.
Reaksmey’s story is a powerful reminder that with the right support, children facing hardship can overcome challenges and thrive in school.