Two decades ago, girls in Kampong Leaeng did not have an equal opportunity for education. Thanks to child sponsorship, Vannak completed school and became a skilled midwife—escaping poverty and leading change in her community. When you sponsor a girl, you encourage her to rewrite her story and ignite a ripple effect that transforms families and futures.
Photo by: Ben Adams of World Vision
Vannak’s journey: from dreams to transformation
Walking through the Svay Rumpear Health Centre in Kampong Leaeng, Vannak stands proud of the progress she and her community have made together.
Now a leading midwife, Vannak welcomes patients with kindness, guiding mothers as they bring new life into the world. This kind of medical care didn’t exist two decades ago. Today, Vannak's successful career is a testament to the change that is possible through child sponsorship.
“I am able to live comfortably. I can also send my children to school,” Vannak says cheerfully.
Photo by: Ben Adams of World Vision
A mother’s vision for her girl's education
Vannak's current life represents the dream her mother always had for her, though there was a time it felt out of reach. “My house was in a remote part, and the road would often flood up to my knees,” she recalls. Her family often struggled to survive; even food was beyond their means at times. Yet her mother, a farmer, never stopped believing in her daughter’s right to education.
Gender equality in education was an uncommon belief in Kampong Leaeng. In most rural communities, it was tradition for girls to stay home, help with chores and marry young. Girls’ education was often dismissed as unnecessary. Opportunities for women to pursue careers were rare.
But Vannak’s mother dared to imagine a better future for her daughter. Even without money for school supplies, she insisted her daughter attend school.
Child sponsorship provided school supplies—and purpose
World Vision identified Vannak’s community as one of the most vulnerable areas in need of support. And in 2003, while Vannak was in middle school, someone sponsored her.
Child sponsorship provided school supplies, such as workbooks and pens, which her family couldn’t afford. “These were essential,” Vannak says. “I didn’t want to ask my mother because we were struggling at the time.”
Beyond providing for practical needs to attend school, the encouragement she received from her sponsor is what altered the trajectory of her path.
Human connection inspired Vannak to reach her potential
Even while in school, Vannak wondered if her career goals would be possible. “I wanted to be a midwife back then,” she remembers, “but I couldn’t consider whether I was capable of it due to my family’s situation.”
Through letters filled with support and belief in her potential, her sponsor helped her realize she could achieve her dream. “My sponsor always asked how I was doing and encouraged me to keep going,” she says. Her sponsor’s encouragement, and her mother’s belief in gender equality in education, gave Vannak the determination to study hard.
Photo by: Ben Adams of World Vision
Child sponsorship strengthened gender equality in education
As Vannak grew and achieved success in school, her community also gained access to clean water systems, sanitation facilities and health training. But, the child sponsorship program did more than just meet physical needs—it facilitated an entire culture shift.
- Parents’ mindsets began to change, seeing education as a way out of poverty
- More girls stayed in school, gaining a chance for a better future
- Families learned about the value of health care, turning to safe clinics for maternal and child health
What began as small interventions evolved into long-term, community-led transformation.
Today, the local health centre is staffed with trained professionals. Reading clubs established years ago still thrive, opening doors to learning for countless children.
The ripple effect of sponsorship: Vannak’s journey uplifts others
Vannak’s journey wasn’t easy, but she held to the encouragement from her sponsor and persevered. Her determination paid off when she earned a nursing qualification and became a midwife. Now she’s proudly working in a career she loves, serving as a leading midwife in her community and saving lives.
Vannak’s work today—in educating women about health, delivering babies and providing medical care for families—demonstrates how far her sponsor’s support went. Her sponsor didn’t just impact her life, but hundreds more!
Vannak is now part of a growing network of former sponsored children who have become teachers, healthcare providers and leaders. Together, they are breaking barriers and shaping brighter futures.
“My dream is to ensure that my children complete their studies and secure good jobs, just like I did, so they can provide for themselves,” Vannak says.
Photo by: Ben Adams of World Vision
Child sponsorship sparked a legacy of change
Kampong Leaeng has changed drastically since World Vision’s involvement twenty years ago. World Vision has since transitioned out as the community became self-sustaining. Now, people like Vannak remain—leading the next chapter of progress. This model, built on empowering communities to thrive independently, proves lasting, sustainable results.
In a society where there is little gender equality in education, Vannak’s story is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when girls are given a chance to succeed. With the support of sponsors, girls like Vannak can break through the barriers that hold them back—accessing education, achieving career goals and contributing to their community socially and economically.
“I would like to thank all the sponsors for their generosity and support in helping children and communities,” Vannak says. “Their help was real.”
Photo by: Ben Adams of World Vision
Support her chance to rewrite her future through child sponsorship
Right now, too many girls are denied the chance to succeed. Their communities struggle with access to basic rights like clean water, sanitation, health care and education. When you sponsor a girl, you help remove the barriers holding her back. She’ll get access to education, protection and the opportunities she deserves, so she can rewrite her own future.