September 1, 2019 guideline on providing special gifts to specific students
Since 2004, The Cambodia Academy been humbled by the outpouring of generosity of our donors as we strive to deliver on our mission of providing education and hope to Cambodia’s poorest children. For all of us, our instinct is to immediately give when we see a need. For many of our donors, that means adopting a specific student and providing the sponsorship that covers tuition, uniforms, meals and transportation. And once we’ve established a relationship with our students, it’s natural to want to give a few extra dollars to the board to pass on to them.
We know that it feels good to give a little extra, but as of September 1, 2019, we’ve voted to adopt a guideline that respectfully discourages donors from offering extra cash donations or other gifts to specific students. Our primary reason is that it’s not fair to other students, whether they are sponsored or unsponsored. Even $10 or $20 is a significant amount and can create hard feelings. We also discourage any practices that would encourage a student, however well-meaning, to directly approach a sponsor and ask for additional money. Finally, it is quite labor intensive for the faculty to manage these special donations or gifts, as they frequently need to present the money or goods (books, toys, etc.) at home in order to avoid classroom disruption and distraction.
But we still have ways that you can give a little extra and make life better for all the students at The Cambodia Academy!
Every year, we host a very popular end-of-year celebration for all students, which provides some holiday cheer for them and the faculty. Your donation of $10 or $20 to help us provide this event is deeply appreciated by the students.
Every year in March, we also provide a study tour to Angkor Wat for our graduating ninth graders, an eagerly anticipated field trip that helps them understand the rich history of the Khmer Empire, and to take pride in a national treasure that is a wonder of the world.
You can donate to the end-of-year campaign on our donation page at any time. Thank you!
