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April 2026
Its up to us – you and me……
In a world of increasing violence, corruption and inequality what actions can any of us take to help in any way, to make a difference, no matter how small?Many of us feel hopeless when we see the extent of the suffering around the world – but we can no longer assume that someone else will step up to offer help. We have all heard of the massive cuts made by USAID, and the loss of support to so many essential development programs around the world – but it is not just the USA. Australia’s foreign aid has been falling for a decade and now sits at just 0.19% of gross national income, ranking it 28th out of 32 wealthy nations.
https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/development-co-operation-profiles_04b376d7-en/australia_b4d74d53-en.html
So yes, it’s up to us – ordinary people who may not have wealth or influence but care about improving the lives of those living in dire situations of poverty or deprivation.
Thank you to so many of you who help to keep our education programs sustainable.
Even the smallest of contributions are making a difference and changing lives.
Choraniey’s home (see her story below)
But here is the good news
And YOU are helping to make it happen
Unesco reports that the enrolment rate for girls into secondary school has increased over the last 30 years from 52% to 77%. Major improvements have been seen especially at lower secondary level.However our work is not over – 133 million girls worldwide are still out of school due to lack of funding, persistent gender bias, or regressive policies. https://www.miragenews.com/unesco-chief-urges-unrestricted-girls-education-1537292/
LOA is battling on all these 3 fronts – providing funding to allow girls from very poor families to attend school, offering mentoring and education on attitudes to girls receiving education and advocating publicly for gender equality. While gender equality in education is a stated global priority for UNESCO, inequalities persist, particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), where girls still account for only 35% of graduates.
LOA has increased our funding to provide extra tuition in these subjects for interested students.
Rice For Education (R4E)
Contributing to the great success of our education programs for girls living in poverty is the back up provided in the form of nutrition for the families of GATE scholarship recipients. This is a crucial part of our programs – it means that families don’t need to pull girls out of school to go to work.
Mitgefühl in Aktion (MiA) together with their partner Buddhist Global Relief, support projects that follow the principle of helping people to help themselves. Their main focus is on fighting hunger and supporting girls and women through education. They have long been supporters of R4E programs in Cambodia.
Phan Pich Choroniey GATE PP
MIA related the story of one the girls in the LOA GATE program in Phnom Penh whose family received rice support that was funded by them.
Phan Pich Choroniey, the older sister of two brothers, attended high school as a GATE scholarship recipient.
Choroneiy and her brothers lived with her grandmother and aunt since her parents divorced and left. Her family moved from Old Building (a slum neighborhood in the capital city of Phnom Penh) to a new location in Khmuyhn commune in Sen Sok district.
Before Choroniey received a GATE scholarship, she would often have to miss school to go to work to support her family. Sometimes they barely had anything to eat even tho her grandmother tried to grow vegetables around the house, and her aunt worked in a textile factory.
Choroniey’s scholarship provided her with school supplies, a uniform, a bicycle, a monthly stipend, tutoring sessions and crucially a rice allowance. Choroniey is now enjoying doing vocational training in salon skills and has just been awarded a Certificate of Achievement.
Although she has left school now, the GATE officers keep in touch and have given her a smartphone to encourage ongoing contact.
Long time supporter – Jeannie Alamkara
“I started a regular donation to Lotus Outreach Australia 10 years ago and it is truly inspiring to see what has been accomplished over that time.My contribution is modest but consistent, this has allowed me to continue through job and income changes over the years.It is so amazing to watch as LOA has evolved to fostering a complete pipeline of success for young women in Cambodia.To see the stories of these girls transforming into educated, financially independent women who are actively lifting their families out of poverty is so rewarding.I am grateful for all the volunteers that support Lotus Outreach to help to provide education and resources for these young girls and women.As the director of Siddhartha’s Intent Australia, I am happy to have the opportunity to share posts on our SIA Facebook page or give the occasional enthusiastic shout out to LOA when I can”.
Many thanks to Jeannie, and others like her – the life blood of LOA.
Happy Khmer New Year
Finally, we would like to wish all our supporters, the amazing team we work with in Cambodia, the scholarship girls and their families a very Happy New Year.
Khmer New Year is a special time of year that marks the end of the harvest before the beginning of the rainy season.May the New Year bring good fortune to our GATE and Catalyst students and all who look after them.
Donations
Received here with thanks and gratitude.
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