About
Mission
Bright Scholars International seeks to give hope and break generational poverty by advocating for students’ futures through educational subsidies and personal relationships.
Story
In 2013, we had the privilege of taking a vision trip to Phnom Penh, Cambodia to see the living situation for the poor. As we were meeting with different NGOs (Non-Government Organizations), one NGO stood out. They supported students with parents who had HIV/AIDs and were experiencing extreme poverty. This group of students are at the bottom 5% of the population in Phnom Penh.
It was difficult to take in the living conditions of one of the families we visited. Most if not all of these families made less than two dollars per day. They struggled to provide the most basic necessities of food and shelter for their families. Not only were their current conditions poor, but the future of their children was just as bleak. They couldn’t afford an education and there was no government aid to support them.
We were told that for just a little more than one dollar a day, we would be able to support these students in school and help break the cycle of poverty. That’s when we thought of Bright Scholars International. How can we not help to change their lives for the better when we have the resources to do so? If we could help, we should help. For $425 per year, we can provide these students hope of a better future with an education and support along the way. Their lives can be encouraged and open doors can be given to them. Bright Scholars is a non-profit organization that seeks to give hope and break generational poverty by advocating for students’ futures through educational subsidies. We are changing the world one child at a time.
What part of Cambodia are the students from and why did we choose that location to be our focus?
All students supported by Bright Scholars International are within the borders of Phnom Penh. This is so we can put a focus on which students to support, out of the many students and families struggling all throughout Cambodia.
What challenges do students face that keep them out of school?
The students and families face extreme challenges to stay in school and graduate. Since the families are experiencing extreme poverty, where many of the families are missing one or both parents, there is much pressure for the children to go out and get any job they can get to help support the family. The families face the challenge of either investing in their child’s future while they continue to struggle with food and shelter or taking the students out of school so their child can work low end jobs here and there to help support the family. There are drug and crime related challenges for children not keeping themselves busy with school as well. Many of the boys in the poor neighborhoods get caught up in the drug selling and buying market. It is a huge concern to the parents or guardians of these children.
What would students be doing if they were not able to go school?
If there was no avenue for these children to go to school, there are not a lot of options out there for them. With the scarce job opportunities for children with no educational background, they are left with low paying and sometimes dangerous jobs. For some, when they come of age, the boys agree to work at dance clubs where they wait on customers. But there is a major drug and crime market going on in these clubs that these boys get involved in. For the girls, they agree to work at shady massage parlors or work at garment factories for very little pay. Without an education and hope for the future, they are left with the scraps of opportunities to do something with their time. And most of these opportunities have nothing to do with encouraging their current situations or building their futures.
What does the future look like for children who go to school vs. someone who doesn’t go to school?
There is a stark difference between the children who get an education and graduate from a university with a degree versus children who do not get an education. We have seen the difference in the students where they receive an education and learn skills for a lifetime career. With their university degrees, they can apply for and earn positions at companies and firms they would never have the opportunity for if they didn’t receive an education and a degree.
And it’s not only in their career opportunities where you see a big difference, but also in their social circumstances. With education and opportunity, there is a huge decrease in crime. They go from being tempted to get involved with drugs and bad social circles to living beyond these temptations and even helping to rid their neighborhoods of crime related circles.
Not only is there a big difference for the student’s career opportunities and their personal social circumstances, but they also make a difference for their families and their future families. For all of these students, they have grown up seeing with their eyes, their mother, father, or their guardian working the worst jobs imaginable to earn barely enough to support their families. Many times, the parents would go without eating for the day to feed their children. Now, these students with an education, a high paying job, can start to provide for their mother, father, or guardian. Not only that, they can have greater success in supporting their future spouse and children. With an education, a degree, and hope, it not only changes the scope of these students’ lives, but it makes a ripple effect around them and well into their future.
How We Help
How does BSI decide which students to support?
Kim and Sina and Bright Scholars, not only work with students with parents who are affected by HIV/AIDS and extreme poverty, but work with students and their families with a national card to represent families in the bottom 5% of the poor in Phnom Penh. As Kim and Sina visit students already in the program, they also visit students and families in the surrounding neighborhoods to see which students and families need support when new sponsors are found.
How does $425/year support the students?
All $425 of student support goes towards education for the students. Students use this money to purchase school supplies, backpacks, and to pay for school fees.
What do Kim / Sina do in Cambodia?
Kim Kimchhoeun and Sina Mao are the two local Cambodian women in charge of all student operations in Cambodia through a NGO called Bright Scholars. They are responsible for all organizational and student related affairs in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. They visit all the students and their families at least once a month, every month and monitor the progress of all the students in their academics and health. They are also responsible for the payments made to the schools for the students. They handle all organizational and student related affairs in Cambodia while we at Bright Scholars International handle all organizational and student related affairs in America.
Team Members
The wonderful people who bring our vision to life
Zulkiffly Sa
My name is Zulkiffly Sa. Everyone calls me Zee. I’ve done many things that I’m proud of in my life, but BSI has to be one thing I am most proud of. My background is Combat Medic in the Army. During my military time I had the opportunity to participate in search and rescue missions during a major flood, fight fires in Yakima Wa, search and rescue in Oso after a major landslide, taught the Royal Thai Army combat medic tactics, and many other things. But I would say my work with BSI has to be my favorite. The lives that are changed because of BSI makes this organization very special to me. I joined BSI because I saw how this organization can and has helped many students in Cambodia accomplish their dreams by giving them a chance to attend school.
Derek Hwang
Derek Hwang was born in South Korea and immigrated to America when he was 5 years old. He grew up in the Seattle area ever since. Derek is married to a beautiful woman named Mi-young and has two children, a 16 year old daughter and a 14 year old son. He graduated from the University of Washington with a Sociology Degree focusing on family and crime. He attended Princeton Seminary and graduated with a Masters in Divinity. Ever since, he has been pastoring in the Seattle area for about 24 years. Derek is currently the Education Pastor at Newlife Fellowship Church in Bothell, Wa. One of his greatest passions is to build greater communities and make a difference in the lives of children and families.
Devin Bo
My name is Devin Bo. My grandmother immigrated from Cambodia to America during the Khmer Rouge. I wake up blessed each and everyday that my grandmother made the sacrifice to give me a better life here in the USA. I feel that it is our duty to serve and give back to the communities that raised us and where we reside. With that being said, we cannot forget the roots from which we came. I know the hardships that others are facing in my grandmothers homeland. We have the power to make a difference here at Bright Scholars and create a flourishing future for those who never got the opportunity to carve that path out themselves. I hope you join me in giving today!
Kevin Kho
My name is Kevin Kho! I was born and raised in Seattle through and through, the PNW is what I call home and my playground as I am an avid hiker and enjoyer of the great outdoors. More recently I have challenged myself to do more physical activities by competing in obstacle course Spartan races and various charity 5k and 10k runs. I have been employed at Boeing for close to 15 years and experienced the odds and ends of the aircraft industry. I’ve worked on small transport planes, giant air freighters, commercial passenger airplanes, and currently assigned to military defense aircraft. I enjoy what I do and it has become my passion. I want to keep that same energy as I start a new chapter in my life joining BSI and fulfilling my duties with a passionate and focused team. I was introduced to the program by Zee and I instantly gravitated toward their mission and purpose to help extraordinary students find their limitless potential. As someone who has received help and assistance when I needed it most, I feel that I must pay it forward and bless the future who will hopefully bless many others as they go and grow with their family and community.