Reading Camp raises Ratanak's literacy and confidence

In Rukhak Kiri district, Battambang province, Ratanak and his single mother Chagna used to rely entirely on farming - growing rice and corn, and raising cows. The family experienced extreme financial issues and occasionally struggled to put food on the table. Due to these difficulties, Chagna had to go to work in Phnom Penh capital and earn more income, leaving Ratanak with his aunt and grandmother.

The situation brought a feeling of isolation to the nine-year-old boy, undermining his education: “I had poor reading and writing skills, which made me shy and feel like an outcast at school. I didn’t have the courage to speak to others. My family didn’t have money. I had no storybooks and rarely read. I had no school materials such as notebooks, pens, and pencils. At times, I considered dropping out of school. I didn’t always want to go to school,” he shared.

In 2022, Ratanak joined the Reading Camp programme led by World Vision. Every weekend, he practised reading and writing with new friends. By the 2023-2024 school year, when he was in third grade, his skills had improved significantly, and he achieved the top rank in his class.

"Finally, I ranked first in my class and received a certificate of honour from my teacher." Ratanak, new reading star.

Ratanak enthused, “Reading Camp is also a safe place for all the kids in my village. Now that I can read very well, and I have grown to love reading even more, I ranked first in my class of 34 students and received a certificate of honour from my teacher. I am very happy because there are many storybooks for us to read. We can play games and borrow books to read at home.” More than 30,000 children like Ratanak enrolled in World Vision’s reading camps across Cambodia. The 1,055 camps spread around the country are supported by almost 2,000 dedicated facilitators who help enhance children’s literacy skills.

“When I see my grandson reading at home, I feel so proud of him. I am genuinely motivated to encourage him to read books, although I cannot teach him myself. I have observed so many changes in him since attending the reading camp,” Ratanak’s grandmother expressed.

Back in Battambang province, Chagna also felt inspired by her child’s transformation. She decided to involve herself more in the community: “Now, I am working with World Vision as: a community volunteer for sponsorship activities, a youth leader, a mother group leader, and I am also a community pre-school teacher.” More importantly, Chagna feels relieved to be back home: “I get to live with my family and give my son the love and care he deserves.”

Ratanak recently started 4th grade and, inspired by his mother and aunt who now work as community reading facilitators, he dreams of becoming a teacher. He hopes to help other children in his village experience the same transformation he did through the Reading Camp programme.