At just 17 years old, Chhitchhanut from Battambang Province has already experienced more struggle than most. Her family fell deep into debt, and constant arguments at home made it difficult for her to focus on school. “I often felt hopeless,” she recalls. “I didn’t think I could study further after high school. We had no money, and my grades were not good.”

Amid the struggles, she held onto a determination that her future could be different.

Her life began to change when she attended an information session by Passerelles Numériques Cambodia (PNC). Learning about the scholarship program opened a small window of hope. At first, she hesitated as she afraid it might be too good to be true. But when she discovered that several students from her own school had received the same scholarship and were now working in good jobs, both she and her family felt confident that PNC could offer her a brighter future. With that assurance, she applied and determined to give herself and her family a second chance.

At PNC, Chhitchhanut found herself in a completely different learning environment. She realized that her poor high school grades did not define her potential. “Here, I could start fresh,” she says. “The teachers supported me every step of the way, not just with technical lessons but with life skills and confidence-building. They taught us how to think, communicate, and prepare for the future that is not only for a job, but for life.”

Surrounded by support at PNC, she realized she was capable of much more than she had imagined.

For her family, the scholarship meant far more than education; it meant relief. Coming from a poor household where education was once seen as a financial burden, PNC’s full support eased their worries. “Now my parents no longer have to struggle to pay for my schooling or living expenses,” she says proudly. “They can focus on my younger siblings so they can continue their studies too.” Her family is deeply proud of her achievements  as she is the first in her family to pursue higher education, as all other family members had completed only up to Grade 11.

Through Skill Development Fund (SDF)’s support, Chhitchhanut and many students like her can study without worrying about financial hardship. She dreams of becoming a full-stack developer, and she already has her eyes set on companies where she hopes to intern next year. “SDF and PNC changed my life,” she says with gratitude. “Without them, I would still be trapped in fear and poverty. Now, I can see my future clearly.”