The Ponheary Ly Foundation relies solely on private donations and support. Together with the tireless work of volunteers, these gifts are significantly improving the futures of the children of Cambodia.
The funds PLF receives are used to buy supplies, shoes, and uniforms for over 2,000 primary and secondary school children, to pay monthly stipends to teachers, and to support breakfast programs in rural schools. Bicycles are awarded to students who are top in the class and who go on to secondary school. Your funds could be used to help with medical emergencies that can arise, or help with any number of special projects that come up from time to time. For more information on each of these programs, please read below.
If you decide to donate, in the remarks field, please tell us if a specific program speaks to you, and we will use your donation for that effort. Donations made without a preference as to how they are to be used will be put into general funds and used where needs are the greatest.
Spread Awareness: Let your friends know about the Ponheary Ly Foundation and the poverty that many children endure in Cambodia. Start a club, host a fundraiser, or check our Facebook page . We love to meet new people passionate about education and helping those in need.
Send Needed Supplies: Shipping costs can be fairly expensive to and from Cambodia and oftentimes many of the items that we need can be purchased in-country for a low price. However, if you do want to send supplies to PLF, please visit our wish list for needed items.
General Education Fund
Providing the things necessary for children to attend school is the heart and soul of our organization. For every $20 collected, we can sponsor a child into primary or secondary school for one year. The $20 "bundle" includes the following:
• One uniform and one pair of shoes, given at the start of school
• A second uniform and shoes 2-3 months later
• A backpack
• All the school supplies for the year
On the opening day of school in early October , teachers and parents help us distribute these essentials to each student.
Teachers' Fund
We realize one of the best ways to serve these enthusiastic and well equipped students is to support their teachers. Teachers in the rural communities typically make between $20-40 per month, depending on their education and experience. This means the teachers must often work second jobs or in the fields to subsidize their incomes, causing many absences, illnesses and a general weariness. The Foundation supports the teachers with monthly subsidies of $20-40 per month, depending on the number of sessions taught each week (for the rural teachers). We have seen a dramatic improvement in the quality of education the children are now receiving since these subsidies began. They are
now fully engaged in teaching and our schools have become attractive workplaces that attract the best teachers. Their enthusiasm shows in the accomplishments of the children. We must raise $1,200 per month to fund this project, and it lends itself well to a repeating monthly donation, which can be done through the online donation system.
$1,200 per month supports the salary of all our teachers.
$14 purchases teaching supplies for one teacher for the school year.
Breakfast Program
Children cannot learn when they are hungry. Those living in the rural communities suffer from a lack of adequate food much more than urban children do. Many children are sent to school initially in the hope that they will receive a meal each day.
Tchey School has its own rice fields behind the school, which the children tend and harvest. Knar School and Koh Ker School do not. Knar School receives quarterly rations of rice and canned fish from the WFP but not enough to render adequate nutrition. PLF subsidizes these rations, securing more rice and fish from local sources, and giving the children adequate protein and
nutrition six mornings per week. In addition, PLF provides a breakfast program at Koh Ker School, which does not receive such rations.
$800 per month feeds all students at Koh Ker Primary School
$36 buys a case of fish
$33 buys a 50 kg bag of rice
$1.50 provides ten days of breakfast for one student
Bike to School Program
PLF currently awards bicycles to students graduating from the sixth grade as well as students in grades four and five who finish first and second in their class. These bicycles both serve as incentives for students as well as necessities to continuing their education. Bicycles are often the only transportation available to not only the children, but often to their families, other than walking. Students in the countryside often walk several kilometers to get to primary school, and when they decide to continue to secondary school, it is often even further away. Children wanting to continue to the seventh grade often face a 10-15 km hike (6-9 miles), making it impossible without some sort of transportation. Donations for the bicycle program are collected all year for a big awards ceremony in August or October, depending on the school.
You can read more about the Bike Program started by donor Josh Milligan here:
$40 provides a refurbished bike for one student as well as transportation of the bike from Siem Reap to the village
Medical Program
Koh Ker School is located in Preah Vihear Province, near the temples of Koh Ker in Kulen District. This area is still heavily landmined, the school being in a small pocket of land cleared by cMac in just 2005. There are 124 students currently enrolled at Koh Ker in grades 1 to 3 with three teachers. This school is in an area of the country plagued with a high incidence of malaria, dengue fever and tuberculosis. It's distance (3 hours drive) from the Children's Hospital in Siem Reap make even the most minor illnesses and accidents life-threatening for the children. The Foundation has found a good friend in the person of Chuor Kim Suong, who provides medical care to all 190 children and 7 teachers. Testing kits, medicine and bandages are purchased in Siem Reap at reputable pharmacies and the doctor is at the school every day to provide medical treatment, diagnosis and education. Children who find themselves critically ill are transported to Siem Reap. In Kulen District, there are many more obstacles to educating the children than just supplies and uniforms. The obstacles are great, but pose little threat to children whose health and well being is guarded by one such as Dr. Kim. It costs the Foundation an average of $500 per month for this much needed care.
Donate 
We realize one of the best ways to serve these enthusiastic and well equipped students is to support their teachers. Teachers in the rural communities typically make between $20-40 per month, depending on their education and experience. This means the teachers must often work second jobs or in the fields to subsidize their incomes, causing many absences, illnesses and a general weariness. The Foundation supports the teachers with monthly subsidies of $20-40 per month, depending on the number of sessions taught each week (for the rural teachers). We have seen a dramatic improvement in the quality of education the children are now receiving since these subsidies began. They are 
PLF currently awards bicycles to students graduating from the sixth grade as well as students in grades four and five who finish first and second in their class. These bicycles both serve as incentives for students as well as necessities to continuing their education. Bicycles are often the only transportation available to not only the children, but often to their 
families, other than walking. Students in the countryside often walk several kilometers to get to primary school, and when they decide to continue to secondary school, it is often even further away. Children wanting to continue to the seventh grade often face a 10-15 km hike (6-9 miles), making it impossible without some sort of transportation. Donations for the bicycle program are collected all year for a big awards ceremony in August or October, depending on the school.