Cambodian Children’s Fund & Wing Bank Empower Girls in STEM

March 6, 2025

New Partnership Launches STEM Education Program for Girls, Providing At-Risk Cambodian Youth with Opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math

Steung Meanchey, Phnom Penh – March 05^th, 2025: In celebration of International Women’s Day, the Cambodian Children’s Fund (CCF) and Wing Bank have joined forces to empower young girls from some of Cambodia’s most marginalized communities. Their newly launched STEM Education Program aims to provide at-risk girls with access to essential education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), alongside invaluable internship opportunities that will help pave the way for future careers in these fields.

Thanks to a generous contribution of $72,807 from Wing Bank, Cambodia’s fastest-growing digital bank, this initiative will support 138 students at CCF’s Tomorrow Academy, including 88 girls. Tomorrow Academy, located in Steung Meanchey, offers these children a pathway to educational excellence and career opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach.

Wing Bank’s contribution will directly fund the purchase of 33 computers, which will equip the students with the digital tools they need to thrive in their studies and pursue careers in the rapidly expanding STEM sectors. In addition, 10 CCF university students will be selected annually for internships with Wing Bank, providing them with hands-on experience and further financial support over the course of the three-year partnership.

“Empowering girls and young women to pursue STEM education is critical to building a more inclusive and sustainable future,” said Scott Neeson, Founder and Executive Director of Cambodian Children’s Fund. “We are deeply grateful for Wing Bank’s partnership, which helps clear the barriers preventing our students from reaching their full potential. Together, we are not only transforming individual lives but also contributing to the development of Cambodia’s future workforce.”

Despite significant progress, girls in Cambodia remain underrepresented in science, technology, and engineering fields. The collaboration between CCF and Wing Bank is an important step toward changing this, helping to create a generation of young women with the skills and confidence to drive change in Cambodia’s digital and technological future.

“At Wing Bank, we believe in the transformative power of education,” said Manu Rajan, Division CEO of Wing. “This partnership is more than just an investment in education; it is an investment in the future of Cambodia.”

The STEM Education Program for Girls at Tomorrow Academy is a reflection of Cambodia’s growing need for a skilled workforce capable of addressing global challenges such as climate change, public health, and technological innovation. By equipping these young women with the tools to succeed in STEM, both CCF and Wing Bank are contributing to the creation of a brighter, more sustainable future for Cambodia.

“We are proud to support these talented young women in their pursuit of careers in STEM, and to play a role in Cambodia’s ongoing digital transformation,” said Dmytro Kolechko, CEO of Wing Bank. We hope this collaboration inspires others to join us in supporting the empowerment and education of youth across Cambodia.”

“I am very happy because I can learn about STEM and computers. By learning these, I will have a lot of good experiences. I hope I can have a better future, and I want to study in the United States, majoring in computer science,” said Thai Chakriya, 16 years old, a female student currently studying Grade 10 at Tomorrow Academy.

“I would like to say thanks to Wing Bank for funding me and other students to learn more about STEM and new computer skills. I will try my best to study for my future so I can achieve my dream.”

Founded in 2004, Cambodian Children’s Fund has worked tirelessly to break the cycle of poverty for vulnerable children and their families. With more than 1,800 children currently enrolled in CCF’s education programs, the organization continues to empower the next generation of Cambodian leaders to make lasting, positive change in their communities.

Tomorrow Academy, which opened in 2012, offers a supportive environment for approximately 300 students, providing a tailored secondary education program that meets the individual needs of each student. By collaborating with Wing Bank, CCF is further strengthening its commitment to providing these young people with the opportunities and resources they need to succeed.