Join Sokvy: Bring the Joys of Basketball to Kids in Cambodia

Hi, my name is Sokvy Vin, and I am a rising senior at the University of Portland and a SHE-CAN Scholar. SHE-CAN is a San Francisco-based nonprofit that builds global - women’s leadership in post-conflict countries. As a SHE-CAN scholar and student leader, I am passionate about creating positive change for my community.

In the small town of Oudong in rural Cambodia Two hours away from the capital of Phnom Penh, hundreds of bright-eyed elementary students are eager to learn and grow. While they learn math and language arts, their school lacks the resources to provide a crucial element of a child’s education: physical activity through sports like basketball. In the Oudong school district, only 2 out of 56 elementary schools offer basketball programs, but Dom Nak Smach Elementary School is not one of those two schools. As a result, none of the students at Dom Nak Smach Elementary School have ever touched a basketball or experienced the joys of dribbling, shooting, or making a basket.

My mission is simple: to build the first-ever basketball court at Dom Nak Smach Elementary School and transform the lives of 374 elementary students. Basketball and court sports will foster students’ social-emotional learning and motor skill development, teach teamwork and promote wellness. My basketball initiative aims to inspire, empower, and bring hope and joy not just to these 374 students but to all the generations of kids who will follow them. But I need your help to make this hoop dream a reality. Your generous support will fund the construction of the basketball court, provide essential equipment and gear, and ensure the program's sustainability through coaching. Join me to help kids in Dom Nak Smach Elementary School, Cambodia experience the joys of basketball.