I was lucky enough to grow up in a family where education was seen as very important and the fact that we were three girls was no reason for it to be any less than for anyone else.

While it is perhaps trite to say it – education is the key.

 The United Nations have identified that the education of girls is one of the major ways in which we can reduce world poverty. Educated girls have their first pregnancy later in life, when their bodies are ready for the experience. They have less children on average and those children are better educated. They have the opportunity to have jobs and education can allow them to voice an opinion and express themselves.

For the people in Cambodia education has a dark history. The Khmer Rouge murdered those who were educated, people did not see the value in education and in rural areas this can still be a strongly held belief - especially as it relates to young woman.

When money is tight why spend it on educating a girl?

Sponsorship of girl’s education allows young women to attend school when without this support it would not be possible for their families to afford to continue their education. It provides these girls with the chance to become educated young woman and to fulfil the dreams they have - be a teacher, become a nurse!

When I photograph these young women I see the dreams and excitement in their smiles. They are excited about what the sponsor is giving them.