Maap is an 11-year old girl living in Da Commune of Kampong Cham. Her father went to find work in Thailand and her mother died some time ago when she was very young. As a result, she never knew her mother and does not even know her name. Maap is an orphan who was taken in by some neighbors who are also farmers like her parents. They asked her father to leave Maap with them so that she could help them take care of their farm animals. Each day, she takes care of the younger children in the household and watches five cows in the afternoon. While in the fields, she saw other chil-dren going to school everyday and was curious but did not dare to ask whether she could go to school, too.

At the beginning this school year, the local community in Maap's village did a mapping exercise to find children who were not yet in school. The community elders and the school director have used their influence to convince Maap's guardi-ans to enroll her in the local school, known as Tuol Vihear Primary School. Now, Maap is enrolled in Grade 1 and has received a new blouse and skirt, shoes, and study materials as part of the ESCUP's scholarship support programming that is implemented directly by schools and communities. School is a new experience for Maap, but she says she is happy to be learning to read and write like the other children in her vil-lage though she does not know what the future will hold in store for her.