← Back to all stories

The Quiet Flood.

How the children of Tonle Sap face the monsoon — and never let calamity steal their dreams.

Close-up of flooded floating houses in Tri An, with rusty rooftops just above the waterline

The yearly wet monsoon season in Cambodia brings stormy wind and rain from June through December. The Mekong river water then overflows into the Tonle Sap Lake. This powerful overflow can expand the lake water volume by fivefold, and raise the lake water level from 1 to 10 meters in some places — in effect causing flooding, quiet and destructive flooding, to the surrounding areas, including the Tri An village where the IHM students' families live and the Le Van Khanh school itself.

Overcoming adversities.

The quiet but devastating yearly flood is causing damages, losses, displacements, disruptions, and potential diseases all around. You wonder if the families can survive and recover from its annual destruction. The people probably can — as they have always been able to in the previous years. You just hope most families will manage to keep their children in school during the recovery period. Then you wonder if the children can actually focus on their schooling during this difficult time.

Take a look at the children's effort in the pictures below. You can see the answer on their faces — of course they can and will, with a little help from you.

Students in blue uniforms packed into a colorful long boat that serves as their school transport during flood season
Students taking the school boat to school — no calamity can deter them from pursuing their dreams.
A group of Le Van Khanh students with backpacks wading through muddy floodwater outside the school
Students will be wading through the water all the way home.
The white Le Van Khanh school building with floodwater all around and a student in a boat in front
No calamity can deter this student from pursuing his dream.
An older brother standing with a long pole in a small boat with his younger sister, both in school uniforms
A-going to school we will go, big brother and little sister — we will catch our hope and never let it go…
A grandmother smiling as she steers a wooden boat carrying her two grandchildren in school uniforms across the Tonle Sap
Grandma's hands steer that oar toward my future so well…

Your yearly support for each student will cover the entire school year expenses of tuition, school supplies, meals, some food, and emergency assistance to the family. Moreover, your support will cover an entire year of precious consolation and hope for these children and their families.

Please be there for them.

An annotated photo of a Tri An home with labels showing the roof, the adjustable platform, and the second story used during flood season
IHM has been helping the Tri An residents build adjustable platforms and temporary floors that can be raised to keep dry from the rising water.
An annotated photo of an elderly couple sitting on a raised platform inside their flooded home, with labels showing the roof-line, platform, and water level
The look of distress and despair — since you can only raise the platform so high…

If you'd like to support our ongoing efforts in building schools, scholarships, clean water systems, medical care, and safe havens for the children and families living in destitute conditions, please use the links below.

Thank you for your generous support to create lasting change and a brighter tomorrow for the stateless children of Tonle Sap.

Three young students with backpacks wading through floodwater between fences in Tri An
No calamity can deter these little warriors from pursuing their dreams.
There is nothing more beautiful than someone who goes out of their way to make life beautiful for others. — Mandy Hale
Stand With Tri An

Be the one who shows up when the water rises.

Tuition. Meals. School supplies. Emergency support for families. Every gift becomes a year of hope for a child in Tonle Sap.

Sponsor a Child Support Our Causes