Meet Sara & Mira Scholars Foundation: Educating Cambodian Students from San Francisco

 

In our early conversations about what to title the organization, one person (born and raised in India) suggested a short and simple girl’s name – Mira – meaning prosperous. We liked it immediately, and also liked its other global variants: Spanish for “look,” Latin for “astonishing,” Slavic for “great,” and Hebrew for “exalted.” All of these terms are what we hope Mira brings to the students who benefit from it.  

 

In my mid-twenties, I worked for one of the larger foundations in San Francisco that was pulling in roughly $25 million a year. It was a comfortable job with good pay, nice people, and expected growth, but I found it constraining, very officey and not me.

 

From that role, I accepted a job in West Africa with an adult education program.  I loved the experience and knew I wanted my work to continue to center on education.  Among my coworkers one day, we started chatting about what would be involved in developing our own non-profit, but this time focusing on children.  All of the adult students I worked with had bachelor degrees already, so they were generally in a good spot for personal growth and social mobility.  We kept talking about those who weren’t in that type of situation.  All of this was very informal conversation – the “what ifs” and “what’s needed.” 

 

One coworker read about a business plan competition with the only criteria being it had to benefit the social good, so we spent months researching how we could best be of service to the world and put together a plan benefitting academics and youth. After six months, we didn’t hear back from the competition, but thought it was still a good lesson in getting a formal plan together so we pressed on.  Then, one day, I received an email apologizing for such an unanticipated delay.  The organizers expected a few dozen entries but received 600!  Mira was one of the top 10!  

 

There was one requirement to accept the seed funding. Since the organizers were an Asian based foundation, they asked that Mira start in Asia.  At the time, our business plan was flexible to be implemented in many regions, so we decided to launch in Cambodia.  Now, with Mira in a truly serious stage, the two partners I worked with wanted to return to their previous lives in IT and Finance… so it was Mira and me. 

 

IRS forms, state forms, city forms –  that took maybe another five months to get through. Now, about seven years since that first conversation began, Mira has been able to help approximately 2,500 students and not just in the classroom.  One NGO (non-governmental organization) approached me with a need for funding disabled youth, so Mira‘s “doors” opened a bit further.  I say “doors” as in door to my home, where all things Mira take place.

 

How has how doing this work affected you?

It’s truly changed how I see the Bay Area and the U.S. lifestyle and has shown me how generous and altruistic Mira‘s circle of donors has been.

There are millions of people all around the world who have only themselves. The students in Cambodia are remarkable and inspiring. There is a tangible thirst for quality educational services, and motivation is extremely high. The problem is there’s never enough funding to reach everyone who’s motivated.  Some can move forward; some cannot.  Mira is a small organization.  We will never change everything, but we will change a small corner of the world, and that in itself makes a lasting difference.

How has becoming a mom changed you and how you feel about Mira?

Well, let’s address the physical part of that first.  My angel (she is; she’s brilliant and peaceful) didn’t sleep through the night for her first fourteen months! And let’s not forget how joyous sleep was in the third trimester of pregnancy.  

Right after she was born, we didn’t make our annual trip back to Cambodia to check on our grants and the students because she was just too little to travel.  We went back when she twelve months old, though, and I’m so happy we did.  My incredible husband was there, as well as three volunteers. 

 

As for how I see Mira as an entity, having my own child makes me more aware of what other kids don’t have.  Need diapers? Go to Target. Supplies? Amazon.  There’s always a place to get something.  Also, my husband and I are college educated and in stable jobs.  Though we’re not sure where she’ll go to school, there’s no doubt that it will happen. It’s just a given, right?  

 

Tell us about your experience bringing your one-year old daughter to Cambodia to check on Mira’s students and funding.  

When we started telling people I was pregnant in 2015, there were a few folks upfront who literally said, “Well, kiss those travel days goodbye.”  My first reaction was a smile and then an eye roll.

Aside from her jet lag, the trip went perfectly.  We’d alternate who had in her in one of those travel/hiking backpacks, and when the ground was safe, we’d just let her walk wherever she wanted.  I was wrapping up breastfeeding at the time, so I did feel a bit awkward about that, being in front of my volunteers, my NGO counterparts, and really anyone with whom we came into contact, but whatever! No one said anything, and it all turned out fine.  We packed some essentials from home and bought most everything else for her there.  Pretty much most products here can be found in Cambodia’s two main cities. 

 

Absolutely!  I want her to understand that anyone can offer help.  Anyone. You don’t need to be rich and powerful to step into a situation where you know help is needed.