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For the past 17 years, school director Kimchoeun Hak has dedicated his professional life to being the best leader for the many teachers and students at Ta Ey's secondary and high school. Back in 2006, the local government increased the number of secondary schools in every commune in Cambodia. With that, teachers with the ability to become school directors were necessary in order to lead the schools. This was the moment that everything changed for director Kimchoeun, as he was chosen to take over the chair at Ta Ey School. With this opportunity in hand, director Kimchoeun wanted—and still wants—to help children in rural villages and develop the school together with the local community.
In recent years, the number of students is increasing rapidly, and the school doesn’t have enough classrooms to support them. Although it is a ‘good problem to have’, director Kimchoeun has to work with the teachers to appeal to potential donors and sponsors. This is one of the ways to uplift his school ‘s ability to help the many children.
Director Kimchoeun believes that the responsibility of quality education is shared amongst teachers, families and of course the students. He further shared a sounding advice for the students, “Children, our lives in rural villages may be difficult but your hardwork in studying is important, as education is your gateway to a better future. Your love for education is also your love for your family, your community and Cambodia!”
With those inspiring words from director Kimchoeun, let’s join forces and give those rural schools a better chance to fight for a brighter future. Take a step, give a helping hand, you can support Ta Ey’s school directly via https://bit.ly/Donate_PS2024. Story written by: Volunteer Mariana Pana
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Sometimes it’s hard to imagine what life is like in other parts of the world and what day to day experiences are like, especially children in poverty stricken areas. For PeopleStories scholarship student, Sin, he was very candid about what he likes to do, what he thinks about, how he solves problems, and so much more. Sin started his journey with PeopleStories in 2020 when he was a Grade 7 student at Roluos Secondary School. Now at 16, Sin studies at Hun Sen Prasat Bakong High School in Siem Reap province, Grade 10.
“I enjoy mathematics the most. All of the math exercises have many different ways to solve them but there is always just one right answer. I like that!” He continues, “Math is easy for me and I don’t need to think too much about it or give a lot of reasons for my answer, I just need to do the formulas.” For all of us, we can recall lifelong memories from our school days. That is something universal. Sin is no different and he is grateful for the friendships and memories he is making during this time in his life. He shared a little about his good friendship, “My best friend and I understand each other so well. I am a very quiet person and don’t always make friends easily.” Sin is glad to have someone he can confide in when family life or school life get difficult, “My friend doesn’t judge me and is always by my side when I feel down or am having a problem. It’s rare to find this kind of friendship so I am so lucky to have my friend in my life.”
Feedback is always helpful and from a student’s perspective he shared this for his teachers, “My advice for my teachers is to please help review the old lessons before starting the new lessons. This is helpful because not every student in class has recall or review time before class.” Sin’s thoughtfulness for everyone is remarkable and he concluded by saying, “Reviewing lessons will also help students engage with teachers better.”
Sin is well on his way to a bright future, which he does think about. He shared what he’d like to do when he graduates Grade 12, “My goal is to graduate high school with a B grade average and I know it won’t be easy so I have plans.” Sin’s problem solving is very inspiring and he continued about his plan, “I have started to review lessons in the morning, as my routine. I use the time to practice more exercises and I can also take extra classes.” He summed up his hopes and goals by expressing gratitude, “By my family’s status, I couldn’t afford to pay for extra classes but I am so grateful to Peoplestories for helping me.” Education is the key to success in all parts of life. PeopleStories is bringing education to the underserved children in the rural villages of Cambodia. After following a day in Sin’s life, and his vision for his own future, I think we can see that we are making a difference. There are many other children just like Sin that have big dreams! Help up bring education to rural Cambodia today: https://bit.ly/Donate_PS2024 Story written by: Volunteer Kathy Aunkst Pisey Vei, a 30-year-old teacher from Siem Reap, Cambodia, radiates a passion for education that's infectious. As we spoke with her for an interview with PeopleStories Charity, her dedication to her students shines through.
But teaching isn't without its challenges, Pisey admits. "Time management can be tough, especially with so much to cover in a limited timeframe. And sometimes, getting students to open up and share their opinions can be a challenge, but it's crucial for their development." When asked about unique teaching methods in Cambodian schools, Pisey lights up with pride. "One tradition we have is singing the national anthem together every morning, which unites all of us. And our classes start promptly at 7:00, teaching them the importance of punctuality."
Despite his love for teaching, Kimsong faces challenges. "Some students struggle with math, making it difficult to explain concepts," he admits. "And the workload can be overwhelming, leading to stress.”
Besides providing education it's important that teachers focus on this aspect, it's not only about educating the subject but a lot of other factors come into play when being a teacher. When asked about unique teaching methods in Cambodian schools, Kimsong shares, "We start at 7:00 am sharp. Before that, we gather to raise the flag and sing the national anthem. It fosters a sense of unity and pride among students." As for advice to his students, Kimsong's message is clear: "Study hard and stay committed to completing your education. It's the key to unlocking your future." Through Kimsong's and Pisey’s story, it's evident that teaching is not just a profession but a calling—a commitment to shaping young minds and empowering the next generation in Cambodia, one lesson at a time. Story written by: Caroline van ‘t Hoff |
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November 2024
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