Thy Chanthon's story

Tour guide 

My name is Thy Chanthon. I am 33 years old and I have a grade 12 education. I was born in O Re Sey Village, Kratie province.  Now I live in Cham Katae Village, Spean Mean Chey Commune, Sen Monorom Town in Mondulkiri Province.

My education has taught me how to read and write; I have been able to use these skills to find a suitable job, and these have helped me a lot in the work place. Also, my education has helped me find a good job as a tour guide, which has helped me to earn money to support my family and me.

My message to all parents and guardians with children who are old enough to enroll in school, from the ages of 6 years old or 70 months, is to enroll them in school, because it will be the beginning of a bright future for your children. If your children are well educated, they can help themselves, their parents and family and they can contribute to help their community and Cambodia. If we are not educated, we are unable to shape our own destinies, we cannot work and we waste our potential.

More later ... :)

No Nara's story

Assistant Office Manager

Hi, my name is No Nara, I am Khmer and I’m 22 years old.  Thanks to my grade 12 education in PrekTmey Village, Kandal Province, that I was able to get a good job as an Assistant Office Manager at the copy shop in Sen Monorom Town  where I am able to help people every day. 

Both my job and my education have helped me to excel at my job and provide excellent customer service to a variety of regular customers. 

I really appreciate my education, because it enabled me to get a good salary, which helps me to support my family.  One day,  I will get married to a beautiful bride and my salary will help me to support her and our ‘little’ family.   

I suggest to any parent who doesn’t send their children to school, that they should enroll them in school as soon as possible in order to prepare them for a better life and for a better future in our Kingdom of Cambodia.

More later ... :) 

Morning procession

- a wedding to be had!

November was a busy month with jam-packed events and activities.

Winner of all posters: Grade 3
Note: The above student was away harvesting rice and was unable to receive her gift.
However, I was fortunate enough to see her in the rice field with her family.

In early November, the School Opening Ceremony took place in more spacious grounds where the officials were mindful of the needs of their students.  We also had a poster competition in several schools where surprisingly every student took part in this critical event; with many winners at that! Savy my translator / assistant decreased his VSO work time with me and returned to his teaching job, while Panha, my new assistant picked up the remaining 40%.  Also, earlier in the month, we noticed that the Tonlé Sap had reversed earlier than as per usual, because the Mekong River was unusually low. 

It’s been a month where we were invited to 2 weddings but could only attend 1.  We also celebrated the arrival of two new VSO volunteers to MDK; we had two birthday communal dinners with them where everyone chipped in to help make dinner.  A colleague and I made spring rolls for the first time; surprisingly, they turned out to be yummy.  In courtesy of VSO , I was invited as one of the guest speakers to talk to the new in-country training group (ICT) (at the CO, Phnom Penh), about the Bunong indigenous people in MDK.   

Winner number 2:  Grade 5

November was also the Betel nut season where a number of people from all over Sen Monorom came in droves to the landlady’s house to select and buy the ‘very’ best fresh betel nut for their elder relatives, who live in the nearby villages.  The chewing of the betel nut, an ancient Indian herb, is primarily used for medicinal purposes to help with digestion.

Throughout the month of November, we continued to collaborate with VSO ICS – youth group where they too, decided to interview locals in and out of town to get a sense of what education means to the Bunong and Khmer men and women.  They also wrote a manual for their ‘garbage’ project, for making a ‘garbage’ container composed of chicken wire and water pipes :)

The month of November ended up being a bit chaotic as well as magical.  I was in Phnom Penh for a week, for medical care; for two sets of rabies vaccination  that was given to me 3 days apart.

Winner number 3: Grade 4

Unfortunately, during our favourite usual Sunday walk around our home area, I was unexpectedly attacked and bitten by a large black vicious dog that was new in town (who, this irrational dog, had attacked many other people prior to me).  According to the Khmer culture, an owner can posses up to 10 dogs to guard their properties, their wealth, regardless how large or small their homes might be.    We understand that dog owners wish to improve their security, however, they are unintentionally putting other people at risk.   To get out of the mold they are presently in,  perhaps in the not so distance future, the overall community may require to go through  a change in social norms for  them, homeowners, to modify their attitude /behaviour?

Kevin, immediately took hold of me and carried me home to Savy, our landlady's clinic, all the while the neighbouring community followed us to our destination; the clinic.  While Savy, in her pajamas, and who immediately  took care of the bloody deep wound on my right thigh, the people in and out of the clinic were frantically talking to each other to find out the ins and outs of the dog’s owner and of his whereabouts.   Finally, when things were put in place, a few people who spoke English, told us that someone had indeed  touched base with the dog's owner who was at that time harvesting at his farm.  They also, gave us his phone number for future reference .  

By eve, the owners’ children,  (his son and his wife) came around to our house to apologize on behalf of their father.  They wanted to know if we wanted something, money?  More importantly, they wanted  to reassure us that their father’s dog had receive several sets of rabies shots and added that he had planned to take his dog to the farm.   whether it be true – it was hard to know.  On their way out of our apartment, they humbly apologized again and said that they would pray for us.   Later, we found out that the dog owner was  a ‘High official’ and that it was best to let things be.  - unbelievable.  

For a week, I was on heavy drugs  to keep the swelling and bleeding down.  Both, Kevin my personal nurse, and the  VSO family in Phnom Penh took every measures to ensure my comfort.   Cuso international in Canada also got on the band wagon and did the same - they followed up during and after my medical care.  I feel truly lucky :)  

Elsewhere in Sen Monorom, the day before this ordeal happened, we went to a wedding (morning procession and evening meal) with our landlord.  Our landlady, Savy, in her wisdom,  ironically felt that it was time for us to learn something about the Khmer culture :)   At dawn, we took part in the morning procession, offering food on gold plated ceremonial bowls,  to the bride and groom' s families. Though everything was already organized for us, for the procession, these prepared ceremonial food bowls were handed to us by beautiful Khmer women dressed in traditional Khmer attire, as we entered the wedding tent.    This theme, offering food to the family, likely came from a time when people contributed and brought their own 'cooked' food to the wedding for the bride and groom's family to eat and enjoy after their 3 day wedding celebration.  

More later ... :)

Ma Lylen's story

- Camera man  and driver

Hello my name is Ma Lylen and I am 35 years old male.  I grew up in Cham Katea village, in a small Bunong Village in Mondulkiri province.  My grade 9 schooling has helped me a lot at my work place.   As a result of my good education, I managed to secure a job as a camera man and a driver, with a great Bunong NGO called International Cooperation of Cambodia, better known as ICC, in Sen Monorom Town.

I have found that education has been very helpful for my family and me. I believe that if I did not go to school when I was younger, then I would not have been able to get such a respectable job.  Now, I help support my family: my wife and my three children (2 boys and 1 girl).  Not only has my education helped me to communicate more effectively in my work place, it has also given me the opportunity to make new friends. 

In all, education has helped me to reach my full potential, fulfill my own needs as well as the needs of my family and my country, the Kingdom.

I suggest to all parents who have children of school age,  6 years old or 70 months old, to enroll them to the school near you. For when we enroll our children in school, we are enrolling them in a better future!  Once your child is an educated person, not only will they help themselves, but they will also benefit you as parents, the wider community and your country, the Kingdom of Cambodia. There is no excuse not to – go to school – because, enrollment is free for everyone!

Education is valuable, not just for our Cambodian people but also on a global scale. So send your children to enroll now!

  
More later ... :)

Long Theary's story

Co owner of Pizza restaurant    

Hi, My name is Long Theary, I’m 20 years old and I was born in the beautiful hills of Mondulkiri Province, in Kandal Village which is situated in the heart of Spean Mean Chey commune.   My ethnicity is Khmer and I completed my schooling at grade 9.  I am married and we are expecting our first baby in December.   With my husband, I am co-owner of the pizza restaurant, The Mondulkiri Pizza in Sen Monorom Town.   Blessed by our late parents, my two older brothers and I inherited the house and the land in which we grew up.   Consequently, later in life when I met my husband, this land gave us a window of opportunity to open up our very own Pizza business.  

Co-owner of the Mondulkiri Pizza restaurant

I have many benefits from our business:  I have my own business with my husband. With my business, I have become more confident in dealing with the people, and especially with tourists; I feel that because I learned English at school, I can talk to tourists and take their order.  

Furthermore, running my own business means I use a lot of math; I have to calculate how much money we have earned each day. I also understand  how to wok the books (book keeping) so that we know how much we have earned in a year.

My work has also helped me gain knowledge with the people I work  with on a daily basis. I am grateful for my teachers who helped me to be a good person in society by teaching me the difference between what is good and what is bad. I also know how to take care of myself and not to allow anyone to take advantage of my kindness. Even though I only studied up until grade 9, I am proud to say that I can independently support myself and for that, I am very thankful to my teachers.

Education has also helped me to have a better, broader understanding of the outside world.  More importantly, with education and the salary that I make, I  can personally support my family, myself and our new baby that will be arriving soon.

Some parents do not pay much attention​ about sending their children to school;  they think that they don’t have enough money to support their education.  I feel that this is wrong, because education is very important for young people.  My message is simple: Every parent should send their children to school.  One thing is for sure,  I will send my child to school as soon as s/he will become of school age. 

Since this interview took place, Long Theary  has given birth to a beautiful daughter. 

More later  ... :) 

Sraey Nich

Assistant Officer  

Hi, my name is Srey Nich and I am 21 years old. I was born in PuTrang village, a charming sleepy little village tucked in DakDam Commune, in O’Reang district, Mondolkiri Province. I still live in Putrang village because my roots are here, in this village, where my ancestors rest in these burial grounds and my family work in the rice fields.  Now, my husband and our daughter are living with me.  

I left school after grade 9 to help my family at home and on the farm.  Furthermore,  because of my education and my P’hnong heritage, this allowed me to find a job easily outside my village, with a P’hnong NGO in Sen Monrom Town. 

Srae Nich

Education has guided me through some bumpy periods in my life and as a result, it has taught me well in the work place.  Additionally, I have made many connections and know a lot of people whom I work closely with.    

Education has also helped me with my personal life, to earn a decent salary that has allowed me to support my family, including my husband and our daughter. Through my networking at work, we can visit many places outside my village.

When I’m not working in my regular job in Sen Monorom Town,  I live and work at my family’s farm, in the rice fields.  I am so happy to say, that we now produce an extra yield of rice twice a year thanks to my education and the extra money that I earn for my family.  With the extra yield of rice we get each year, we bag it and sell it to the other Provinces.  Therefore, with this extra money that we get, I am happy to say, that it used to help our community.

My appeal to all parents with children aged 6 and above, would be to go and enroll them in the schools throughout Mondolkiri Province. It will not cost you anything to enroll your child.  Please know that your children will reap the many benefits of having an education.   Because with an education, they will gain a lot of skills, they will have more job prospects, they will earn more money.   And, like me, they will not only improve their thinking skills in a more critical way, and they will also improve their family’s standard of living.

More later ....  

Chrae Chou

Primary Staff Officer for the Provincial Office of Education 

Hi, my name is Chre Chou, I am 30 years old and I was born in a P’hnong village called Pu Loung Village that has now become one of the main attraction sites in Mondulkiri Province.   I now live and work in Sen Monorom Town and I am delighted to tell you that I am the first Bunong woman to be hired as a Primary Staff Officer for the Provincial Office of Education.  

PouLong Village

I finished my education once I completed Grade 9 and I believe that my schooling has helped me to find a good, well-paid job allowing me to support my family and myself, with enough money to give us a small holiday once a year.

Without an education we cannot work, and with it, it has helped me to practice better farming method in my homeland, as well as easily understand difficult tasks in my work-place.

Education has helped me to become a better member of my family and a better citizen of this country.  After becoming a well-educated person, I was able to help other people, like myself, by educating them to live a good life. It has also given me a better understanding of social communication to help me to build proper relationships with people.

I'm so proud to be a Primary Staff Officer

As an educator, I believe it is our responsibility to encourage parents to register and send their children to school, especially if they’re of the ages of 70 months or 6 years old.  Registration for everyone is free.  Therefore, by sending them to school, you are already preparing them for a better future. When you send your children to school, you won’t be disappointed, as you will see the benefits of a good education. Your child will grow up to be a good member of society with high morality and become a better family member.  Additionally, like myself, from getting an education they will be able to get a good enough job to support themselves and to support you, as their parents in later life.

Where we work

Based on what education has done for me, I would like to urge every parent in our county, the Kingdom of Wonder, that despite whatever situation you live in, whether your family is rich or poor, you must that send your children to school. 

Thank you for listening.  Chou

Comments and suggestions are welcome

More later :)