Chey Chantan's story

Doctor

Hello, my name is Chey Chantan.

I was born in a small scenic P’hnong village near the foothills of ‘Bousra’ waterfall in Pench Chreada district.  To me, Bousra falls is the most magnificent waterfall in all of Mondolkiri province.  For 32 years, my Bunong heritage has made me as resilient as the waterfall itself.  I am presently single, but my family and I have a plan to find a beautiful young woman in Bousra Commune to be my wife within the next 2-3 years. 

Chantan's story

In July 2015, I graduated from Pasteur Medical University in Phnom Penh, and became a medical doctor.  Thanks to my education, I now have a job at the health clinic in Bousra Commune.

My goal in the future is to open my very own clinic so that I can help the Bunong people in my community, especially those who live in rural and isolated areas.  My staff and I can travel to the villages to personally serve the people, and to help them with their medical conditions. Nowadays, I can do something good for the Bunong people that I have known all my life.

As a doctor, I can help my family: my father, my mother, my sister, my brother, my uncle and my cousins who live with us. I can also travel with my family to different places that we have not seen before.

I would like to tell parents, students and children that school enrolment and attendance are very important. Young people need to know that nowadays, our society focuses on knowledge and educated people.  When we get an education, we gain knowledge that we can use to help each other, our families and our country for a healthier and a prosperous future.

More later ... :)

Chan Srey Ya's story

ACLEDA Managing Assistant 

Hello, my name is Chan Srey Ya, and I am a 24-year-old Khmer woman. I was born in a small picturesque village called Chom Bau Village in Mondulkiri Province, Cambodia.  I am not married yet, but my family and  my sisters are looking for a handsome husband to come my way.   I am proud to tell you that I graduated from the University of Phnom Penh.

Because of my education, I found a good job easily, and now I work as an Assistant Manager for ACLEDA bank in Sen Monorom Town.  For 3 years now I have been fortunate to support my parents, and my 3 sisters.

 Education has also guided me to live as a good citizen. As a Cambodian citizen, and because of my education, I am better informed of my country’s development; it has not only helped me to live a better life, but I know with my education, I can contribute to make my country a better place to live in, and to help reduce poverty in Cambodia.

 I suggest to all parents in my community to send your children, who are of school age, to enroll them for school during the School Enrollment Campaign.  Education is very important for our lives and for our future in the Kingdom of Wonder.

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Let Savy's story

English Teacher and VSO volunteer  

Hello!   My name is Let Savy and I am a 30-year-old Khmer man. I was born into a small Khmer rice farmer’s family in Rand Sey village, Srae Sangkom commune; an agricultural centre known as the rice and cassava production region that services the community of Koh Nhek district in Mondulkiri Province.  After I graduated from grade 12 at the Hun Sen Sen Monorom High school, I studied English at the Asia Euro University, Phnom Penh.   I now live in Chom Katae village, Spean Mean Chey commune, Sen Monorom Town, where I work as an English teacher and as a Volunteer Assistant for VSO.

Savy's story

Thanks to my teachers and my education, they have helped me to escape from poverty.   I originally came from a poor rice farmer’s family and as a boy, I worked in the rice field, helping my family to plant and to harvest rice; it was hard work and I remember thinking that I did not want to be a farmer like my family.  So when I was at school, I listened carefully to the personal stories of my own teachers who were my role models to escape from poverty.  Because of my teachers’ support, I now have a degree, which has helped me to get a job working with the Ministry of Education and with an NGO - VSO.   

My education has meant that I can read, write, speak and listen, as well as write reports, in both English and Khmer.  Education has also given me respect in my homeland, because I can now earn money by using my own knowledge and my skills to support myself as well as my own family.   I can also educate local people to improve their capabilities so that they have the  correct tools to help them  to support their own lives.

My personal message for all parents is to send their children to enroll in school. I think that school is the best place to educate children to help increase their knowledge. The younger children enroll in school, the more opportunities they will have to learn. I think that the more knowledge children have the more they are able to support themselves, their family and Cambodia. Through having an education they can have the ability to develop their environment (locality- where they live), help their community and their own nation through training, teaching students or the people that they live with. 

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VanBollyn's story

ACLEDA Bank Assistant 

Hi!  My name is VanBollyn Da and I am 28 years old. I am Khmer and I was born in the small, beautiful, scenic village of Prey Boe Village in Kandal Province.  I am married and we have a 3 month old baby boy.

Studying has given me many advantages: I have graduated from university and I have a good job as an assistant at ACLEDA bank in Sen Monorom Town, Mondolkiri Province.

VanBollyn's story

My education was key to helping me find a well-paid job. Now, I can support my family, whom has supported me throughout my studies.  Its effects upon me are more than financial: my perspective has become more optimistic and I can see my life  more clearer and in a happier way.  

Education has provided me with the skills I need in my daily life, allowing me to solve problems I have faced.  It has given me the ability to see challenges in a positive way.  With this mentality, I can live a happier and much better life than I ever could have hoped to without an education.

My message to parents and the community: I strongly urge all parents to enroll their children during the school campaign.  It will give children the opportunity to completely change their lives for the better. 

More later ... :)

Heng Voleak's story

Nurse 

“Greetings!   My name is Heng Voleak and I am a 20-year-old nurse.  I was born in a Khmer family and grew up at Prek Knea Village, in Prey Veng Province.   After completing grade 12, I studied nursing in Thailand.  Now, I live in the nursing quarters of Sen Monorom Hospital in Mondulkiri Province.

Heng Voleak is a nurse at Sen Monorom Hospital

My schooling was very important in helping me to get a job.  It taught me to understand the connection between psychology and the body. As a new nursing graduate, I have the right medical skills to help patients with their needs; I can empathize with them, I can tell what exactly my patients need help with and how best to go about it. Of course I still have a lot to learn from the doctors, the lead nurse manager and my colleagues.  But, without my education I would not have had the opportunity to work in the hospital.

In my personal life, my education has helped me to take part in society, and it has motivated me to become a strong person: it has helped me to deal with problems that I never thought I could solve on my own. With my own needs met, I can help fulfill my patients’ needs and wants with the creative ideas I gained from my education.  Most importantly, I can support myself, help my family, and contribute to the Kingdom of Cambodia.

I want to say to children and their parents that education is of the utmost importance. Parents play a valuable role in their children’s education – by the time children are old enough to go to school, they can already speak and express themselves. For me and everyone else, our parents were our first teachers – that was the first step of education.   

The second step closer to a better life is for you to know that it is important that all children in Cambodia should go to school. Young children are like sponges – they learn everything that is taught to them.  Even if a child is in a difficult situation (for example, from a marginalized group), they should get the opportunity of an education. Without an education, one cannot work or move to other sectors like the economy, health or tourism.

Everything begins with education. Children began their education with you.  Now it’s time to send them to school – Education is free.  When you parents send your children to school, you are preparing them for a better future.  All children need an education.”   Thank you.

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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.

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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 ... :)