Molding Young Minds in Daillo Village

Under a tree in Daillo village, children gather every weekday morning from 8:00 AM -11:00 AM for free classes. Their teacher is Chhy Sovann, a university student taking up an English major at Buildbright University in Banteay Meanchey.

Sovann teaches the alphabets under a tree

“I want to be an english teacher, so I’m very happy to teach these children and learn myself,” he shared. “They only know very little english and what they learn in school is not enough, so I want to prepare them.” Sovann also stays in De Nobili Center and is one of the university students helped by the Church.

The classes are held in the learning centers built by the Church located inside each village. The young children come from different grade levels, with some too young to attend school and others having never attended school at all.

Young children copy their lessons on their notebooks

“There are a lot of children in the village, and most of them do nothing during the day. We want to offer them a chance to learn, and as word of the classes to spread, then perhaps more children would come.” Fr. Rajat, Parish Priest of Sisophon shared. “We start with these simple classes then slowly, slowly, we can move forward and offer more lessons when the interest catches on.”

Basic Khmer literacy classes, hygiene and mathematics classes are also given during the weekends by the highschool students who stay in De Nobili Center.

Free English Classes for Students at Pnom Bak Elementary School

Since July 2011, free english classes were given to interested primary school students from Grades 4 to 6 in Pnom Bak Elementary School in Daillo Village, Tuek Thla Commune, Banteay Meanchey Province.

A student holds up her finished artpiece during class

Most of the students are children from poor families in the nearby Daillo Village. They have very low english proficiency level but are very eager to learn. A class can reach up to 40 students who attend per day. 2 classes are usually taught between 4:00 – 5:30PM.

De Nobili Student Center, which is part of the School Assistance Program of the Church also implements other english teaching outreach activities. The activity is mostly accomplished with foreign volunteers who guide the learning process. Students from De Nobili Student Center also give support as assistant teachers.

“I really wanted to come here to Cambodia. And I like teaching, so I like helping them learn.” Brother Francisco Jaewhan, a Diocesian seminarian from Korea shared.

Volunteer teachers from India, Philippines and Korea

We welcome others who are interested in teaching english or learning with us. For more information, please email us.

Young Children from Villages Taught Classical Khmer Dance

Every weekend during the summer holidays (July-September), free Khmer dance classical classes were held for interested young children in Pongro Village, Kampong Svay Commune, Serei Saophoan District, Banteay Meanchey. The lessons helped children learnmore of their culture, stay fit and make their parents proud.

The dancers are prepared for an upcoming presentation

The classes were held in a covered, cemented facility in the village and was usually held in the mornings between 9:00 to 11:30AM. The dances were then performed for audiences during masses and other special events at the Catholic Church in Sisophon.

“It is good for the children to learn about their dance, their heritage.” Soun Sreymom, the dance teacher shared. “I go to teach them so that they don’t forget about their culture.”

Fr. Rajat gives hygiene products to dance students

The young dancers are also given free school and hygienic supplies as additional support of the Church.

 

Volunteers from China and Pnom Penh Teach English in Primary Schools

Last 15 August up to 3 September 2011, volunteers from Fu Jen University in Taiwan, Sun Yat Sen University in China, Don Bosco Technical School in Poipet and Royal University of Pnom Penh in Cambodia came together to teach English. Their students were Grades 1 to 6 pupils in Kabal Spein and Prohout Primary Schools located in Serei Saophoan District, Banteay Meanchey Province, Kingdom of Cambodia.

A Chinese volunteer teaches the English alphabet to her Cambodian students

“We came here to help and learn and we were able to do that, so we’re happy.” A Cambodian volunteer shared. “We have learned a lot of things about new culture, new environment and new people,” said one of the Chinese volunteers. The Chinese volunteers are all taking up English related majors in their respective universities and were eager to share what they have learned.

All the volunteers during their visit to a nearby village

Before the Chinese volunteers went back to China, a forum was held where the volunteers presented the results of their research on selected topics about the experience. The topics ranged from difficulties Cambodians encounter when pronouncing English words, the difference of educational level between towns and countryside, SWOT analysis of teaching english in public elementary schools, and others. They presented their research findings in De Nobili Student Center with the officers from the public elementary school in attendance.

The program is the result of cooperation between Fu Jen University, Sun Yat Sen University , and National Taipei University of Education and takes place during the summer break every year. This is it’s 3rd year of implementation.