Testimonials
During my time at CHD I have realized that it is much more than just a school, but is also a place where children can come make friends, have fun and gain confidence in themselves. Mister Treng Sokha has done a great job at providing the kids of Po Village with a place where they can safely improve their English, computer and Math skills, and also hang out and just be kids. Watching the children learn and become more confident in their English speaking abilities was been a blessing to witness, and I am glad I got to be apart of this organization. Teaching here and seeing how much the kids want to learn, and the enthusiasm they have for education, has taught me not to take my own educational opportunities for granted. I know that CHD and Sokha will continue to do great things in the future and I am excited to see what CHD can accomplish.
Daniel
Upon arrival, I had no clue what to expect or how much this trip would mean to me. The first day of school everybody was shy, the students, teaches, and of course us. We just sat through the classes and payed attention to the way the teachers taught. We would introduce ourselves in each class and then after the kids would come up and give us all high fives. I think it is pretty funny that the kids broke the ice and made it easier on us. After working at CHD for 7 weeks, I can honestly say that it has been the most enriching seven weeks of my life. The children have taught me so much by their simplicity of always being grateful and happy with the simple things they have. The director, Soka, has inspired me to work harder than ever before. He is a person that grew up with very little, but managed to go to school by becoming a monk and then getting a degree from a university. Then instead of moving to the capital and getting a high paying job, he decided to stay in his village and use his skills to empower others. Every day I am thankful for this opportunity and every day I look at Sokha and hope to one day be a fraction of the person he is today. At age 28, he has accomplished so much and with so little. I have faith that with hard work and dedication I can also one day be as involved in my community and also still be a part of the CHD family by helping in any way I can. I will miss the kids and village very much. I am forever grateful for this opportunity. Thank you CHD and GPE.
Leeanne Steers
Living in Takeo and working at CHD has been incredibly rewarding. The students are a joy to work with, eager to participate, and very intelligent. I enjoyed spending time with them outside of the classroom just as much as I did in the classroom. Playing english computer games and reading with them before class was my favorite part of the day because we were able to interact and become friends. It was also a joy to spend time talking with Sokha. I learned so much from him about Khmer culture and Cambodian history. I admire his enthusiasm for educating himself as well as the children, and look forward to working with CHD in the future. I have the utmost faith in CHD to continue growing and offering free education to children while maintaining a socially responsible and caring approach.
Miranda Harris
Living in Takeo and working at CHD has been incredibly rewarding. The students are a joy to work with, eager to participate, and very intelligent. I enjoyed spending time with them outside of the classroom just as much as I did in the classroom. Playing english computer games and reading with them before class was my favorite part of the day because we were able to interact and become friends. It was also a joy to spend time talking with Sokha. I learned so much from him about Khmer culture and Cambodian history. I admire his enthusiasm for educating himself as well as the children, and look forward to working with CHD in the future. I have the utmost faith in CHD to continue growing and offering free education to children while maintaining a socially responsible and caring approach.
Britt
Volunteering at CHD has truly been one of the most meaningful and unforgettable experiences of my entire life. Coming here has made me realize how much joy and beauty there really is in being a child, even in such a remote and overlooked region in this world such as Po Village in Takeo, Cambodia. The smiles we are greeted with each day that just express pure joy and gratitude make the experience extremely rewarding, and seeing the progress of the kids develop their English skills make it even more so. The enthusiasm that these children show for their education has been very eye-opening for me and has made me value education in general to a much greater degree. Talking with and learning about the wonderful school director Sokha has been truly inspiring and showed me the true meaning of resilience, simplicity, and service to others. I have learned many things from my experience at CHD, but perhaps the most profound things I will take away is that the act of selflessness is really one of the best things you can do for yourself, as well as the world around you.