Chanpeakdey Chhang
Hello ! My name is Chanpheakdey Chhang, and I was born in 1989. I lived in a small family, I was born in Koun Ka-Ek II Village, Robos Monkul Commune, Maung Russey District, Battambang Province, Cambodia. I have one sister. My father passed away one month before I was born. As a child, I lived in a poor family in the village and my family were farmers, so my sister, my mother, and I often got up early to go to the farm and the rice fields for rice harvesting. I hardly ever had much time to relax at home during the day. I thought that it was so unfair for me to be born in that situation. However, I felt warm when I was with my mother. By the way, this led my sister to quit school to start earning money to support the family, too. I worked as a construction worker, and it was a hard job for me, but I had to do it because I had no choice, even though I got a little money per day.
I went to school when I was 6 years old and I always walked to school every day. My family situation was not good that’s why I could study only in grade seven at a public school because my family and I needed much time to work hard and find some food to support the family. In 2001, I became a monk in my hometown. Then, three years later I continued my study again at Anlongvel Buddhist Primary School, the secondary school and high school at Ung Thuong Buddhist High School. I Graduated from high school in 2013. Besides studying at school, I worked as a Volunteer English teacher at the Volunteer Organization for Development of the Poor (VODP) located in Battambang. It was the most important thing which I loved and enjoyed. I left a monkhood in late 2013 and I continued my studies at university in Battambang. Because my living condition was not good and wanted some profits to support my studies, then I left my hometown and went to look for a job in Siem Reap province. and I continued my studies at university (year two) at Build Bright University in Siem Reap.
Working and learning were not easy at all for me but it was persevering enough of my experiences. I sometimes felt frustrated, but sometimes I felt happy because I could control the problems I faced. I worked as a waiter in a small restaurant and it was very busy and I often stayed up late almost every night. So I had no time to study and research for my subjects and I felt exhausted every day. Then, I quit my study. However, I still worked. I worked as a waiter, captain, supervisor, manager assistant, and lastly, a restaurant manager for several years in the hotel industry in Siem Reap. I got married in 2014, and I have two daughters; Kaneka is 8 years old, and Kanetha is 6 years old. I moved to Battambang because of my family condition and to get new experience. One more thing: my two daughters have grown up mentally; I wanted to take care of them and teach them to become good children. One more reason for applying for a job at the TASSEL organization is that I thought that TASSEL is special and unique. TASSEL not only teaches English but also help a lot of poor children and families in Cambodia.
I have been in TASSEL since November 15, 2020. It is a new job and a new experience. I teach in Banan branch. I teach mix levels. Although my house is far from TASSEL and I have to ride my bicycle every day, it is worth doing it. I love TASSEL from the bottom of my heart. I have to get up early every day to make sure that everything is well prepared before the class starts. Other than teaching, I do always do family visit to understand more about my students’ situations and to help the poor.
 In short, being a part of TASSEL, I am so proud of myself. TASSEL completely gives love and hope to all the children and the poor. TASSEL truly changes lives and builds more and more good and kind people and transform people to have pure hearts.
