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Kimlai Chheourm

Hello! My name is Kimlai Chhoeurm, and I was born in 2000. I live in Battambang Province with my parents. I am the youngest of six siblings. My sister and brothers are all married. My parents are farmers, and they work hard to support the family. Unfortunately, none of my siblings completed their studies because we are poor and need money to support ourselves. My siblings decided to stop studying to find jobs and earn money, so they had to leave their children with my parents to take care of.. My parents sell Khmer sweets daily at the market to provide food and rice for the family. They have had this job for a long time. Sometimes we do not have enough food to eat, and seeing my parents struggle every day, it makes me feel very sorry for them. That is why I continue to study hard; I don’t want to face the same situation. It is challenging to survive without an education. Moreover, my father wanted me to become a teacher.


I finished high school in 2018 at the age of 18. I wasn't a strong student and I faced many challenges during that time, such as financial difficulties. I often considered quitting school to help my mom and dad. I also felt quite lonely, as I didn't have close friends. After graduating from high school, I enrolled in college. I was excited because I received a 100% scholarship from the ministry, which meant I didn't pay any tuition fees. If it weren’t for the scholarship, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to continue my education. The scholarship I received prioritized support for underprivileged women. My major is English for education in college. While I was studying at university, I also found various jobs. In 2019, I started working as a dental assistant and earned $30 per month part-time. In 2020, I took a job as a cashier at a store that sold accessories, where I made $50 a month. With the money I earned, I supported both my parents and myself. In 2021, my friend told me about TASSEL, which needed volunteers. I applied and volunteered at TASSEL for three months to gain teaching experience. Teaching was new and challenging for me at first, but I was very grateful for the opportunity to work at the Banan Branch. I have been teaching at TASSEL for almost four years and have had a lot of good experiences throughout my time there. I have personal classes with a foreign teacher to improve my skills every year.  TASSEL always supports and helps many families in Cambodia by providing education, rice, and medicine. However, it’s not just about these offerings; TASSEL shows care and compassion for the elderly who are lonely and struggle with mental health issues. Currently, TASSEL has a senior center program twice a month. As a Cambodian, I am incredibly grateful for the contributions of all the foreign teachers. All foreigners are kind and compassinate to Cambodia. Their supports allow me to have a great opportunity to serve the children and the poor, especially the elderly. I fall in deep love with TASSEL. I love TASSEL and I love they it is.   



Kimlai Chheourm
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