
Rachhain Chhorn
Hello! My name is Rachhain. I was born in Preh Sre village, Snoeng commune, Banan district, Battambang province. My family and I still live there. I have three siblings and I am the second child. My older brother graduated from university, and my younger sister has recently started university. My youngest brother, who is a TASSEL student, is in 9th grade.Â
I had a tough childhood and I always did not eat enough. I remember that when I started school, I had to ride my bicycle for about 1 hour to school alone. I always got so tired from the ride, plus I didn’t have enough to eat. When I began my 3rd grade, I decided to ask my aunty whose house was near the school to stay with her family. In addition to school, I often looked for work when I had free time - mostly on the weekends. I experienced chopping cassava and collecting rice, sesame, and cashew. I also had to look for food like fishing, looking for snails, and looking for leafy green vegetables for food. Going out to find food was my habit. When I went to high school, I still looked for food because I had to go after school. When COVID-19 hit Cambodia badly, all schools and institutions had to shut down for a while. When COVID-19 was subsiding, school began again and all business started. However, the border between Thailand and Cambodia had not been widely opened yet. My parents could not sell their rice and I had to help them. When I was in 11th grade, I became a waiter. It was so tough for me because I had to work and study at the same time. I always got so tired because I had to work and study at the same time. However, I think it was such a good experience that I had because it made me strong. Although I was working, I barely ate enough because what I earned was so little. I was just enough to pay for extra classes, and I also helped my parents with food. I never had snacks at school and always got so tired during class.
Â
TASSEL started at Samrang in late 2014, and I was one of the first students there. I had been a TASSEL student for seven years before I graduated. I was so inspired by TASSEL teachers and foreigners. They always encouraged me to study hard and to have hope. In 2021, I graduated from high school as well as TASSEL. Because I had no experience before, I could only volunteer at an organization near Battambang town to get some experience in work. I volunteered part-time in the morning, and I spent some time on self-development. By late 2022, I got good news from Teacher Samnieng that TASSEL was hiring a few new teachers. I then applied immediately. Soon after, I got a paper test, and four rounds of interviews – the last one was with Teacher Joji and Teacher Noeng. I became a teacher and started to work at TASSEL in December 2022. I am so fortunate to be one of the TASSEL teachers which I have always dreamed about. Through my hardships, it helped me to understand poor people’s feelings. By now, I have been working with TASSEL for two years. I am teaching in Ta Taok, which is the 8th branch of TASSEL. Working with TASSEL is my greatest honor and privilege because I can help the poor in rural areas, and where there are PTSDs and Dramas. TASSEL has always been my home, and it is also a hope for me and every poor student.
