Today I get to introduce my third JWOC Scholarship Student “guest author.”  Sophea is part of our Free Classes team.  He is one of the most energetic, fun and engaged people I’ve ever met — and he is absolutely amazing with the kids in both our English classes and our Sunday afternoon Art Class, as evidenced by both his words and the pictures below.  And be sure to read on through the end, as Sophea, in turn, shares a story about one of his favorite students!!  

My name is Lim Sophea. I’m a scholarship student at JWOC. I’m also a student at Build Bright University that support by JWOC. I study at subject Tourism Management. I have been volunteered at JWOC since December 2013. I volunteer as an English teacher in Free Class Project. I have volunteered as children’s teacher and also kindergarten’s teacher before. I love to work with the children and the kids very much. Since I have been teaching them I feel so happy and have a lot of fun. Moreover I’m very happy at the same time I have helped many children and many kids to have more knowledge, and also have a bright future too. Now I’m not teaching them anymore, because I have another work so it let me to change the time to teach. Now I volunteer as adult’s teacher I teach on Saturday and Sunday. It also helps to have other experience to work with adult. Even I have changed it, but I still miss their activity, their smile that makes me fresh. I can say that I have the best fun ever to work with the kids. Especially I really enjoy working at JWOC very much. I really love education system there and environment around there too. I have gained a lot of experience from my work and moreover I have learnt a lot thing, such as Team build, many important workshops (communication skill, first aid training, and personal finance act). Especially Teacher Developing Workshop every month that can help me with my volunteer work. In the Free Class Project not only have free English class, it also have the free computer class too. Everyone can learn the computer skill, that this skill can help them easy to find the job and also help their study too.

I’m the one who have a big family. I have three elder sisters and one elder brother, so I’m the youngest in my family. My home town is in Potisat province is in Cambodia. Now nobody there anymore, my family has moved to other place from each other. My parents and other two sisters and one brother live in Phnom Penh. I and my other one sister live together in Siem Reap. I just have moved to Siem Reap since I passed the scholarship in JWOC. I enjoy living in Siem Reap very much. I love Siem Reap. It is the second house for me. It makes me fresh, make me feel want to live in this world even I stay far from my family. It is very peace full place.

I’m not the one who comes from a rich family, so it needs me to find my own future. So now I found JWOC. Since I have got this chance I always promise with myself that I will reach my goal even the hardest ever things come to me. My future goal is I want to have my own small Boutique. I always think that my dream will appear someday. I love this so much, this dream is related to my major. On the other hand in my free time I love decorate and find something new to help me with my study and my future goal too.

In conclusion I want to say thank you for JWOC that have supported me for my University and also give me a lot of soft skill, experience for my life, make me more feel amazing of my study. Moreover it also change me from the person who don’t have many experience to have more tip to develop myself and to have more power to involve in society. Especially I have a very good relationship with each other. I LOVE JWOC.

And here is Sophea’s story about one of his students at JWOC 🙂 :

She is 10 year old. She lives in Siem Reap province. Now she is a student of JWOC, and she also my student. She just a little one, but she has strong will. She studies hard. She has studied here since 2013. She decides to study here because she love environment around here, have good teacher, and JWOC have library that have many book to read to improve her knowledge . Especially she doesn’t need to pay money for her study. Moreover she has learnt a lot from her study. She can get a good education, can speak English, and can make a lot of good friend. In that she will use her English skill to communicate with other people, especially with the foreigners. Moreover she has other knowledge about her living (hygiene for living, hand washing, teeth clean …). In short she wants to say thank you for JWOC that have provided the class without paying and allow the poor children come and get knowledge to help their future.