Tep Sophorn # 6

The Cambodia Rural School Project The Piero Derossi School Tep Sophorn, a fourth grade student (Feb. 2000) Tep Sophorn is a fourth grade student at The Piero Derossi School. She is 17 years old (by First World standards, this is an old age for a fourth grade student. But, due to the Khmer Rouge rule […]

The Cambodia Rural School Project

The Piero Derossi School


Tep Sophorn, a fourth grade student (Feb. 2000)

Tep Sophorn is a fourth grade student at The Piero Derossi School. She is 17 years old (by First World standards, this is an old age for a fourth grade student. But, due to the Khmer Rouge rule of Cambodia from 1975 to 1979 and the ensuing civil war which ended in 1996, combined with the demands of farm labor in all rural parts of Cambodia, many children do not have the opportunity or facilities to attend school). Sophorn has three brothers and one sister, with their ages running from 8 to 21 years old. She is the third child.


In Their Own Words. . . .

On her favorite school subject: “Mathematics is my favorite subject because I like numbers.” 
On her future plan: “I want to be a doctor when I grow up because I want to save many people from diseases. Cambodia has many illnesses, but malaria is the biggest disease.” (Malaria is a dangerous disease spread by mosquitos and is found throughout rural Cambodia. The use of mosquito nets while sleeping can greatly reduce the chances of contracting the disease). 
On the use of mosquito nets in her village: “Some people in Thamt Paeuv have mosquito nets, some do not. I do not have a mosquito net. Only my little brother (8 years old) has a mosquito net in my family.”