The Cambodia Rural School Project
The O Svay Nippon Foundation
School
Roeun Kosal, a 15-year old boy in the 6th grade at
the O Svay Nippon Foundation School.
Roeun Kosal is a 15-year old boy in the 6th grade at the O Svay Nippon Foundation School. He has two older sisters who are both married and is the only child who attends this school. His father, Choeun Saroeun (age 36) farms for a living, and his mother Chon Phoeun (age 33) runs a small business selling goods. He walks about 1 kilometer to school everyday.
“My best, and most favorite, subject is social studies because I want to know the history of King Jayavarman, who founded the country of Cambodia. Truthfully, I like learning all subjects, but have the most trouble with math because of multiplication and division. I am usually ranked 1st or 2nd in a class of 17 students.”
“I would like to be a teacher when I grow up because I want to be able to teach children.”
“I had some problems studying in the old building. The rain would come in because there were no walls to shield us from it. Random kids would come in and play in the classrooms when classes were in session. The teachers would chase them out, but they’d still come back. Animals would also come in and poop all over the place. When school was out, cows would come and graze the grass on the fields and come into the school for shade from the sun. Then they’d poop. The children had to clean up after the cows once we came back to school the next day.”
“It is easy to study with the new building. There are doors all around and it is nice and quiet. Teachers are able to teach better and I can understand things more than before. When it rains, we’d just close the door and continue our studies.”
“Thank you to the donor for giving us this building. I wish you great health and intelligence and long life.”
