My name is Son Sokhoeun and I am the Director of Kampuchea House Organization. I was born on December 25 1979 in Kandal Province which is about twenty one kilometers from Phnom Penh, the main city of Cambodia, along the Tonle Sap River. I attended Primary, Secondary and High School from 1988 until 1999 and graduated University in 2006 with a Bachelor Degree of English Literature. I worked as security guard in Phnom Penh for five years – four of those years in a Private Company and one year for the British Embassy. I have also worked in a variety of other jobs including a Sales Supervisor for a Korean company, a Teacher of English and a Volunteer for World Vision Cambodia. I have always felt compassion for the children of my country, having seen the hardships and struggles they have endured and I've always wanted to assist them. However, I never knew what I could do to guide them to a bright future. With my job at Kampuchea House I have a chance to help my country which has been through so many struggles. It was torn by two decades of domestic conflict, has low educated citizens, corruption and a lack of resources to restore it. As a result many children are living in bad conditions. Most of them become street children, orphans or end up in drug abuse and prostitution. Kampuchea House is working towards preventing such things happening and helping these children work towards a brighter future.

Vice Director (Orphanage Manager): Nhek Ly Kheng

My name is Nhek Ly Kheng, the Orphanage Manager of Kampuchea House Organization in Kampong Kor I Village, Kean Sangke Commune, Sotnikum District, Siem Reap Province and I am 29 years old. My father passed away when I was only 5 years old so I am a single orphan too. It was very difficult for my family when my father died because our family were farmers. I was too small to assist my family as well as I was at school to study. My brothers got marred and lived far away from me. After I finished High School in 2000, I moved to live with my aunty in Phnom Penh to study English language and I had a very old bicycle to go to study everyday. Because my family was very poor, I never studied in a good school, but in the pagoda and some organizations that provided free of charge only. In 2002, I started my first job in Korean company in Phnom Penh to get experience. In 2004, I upgraded myself in the new company in the position of marketer for one year. In 2005, I have moved to work in Siem Reap in French restaurant, and on May 5^th 2006 I got married. On March 3^rd 2007, I have had a son who is named Kheng Pich Vibol and on October 10^th 2007, I have changed my job to work for Kampuchea House Organization. I am very interested in my job because my wife and I are single orphans and we also are working for the orphanage.

Office Manager: Sour Sokleng

My name is Sour Sokleng. I am twenty four years old and I have two sisters. In 2008 I completed a bachelor degree in accounting at a university in Phnom Penh. After graduating I decided to move to Siem Reap to look for a job. I found a job training at the CHC micro finance as a cashier. However, after two months, my friend introduced me to an Organisation called Kampuchea House. One of my passions has always been to work with kids and to help other people. Kampuchea House is an orphanage that provides housing for orphaned children, so I saw this as a perfect opportunity to follow one of my dreams. Since obtaining the position as assistant to the Director of Kampuchea House I could not be more satisfied. I am so happy with my job, especially when I see the children’s warm smile and when they call me ‘mother’.

Assistant Orphanage Manager: Nou Men Hom

My name is Nou Men Hom and I am a twenty five years old with three brothers and six sisters. I attended Kong Meas Primary School from 1993 until 1999. During this time my family was so poor that they didn’t have enough money to pay for food, utilities, and sometimes even had to take out a loan from the community to continue farming and making sugar. Everyday after school, I had to go to the farm to assist my parents and as a result my studies were very poor. From 1999 to 2003, I studied at Phnouv Secondary School and due to the lack of transportation my study time and results dropped even more. Everyday after school, I had to go to the rice fields, make sugar and buy firewood. I did not have enough food to eat and no money to pay for my additional studies. During 2003 and 2006 my studies were very irregular. This was because my mother did the two seasons of farming rice, the wet and the dry seasons. My mother needed my help with the rice whilst my father and my older sisters made the sugar and bought the firewood. My mother kept insisting that I go to study because my brothers and sisters were all illiterate. I can understand now that she just wanted what was best for me. However, at the time we didn't have enough money to support my additional studies. The night before one of my exams I was in the rice fields watering rice until the morning and on the day of my final high school exam, I was on the farm again harvesting rice.

After I got my exam results which showed that I'd passed the final exam, my parents wanted me to be a teacher. Personally, I wanted to continue studying at university but we didn’t have enough money to support any further studies. Instead I decided to look for a job in Phnom Penh. I worked at a restaurant and earned only $20 per month. I wanted to work at this restaurant so that I could earn enough money to pay for my English classes. It was the first time that I had lived far away from my home town, my family and my friends. After one month and a half at the same time as Pchum Ben Day (a traditional Khmer holiday when everyone returns to their home for a week) I decided to resign from my job. When Pchum Ben Day was finished, I went back to Phnom Penh to work as a construction worker for about ten months. I earned 150000 riel per month and I gave 100000 riel to my parents every month. During this time I kept in touch with my brother who worked for Best Security Company in Siem Reap. I decided to move and work with my brother in the same security company. Even though I originally only earned $65 per month, I still supported my family. Soon after that I got promoted to team leader and earned $85 per month. In 2008 I applied to work for Kampuchea House Organization in the position of Assistant Orphanage Manager. Since obtaining this position I have had a good monthly salary, enough food, and I even have some extra money to continuing assisting my parents.

House Mother: Chek Phally

My name is Chek Phally and I am twenty eight years old and I was born on June 12^th 1981 in Ta Phul Village, Svay Dangkom Commune, Siem Reap District, and Siem Reap Province. I have one sister who lives with my grandmother and my father after my mother's death in 1997. I finished High School in 2000 and after that I continued to study at one school run by an NGO in Phnom Penh. Because my grandmother and father get older and older, I had to come back to look after them and tried to find a job. At that time, I had worked for a French Restaurant for two years and I had moved to work at a souvenir shop for another two years. My father died in 2005 and my sister got married after he passed away. In 2006 my grandmother died just only about three months after I got married. I stopped working until my baby was 10 months. On February 18^th 2008, I started working for the Orphanage in Sotnikum District, Kean Sangke Commune, Sala Ko rKoh Village. At the first time, it is very difficult for me to move the residence and especially it is far away for the hospital because my son was always sick that I have to go to see the doctor two times a week, but later on everything was fine. I acknowledge that this organization is the best for all the children and it reminded me when I was 14 years old and my mother died. If there was Kampuchea House Organization my future would be brighter. Anyway now I am very lucky to work for Kampuchea House, I feel very warm, and I want to work forever.

House Mother: Sgnoun Tum

My name is Sgnoun Tum and I am a forty four year old woman. I finished school in Grade 3 because at that time was in Pol Pot regime and after the war was finished I did not go to school because I was so busy to look after my younger siblings. From 1990 to 2000, I went to work at the Cambodia Thailand border as a construction worker because my family lacked income. I came back home in 2001 to sell vegetables in front of my house and I got married at the same time. My husband died of malaria in 2005. And now I have a daughter who is three years old. After my husband died, I moved to live with my parents. I earned a living by selling labor in the rice field.

House Mother: Yen Srei Mom

My name is Yen Srei Mom and I was born on June 6, 1963. In 1979 all people were freed from the killing field and felt like the second birth of date, moreover, they had come back to their own home. In 1980, my two siblings and I came to study at Bet Meas Primary School, which was in bad condition and lacked of studying material. When I came back home, my older brother cooked for us and on the weekend and school holiday we went to the rice field to collect the remained rice from harvesting to keep for making porridge for tomorrow. I was married in 1992 when I was 19 years old. My husband’s name is Sek Lung and he was 30 years old. We married with four children and the fifth is the adopted child whose parents deserted and I took to live with. One day my husband pass away from us and now it was about ten years ago. I could not support my family because I have no cow and no farm as other villagers. I applied to work as a teacher in contract to get some money to help my family, but it was enough that they could not continue their study. It was very hard to look after my family. Now I work as a house mother in Kampuchea House. Not only my children but I am also very happy because I get enough paid to support my family and there are many toys for children to play, enough food to eat, and it has good hygiene. Since I have come to work for Kampuchea House, I have felt peace in mine and I would like to promise to work as hard as I could to look after and encourage all the children to live in prosperity and get a bright future.

House Mother: Real Sor

My name is Real Sor and I am thirty nine years old. I have six siblings, three males and three females and I am the third. In 1975 when I was five years old, Cambodia was in the genocide regime, when all the children did not attend school and worked to so hard, but luckily the genocide regime was toppled in 1979 when I was nine years old. My family situation was very difficult because of this cruel regime and I did not go to study until I was fifteen years old and in Grade One. When I was seventeen years old, I did so much hard work to survive as a brick factory worker, a farmer, and combine the palm leave to make a house roof and wall for selling. All the money that I earned is not enough to support my family. In 2000, I was far away from my family to work at Banteay Srey District for seven years as a farm worker and after that I was back home to look after my parents because they are very old and sick. When Kampuchea House advertised for a house mother to look after the orphans, I applied. I did not expect to get the work but on January 24^th 2009 I was given the job.

House Mother: Sey Samy

My name is Sey Samy, female, 40 years old. I have six sisters and four brothers and six siblings have been married; unfortunately, the other two died. The youngest brother and I are single. The situation of my family was very difficult as the result all the children in the family did not finish their education. Because the family is very poor, has many children and I am the oldest child in the family I studied in Grade Seven. I had given up my study since my mother was sick and just delivered a young baby and nobody looked after the farm. I studied at Sandan Primary School in 1981 to 1987. Besides a farmer, my family wove flat bamboo baskets for sale in the town. From 1988 to 1991, I worked as the temple worker (fixing the temple) and stopped when the project had been finished. After that I was a farmer until 1995 and in 1997 I was the Angkor Wat temple cleaner, but at that time I was sick and I resigned. I was selected by the Commune Women’s Association to train for six months as a tailor in 1999 and as a supervisor for four courses which finished in 2001. I had no job and started to run a small business by selling rice-soup in front of Sandan Primary School. In 2004 I worked for SOS as House Mother for two years, one year in Phnom Penh and another year in Battambang Province. Because I lived very far from home, my parents were worried about me and they wanted me to stop and try to find another job close to them to look after them anytime they needed. I was very disappointed, but no excuse because I am the oldest and female who can help the family. My feeling was so bad when leaving SOS and no job for me in Siem Reap. One day, I have applied to work for Kampuchea House Organisation as a house mother in Siem Reap and I reached my goal that makes me very excited. I am delighted and try out of my best to work with KH.

Teacher of Khmer: Kong Socheat

My name is Kong Socheat. I am a thirty two year old woman. I have nine siblings, eight sisters and one brother. My family was very poor so nobody could go to school, but my older sister and I could finish Grade Twelve. When I studied in the Secondary School, I faced many difficulties because Secondary School was further than the Primary School. My mother was very sick and took medicine everyday. She could not do any housework. My mother gave her bicycle to me and I was very happy. More worry came to me as my mother became more ill, and I needed money to pay for my study. I really wanted to study English very much, but had no money at all, so I had to form a home garden to plant some vegetables for selling on Sunday to get the money to pay for my English class. From 1995 to 1996, all students in Grade Eleven, studying at Dom Dek High School had to change to study at The Seven January High School in Siem Reap Town. I have stayed with my cousin in-law whose house is about six kilometres from school. I rode my old bicycle to the new school everyday. The house owner did not charge for my accommodation and food. At the weekend I rode bicycle back home and would stay one night. Unfortunately, the one year that I spent in Siem Reap I was dissatisfied and I came back home with a recommendation letter not a certificate because of the seventy students who took the exam only three passed. I really wanted to get the Certificate and asked my parents if I could spend another year studying. I did not have enough money and no one in my family could help me. My future seemed hopeless. I started to sell groceries with eighty thousand riel I saved. My business was going well and I could make some income to spend on food and clothing. For two years I was busy with my business, all my siblings were married; however, I stayed with my parents alone. When my business was in slow, there was an announcement on the radio to recruit a student who failed the High School exam to be a Primary School teacher. I asked my parents that I may apply. I had to make my own decision to stop selling groceries. For two days I rode my bicycle to hand in the application. When the exam’s day came, I rode my bicycle to take the exam and stayed for two nights at my friend’s house. For one week I was waiting for the result of my exam. I was very happy when the result was announced and that I had passed. I shouted with joy that my dream had become true. Moreover, I was appreciated by my family; they supported my studies. I became a teacher, and I came to teach at the school near my house. Four years as a teacher at Primary School, my mother became worse, and she could not move, but just sleep on the bed for two years. My life was extremely hard because we lacked money to pay for her illness and family expenses. Unfortunately, my mother died and left me and my father very sad. Five days after my mother died, I applied to be a house mother at SOS, that I had been trained for for two years at Phnom Penh and two years at Battambong Province. Because my father become older, although I did not want to come back home, I had to return home to look after him. Leaving from SOS my feeling was bad because my salary was not enough to support my family and I owed some more money for my mother's medicine. When I was chosen as a Khmer Teacher for Kampuchea House Organization, I was delighted after I passed the interview.

Teacher of English: Keo Chhay Yath

Mr. Keo teaches the additional English lessons to our children in the evenings after school.  Below is his story in his own words.

I was born on December 14, 1973 in Ta Ous Village, Khlang Commune, Sotnikum District and Siem Reap Province. Presently, I am living in Phsar Dom Dek Village, Dom Dek Commune, and Sotnikum District.  Kampong Khlang Commune is situated along Tonle Sap Lake which is about 45km from Siem Reap town and is about 15km from Sotnikum District. Before Pol Pot regime my family was the fishermen that the living standard was an average and after Pol Pot regime, for daily, the family was terrible which did not enough food to eat. There are eight siblings in my family, seven boys and one girl. I am the third in my family. Actually, I was born in 1968, but when I enrolled to study at Primary School in 1980, I was too old to study so I had to cut off the age to 1973 in order to get school.  Due to the nation situation and my family  was too poor, all my siblings just finished Primary School; however, I am only one who struggled to be a teacher.

1980-1985: Studying  at Kampong Khlang Primary School and a major of school-outstanding-student.

1986-1987: Studying at Dom Dek Secondary  School and a Khmer Literature-outstanding- student.

1988-1990: Studying at Battambong  Pedagogy  Center about teaching methodology and practicum.

In 1991, I have taught at Dom Dek High School in the field of Khmer Literature and I have been moved to teach at Samduch Ouv High School in Siem Reap.

In 1999-2000 I have been changed my specialist to English Teacher and went to study at Battambong Pedagogy Center again.

Since 2001 I have been teaching English Language at Dom Dek High School and Angkor High School and SOS  Angkor Siem Reap.

Between 1991-2007 I have been working as a volunteer with:

- the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC).

- the Committee for Free and Fair Election in Cambodia( COMFREL).

- the National Democratic Institute  (NDI).

Beside the social working link, I have studied Associate Degree of English and Bachelor Degree of Khmer Literature at the Cambodia University of Specialist (CUS) in Siem Reap.  Now I am the School principle at Keansangke Secondary School, situated in Keansagke Commune, Sotnikum District and Siem Reap Province.

Teacher of English: Sim Sophal

Mr. Sim teaches English to the children and adults of the local community in the evenings at the orphanage.  Below is his story in his own words.

I was born in a poor farmer- family in 1976 when Cambodia was in Kampuchea Democratic Regime that every people living in a very bad condition, starvation and most of the time they had have porridge with few rice.   Even though the family situation was very hard, my parents struggled to feed three of us to live till now a day. After the Pol Pot regime had been collapsed, I was able to study.  I started school in 1984 at Salakor Koh Primary School until grade three that I had been moved to Prasat Munisormsann Primary School and moved to Thnal Chek Primary School to finish grade 4 and grade 5 where I have been walked to school everyday which it is about 3km for go and back because I did not have any bike. When I have passed my exam to study at Dom Dek High School my parents have been able to buy me a bicycle.  I was very happy with my bicycle and I tried my best to finish secondary School in 1992. I have started High School in Siem Reap province where I was living with the aunty, her family was poor as well, who has been known by my cousin for two years.  I have been shifted to live with my uncle another year until I finished High School in 1995 and after that I have pursued my study in Siem Reap Provincial of Pedagogy for two years and I have become a teacher since that time.

In  1997- 2005 I was a teacher at Kampongkor 1 Primary School in Salakor Koh Village, Keansangke Commune,  Sotnikum District, and Siem Reap Province.

In 2005- 2007 I was a teacher at Boeung Ngort Primary School in Boeung Ngort Village, Tayek Commune, Sotnikum District and Siem Reap Province.

In 2007-2010 I am a teacher at the Secondary School after I have been trained during two year of big school holidays at Battambang Provincial of Pedagogy. My specialist is in Mathematic and Physic, but my English ability is the other subject that I have studied outside school during my spare time.

My parents live in the poor condition, but all of my brothers have been educated, for instant, my elder brother has graduated in Physic, and my youngest brother in an English Tour Guide.   My family live:   I have been married in 2004 and my wife is named So Sophorn who is the farmer and has 8 sisters that she is the oldest sister in the family. Presently, we have one son who is named Sophal Devit in 5 years old.