Build a small school in Cambodia
Donation protected
Be instrumental in someone else’s miracle
Join us in raising funds to build the Koh Pen English and Computer School a non-secular (inclusive of gender and identity) vocational language and computer skills school in Siem Reap, Cambodia that will serve underprivileged students and significantly impact an entire community.
Recently, a picture of a majestic Chanrey tree in the “City of Temples” Angkor Wat went viral, and my son and I (like so many others) fell in love with it. This past May, we were blessed with the chance to visit Angkor Wat and walk among the temples. It’s a special place and I hope you all get the opportunity to experience it as well.
Learning a second language in Cambodia is a game-changer for poor families. The official tours at Angkor Wat are led by government trained guides who have learned languages such as Chinese, German, French, or English. In my view these are not average tour guides, they have a personal connection with country and deep respect for the temples. Knowing a second language and having computer skills also opens doors for the students to work in other areas of the tourist industry as well as potentially attend a university.
As we toured Angkor Wat and the surrounding areas with our Cambodian English speaking tour guide, Yem Kosal, his personal story gave us a fuller view of the Khmer culture, the temples, and what a difference education can make for the poor communities.
Kosal grew up in a fishing village named Koh Pen which is an island surrounded by the Mekong River on the eastern part of Cambodia near the Vietnam border. The second oldest of five children, Kosal’s parents (farmers and fishermen), urged him and his siblings to earn a good education. Since they were very poor, Kosal often rose at 4 a.m. to help his father haul soil by horse cart to sell to their fellow villagers to protect their homes from flooding during the rainy season. His mother packed him a full day’s worth of food because he would not be home until nightfall. After helping his father, Kosal would leave at 5 a.m. to reach his English class in the city, and at 7 a.m. he would return to his village for a full day of regular education at a nearby Buddhist monastery.
By the 11th grade, Kosal was able to work as an English teacher in a private school and his life changed dramatically. His parents sold their cow to pay tuition so he could learn computer skills and add computer teacher to his qualifications. In 2004, Kosal became an official tour guide at Angkor Wat in Siem Reap. He worked as a tour guide during the day and went to the university at night, ultimately earning both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. He shared the following with me:
“Higher education has changed my life. I have a beautiful wife and two beautiful daughters. I strongly believe that education is the only way my community and our poor kids can have a bright future.”
For years, Kosal has been planning to build a school and teach underprivileged children English and computer skills. He wants them to have the same opportunities that he has had. I am very excited and honored to help Kosal with this. The school will serve 300 underprivileged students at a time. Imagine the impact on these communities! I invite you to join in and be instrumental in this small miracle!
THE SCHOOL- Koh Pen English and Computer School (named for Yem Kosal’s village)
-a small building with three classrooms and one computer room
-serves 300 underprivileged students per day
THE COST- 15,000 USD
-building and land $10K
-computers $3K
-desks and books $2K
THE PROMISE
-100% of funding will go to the school
-photos of the build will be posted as it progresses
-you are invited to come to the Grand Opening, or visit, or “guest teacher” anytime
-your part, big or small, will be accepted with great gratitude!
-your donation will have a huge impact on the socioeconomic development of the whole community for genera!
tions to come!
Let’s build it
Join us in raising funds to build the Koh Pen English and Computer School a non-secular (inclusive of gender and identity) vocational language and computer skills school in Siem Reap, Cambodia that will serve underprivileged students and significantly impact an entire community.
Recently, a picture of a majestic Chanrey tree in the “City of Temples” Angkor Wat went viral, and my son and I (like so many others) fell in love with it. This past May, we were blessed with the chance to visit Angkor Wat and walk among the temples. It’s a special place and I hope you all get the opportunity to experience it as well.
Learning a second language in Cambodia is a game-changer for poor families. The official tours at Angkor Wat are led by government trained guides who have learned languages such as Chinese, German, French, or English. In my view these are not average tour guides, they have a personal connection with country and deep respect for the temples. Knowing a second language and having computer skills also opens doors for the students to work in other areas of the tourist industry as well as potentially attend a university.
As we toured Angkor Wat and the surrounding areas with our Cambodian English speaking tour guide, Yem Kosal, his personal story gave us a fuller view of the Khmer culture, the temples, and what a difference education can make for the poor communities.
Kosal grew up in a fishing village named Koh Pen which is an island surrounded by the Mekong River on the eastern part of Cambodia near the Vietnam border. The second oldest of five children, Kosal’s parents (farmers and fishermen), urged him and his siblings to earn a good education. Since they were very poor, Kosal often rose at 4 a.m. to help his father haul soil by horse cart to sell to their fellow villagers to protect their homes from flooding during the rainy season. His mother packed him a full day’s worth of food because he would not be home until nightfall. After helping his father, Kosal would leave at 5 a.m. to reach his English class in the city, and at 7 a.m. he would return to his village for a full day of regular education at a nearby Buddhist monastery.
By the 11th grade, Kosal was able to work as an English teacher in a private school and his life changed dramatically. His parents sold their cow to pay tuition so he could learn computer skills and add computer teacher to his qualifications. In 2004, Kosal became an official tour guide at Angkor Wat in Siem Reap. He worked as a tour guide during the day and went to the university at night, ultimately earning both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. He shared the following with me:
“Higher education has changed my life. I have a beautiful wife and two beautiful daughters. I strongly believe that education is the only way my community and our poor kids can have a bright future.”
For years, Kosal has been planning to build a school and teach underprivileged children English and computer skills. He wants them to have the same opportunities that he has had. I am very excited and honored to help Kosal with this. The school will serve 300 underprivileged students at a time. Imagine the impact on these communities! I invite you to join in and be instrumental in this small miracle!
THE SCHOOL- Koh Pen English and Computer School (named for Yem Kosal’s village)
-a small building with three classrooms and one computer room
-serves 300 underprivileged students per day
THE COST- 15,000 USD
-building and land $10K
-computers $3K
-desks and books $2K
THE PROMISE
-100% of funding will go to the school
-photos of the build will be posted as it progresses
-you are invited to come to the Grand Opening, or visit, or “guest teacher” anytime
-your part, big or small, will be accepted with great gratitude!
-your donation will have a huge impact on the socioeconomic development of the whole community for genera!
tions to come!
Let’s build it
Organizer
Pamela Casey
Organizer
Santa Monica, CA
