JWOC Free Classes – Cambodia
JWOC Free Classes Project – Cambodia
Welcome to our Free Classes, Cambodia page. Here you can find out more details about what classes we offer in Cambodia and more information about the project in general.
Our free classes are all held in the town of Siem Reap, which is situated on the Northeastern corner of the large Tonle Sap Lake.The classes take place in our purpose built school and community center buildings .
Our classes are mainly taught by our scholarship students, who use their skills to give back to their community in the form of teaching. We also have a few Cambodian volunteer teachers who come to JWOC to help develop their own professional skills. Between our 30 or so teachers, we have more than 700 students studying in the various classes!
Many of our classes are English classes, but we also offer Sewing, Computing and a Kindergarten class focusing on basic literacy in both English and Khmer. Each course follows a set schedule, with periodical tests and offers students the chance to gain certificates and advance through different levels. In addition to these regular classes we also offer a range of other opportunities to both children and adults. These extra opportunities include Music and Movement, Reading Time in the library and a weekly Art time. All our classes incorporate extra elements such as basic hygiene workshops to improve access to knowledge about simple things that can have a profound change of people’s health and lives.
As part of our mission to build capacity and promote development in Southeast Asia, the JWOC Education Manager also holds regular twice monthly teacher development workshops to provide our teachers with new ideas and techniques with which they can improve their classes and the learning experience of the students who study with them. Developing these skills is part of JWOC’s long-term investment in the future of Cambodia as our teachers take this knowledge on with them to their chosen career after they finish their university degrees.
If you would like to find out more about some of the specific things we offer and see photos of our work please click on the links below…
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Judith Johnson, a volunteer at JWOC, had the opportunity to meet some of the students from the different classes at the JWOC school and learn more about them and why they come to JWOC’s classes. Here is her account:
During my recent volunteer work with JWOC, I had the pleasure of meeting some young students in the English Classes. They each shared with me the importance, to them and their families, of being able to supplement their basic education with the free English classes provided by JWOC.
Thary
Thary is 19 years old and comes from the province of Kampong Cham. As a young girl, she lived there with her mother, father, and a growing family consisting of 6 younger siblings. But her family is poor, and her parents wanted her to have the opportunity for an education. Because the nearest school was far away from her home, Thary went to live with her grandmother and grandfather until she completed the 7th grade. Then -- she had to stop going to school and go to work. But now Thary has had the chance to move to Siem Reap to live with her aunt and continue her schooling. Although she only sees her family once or twice a year, and misses them very much, she is happy to be able to start school again and pursue her goal of going to the university. Thary believes that if she learns English – the “international language” – she will be able to find a good job, maybe as a Cambodian tour guide.
Seyla
Seyla is 18 years old and comes from a farm in Siem Reap province. He is the youngest of 6 children. He describes the hard work that his parents do to keep the farm running, with the help of his siblings. Seyla helps when he can, but he also comes into the city every day to go to school so that he will be able to get a better job. By attending the English language classes run by JWOC, he hopes to prepare himself for a good job at a hotel. An added benefit to working in a hotel will be the opportunity to get to know people from other cultures. Seyla enjoys football and music and one of his favorite academic interests is history.Akasy
Akasy is 16 years old and lives in Siem Reap with his mother and 2 siblings, aged 14 and 13. His mother does Cambodian handcrafts. His father has died. Akasy is coming to the JWOC language program to improve his English – which he agrees is the “international language.” His goal is to go to the university and become a businessman, perhaps owning a clothing store or a book store. He is an avid reader of literature and also enjoys surfing the internet at school. He hopes to be able to help his siblings learn as well.Srey Chorkk
Srey was born in Battambang province but moved to Siem Reap as a baby. She is now 17 years old and in the 9th grade. Her parents have died, and she lives with her grandparents, siblings and other relatives, including a 2 year old adopted brother. Srey’s grandfather goes out into the countryside each day to work as a farmer. Srey comes to the language class at JWOC so that she can learn English, which will make it easier for her to find good work. Her favorite subject is mathematics, and she wants to go to the university to become an accountant.Sopheak
Sopheak is 20 years old and in the 11th grade at a state school in Siem Reap. At that school, he studies 12 subjects, and brings home work every night. He also attends at least three more schools in order to supplement his education: JWOC and 2 other NGO-operated programs. He is highly motivated to learn English so that he can get a good job in the future. Teaching English is one of his top choices. Sopheak was born in Kambu Chan province, but his family moved to Siem Reap where it is easier to find work. He has 1 older sister, 2 younger sisters, and 1 younger brother. His older sister is married, but the 3 other siblings go to school. Sopheak helps them at night at home in addition to doing his own work. He also likes to jog (very early in the morning ) and ride his bike. When talking about the future, Sopheak says: “I hope this NGO [JWOC] will grow and get more and more students to come here.”Bravsareth
Bravsareth is 21 years old and has 8 siblings. Her father has died, and she lives with family members in her home village in the province of Siem Reap. Their primary source of income (and some of their food) comes from working the land owned by others. Two of her siblings go to school; the others work on a farm. Her family is very poor, and Bravsareth was unable to get the help she needed to supplement her public school education. She did not pass her high school exam, and doesn’t think she’ll be able to continue her education. She is looking for work but has not yet found any. She continues to come to school at JWOC because she loves learning English and JWOC does not require her to pay a fee. She’d like to become an English teacher but it is not clear how she will do so. One hope she has is to apply for a scholarship from JWOC.
The students I met were friendly and open, and happy to share their stories with me. They were also determined. They had worked hard, and they and their families had made sacrifices so that they could pursue their education. Each felt fortunate to be able to attend the extra free English classes at JWOC, and each believed that learning English opened a path toward a better future.
