Life Stories

I am Men Vichea and now I am 31 years old. In my family I am the first child of 14. My mother and father are simple people and we live in Phnom Penh. My parents sew buttons and sell things to have some money to feed the family. When I was a baby, I had very high fever and my right eye was damaged. My family had no money for operation to change a false eye for me until I was older. I believed and follow Jesus when I was 15 years old.

When I stopped school at Grade 10. I help find money by working in the market, putting chickens that are slaughtered in hot water and then I have to pluck out all the feathers. I do not get any money but I get to bring a chicken home after one day’s work.

Fortunately I got a chance to study at PKH in 2006. I looked very thin and sickly with a blind eye and broken spectacle. I thank God that I was very poor in English but I got a chance to study Housekeeping in September 2006 (third term). After that I had my training at Phnom Penh Hotel and became a staff as a Public Attendant. In 2010 I was moved to be a Spa Attendant in the health club at Phnom Penh Hotel. In 2013 I took care of a guest who fell in the hotel and he brought me and my friend to work in China. I worked as a Receptionist and did many jobs. I got the chance to learn Mandarin and now I can speak a little Mandarin.

In 2016 I came back to Cambodia and I thank God I had money for my father who was sick and needed operation. But my father has now passed away. Then I worked at Tinno Home, a Japanese company and I was in Sales and Marketing. Now I have a new job in a new hotel called Lumiere Hotel in Phnom Penh. I work there as a Receptionist. I thank God that I have job and money to change my eye every three years. I thank God that PKH and T Susan helped me to have a better life now. Thank you God for PKH!

Men Vichea
Receptionist
Lumiere Hotel, Phnom Penh
September 2006

I am Vong Pichey, I am 26 years old. I am second child in my family. I was born in Prey Veng province.I live with my grand mother from 1-22 years old. My mother no time to look after me because she is construction worker and my father left when I started school.When I was 17-18 years old one organization support me to operate my leg. My legs had polio when I was 6 years old.During hospital operation, Dr said you have to take 6 months to heal your leg.That time in my family had many problems at home so I only spent one month in hospital. I came home with my legs painful. My mum did not look after me only my grand mother when I was in hospital.Until I am 22 years old I left my grand mother to live with my mum in Kompong Speu province. My mum live in my brother in law’s house.I follow my brother in law to sell charcoal.One trip 2-3 days I got 30000Riels or USD7.50.

One day my neighbours (Reach’s brother ISC 2016) saw me and told me about PKH centre. When I heard about this news I really wanted to study to have skills and job for my life.Thanks God after my interview I passed.When PKH centre Chbarmorn started class, I studied one week andI feel sad because I dont like many people noise, I shy my friends, my study not good. I asked permission to leave the PKH centre.After I left the PKH nearly one week, I feel not good to my life. I try to called teacher Souvuth, could I go back to PKH centre? So teacher Souvuth said yes but let him check with teacher Susan first. So teacher Susan told teacher Souvuth Yes.Thanks our Mercy God Jesus to called me back.

After I came back, all my friends love me and happy to see me back .From that day on I can completed my study. Then I went to train and work at Dara hotel as a P.A.. After 3months I past my probation and then the hotel move me to Imperial hotel, a new hotel.So now I am very happy with my work and can learn many things from hotel and meet many good friends. I not feel lonely like before.

When I think again if no PKH centre I will not have chance to work in beautiful hotel.Let me thanks to PKH centre, teachers, and staff. If no PKH centre, I no hope.On behalf of my friends, thank God also for supporters that support my friends and I to have skills, job, work and salary to help ourselves and families.

Vong Pichey
Public Attendant (P.A.)
Imperial Hotel, Phnom Penh
September 2016

My name is Hor Sokheng. I am from Takeo Province. I have 5 siblings and parents. I am the second son of my family, and I studied to Grade 10 in school. My family does not have money to support me to study more, that is why I have decided to stop studying.

I found a job to do in Phnom Penh by myself and worked as a construction worker there for three months. Later my mother told me about PKH school in Kompong Speu Province. I go to interview with Teacher Souvuth, and after that I heard that I passed the interview.

I went to study at PKH in the Industrial Skills Course for nine months, and after I finished study at PKH Centre, I went for 3 months training in maintenance at Raffles Hotel Le Royal. After I passed the training, I became a permanent staff, and I crossed training in Housekeeping for three months. After that I was transferred to Stewarding and work there for two years now. Also, I bring my uncle to work with me as steward.

Hor Sokheng
Steward
Raffles Hotel Le Royal, Phnom Penh
September 2013

My name is Seng Sokhun. I am from Takeo Province. I have four brothers at home. Before I passed my school, I wanted to go to Pusat Province with my uncle to learn wood or marble carving. But after I know my result, I had passed, and I also get scholarship to go to Batdombong Province to do banking. But my mother has no money to support me for study. I have no father.

So I go to Phnom Penh to find work to save money for studying University. I work in factory and after I worked there around 4 months, I had a chance to know about PKH and I can also study Industrial Skills at PKH.

After I finish PKH and training in Cambodiana Hotel for 3 months, I was a staff in the hotel, and worked there for 1 year. I wanted to find another better job, and one day, I met a Korean man and he wanted me to work as electrical manager for him. So I went to Korea to work there for one year and I can become general manager in his company in Cambodia afterthat. But now I try to make my company myself because I know many things about how to make a company now.

Now I try to make coolroom company with electric. I thank God I can sell my coolroom and electric more and more, and I plan to finish processing to make company. I try to sell my coolroom because if I sell well, Korea will make factory in Phnom Penh to make the machine, and I will be CEO in this factory. I will also export my product to other countries like Laos, Vietnam and Thailand. This is my plan, although I have not yet finish University.

Seng Sokhun
Eletrical Manager
Phnom Penh
September 2013

My name is Thay Sophal. I am 23 years old. I have my parents. They are farmers. I have three siblings. I am the third child in my family. I am working at Dara Airport Hotel in F&B Department.

I have believed in Jesus Christ since I was 16 years old. The first time I went to church hearing Pastor was speaking about Jesus but I did not understand about Jesus. I heard from my Pastor that if you believe in Jesus Christ you will have a new life but I did not understand what is the new life? On Sunday I went to church and asked Pastor what is the new life? He said that Sophal, God is calling you. You just believe in him and He will show you what is the new life. He will change you to be a new person and also you will change the other people to be like you. I have understood about Jesus Christ by listening the words of God from Pastor, Reading Bible and sharing in small groups.

In 2013 the year that I have finished my study in grade 12. But I did not know where to go. Because my family is poor. I prayed everyday to God to show his way for me. Immediately my pastor recommended me to study in PKH Anglican Centre. I was so happy to hear that because God has answered my prayers.

I passed my interview and started to learn in PKH Anglican Centre on 3rd of March 2014. I have learned a lot from PKH Centre. I have studied English and Basic Computer for 3 terms. Each term is 3 months. In the second year, I studied Hospitality and 3 departments like Housekeeping, Food and Beverage, and Front Ofice for 5 months. Especially I have studied the Bible every weekend. Now I have a new life like my pastor said by trusting in God your life will be prospered. My faith has grown up. Thank God for providing good teachers and good staff to take care of me when I was studying in PKH Centre.

Thay Sophal
Food & Beverage Department
Dara Airport Hotel, Phnom Penh
September 2015