Plas Prai Center

Chanra (pronounced Jan-ra’) is 16 years old and the third of four children in his family. His parents are farmers, and he lives in a very remote village called Antel of Choam Ksant district. He travels daily to study at Choam Srai village secondary school. He would not be able to continue studying if he didn’t have the opportunity to study at Plas Prai. He wants to be a teacher in the future. He had a very pleasant demeanor during his interview.

Kanha means ‘young lady’ and is pronounced Gan-ya’. She is 17 years old and the first of four children. Her parents are farmers in Choam Srai village of Choam Ksant district. Kanha was very succinct and well-spoken during her interview. She is a bright student, 6th of 14 in her class. She likes to read, and in the future, she wants to be a medical worker.

Panha means successful and is pronounced Bon-ya’. He is from a remote village called Anseh village in Choam Ksan district. He is 17 years old and the first of three children in the family. His parents are farmers in a remote village where there is no middle school. He’s been traveling more than half an hour each day, riding on his friend’s moto to middle school. His family farms the land of others since they do not have their own farmland. He has not been able to achieve very good grades so far and is hopeful that coming to Plas Prai will give him a better chance of successfully completing high school. Panha enjoys playing ball and wants to teach Agriculture in the future.

Sangvat (pronounced Song-vat’) is 15 years old and the first from his village in Ro’ang, Sangkhom Thmei district, to be accepted as a student at Plas Prai. He is an only child, and his parents are farmers. He is an adept student and displayed confidence during his interview. He likes playing sports and would like to be a teacher in the future.

Savet (pronounced Sa-vet’) is 17 years old. He is the fourth of six children in the family. None of his older siblings were able to finish high school. His parents are farmers in Darong village in Chhaeb district and he’s been traveling 8 km each day to attend middle school. This has been very challenging, and he would often stay at the pagoda rather than return all the way to his house each night after school. On his last major exam, Savet ranked 4th out of 26 students in his class. He enjoys reading and wants to be an English teacher in the future. He was very nervous during the interview but still presented with confidence and held the conversation well.

Siphai (pronounced See-pie’, like apple pie) is 17-years-old and the third of four children in her family. Her parents are farmers and sometimes hire themselves out for construction work. She lives in Kchang village in Chey Sen district. Due to some significant challenges in Siphai’s home life, her older siblings have had to stop studying and help at home. Siphai would like to be the first in the family to finish high school. In her free time, she likes to read books and cook. In the future, Siphai wants to be a teacher in an elementary school.

Sok (pronounced Soak, like to soak your feet) means health and happiness. She is 17 years old and the second of three children in her family. Her parents are farmers. She lives in Peuk village in Chey Sen District. Sok comes from an especially poor situation but has made an effort to ride her bike to school each day to get through middle school. She enjoys reading books in her free time and would like to be a middle school Khmer literature teacher one day.

Van is 17 years old and comes from a remote village called Bor in Chey Sen district where Davisville sent a medical team two years ago. There are nine children in his family and he is eighth. He ranked third out of 37 students in his class this past year. All of his older siblings have stopped studying and are farming. Van hopes to be the first in his family to graduate high school. He hopes to be a police officer in the future.

Sophy (pronounced So-pee’ )is the younger sister of one of our current Plas Prai students. She is 17 years old and is the youngest of 9 children in her family. She has completed 10th grade and will be in 11th grade at Plas Prai this year. Her parents are farmers in a remote village called Anseh in Choam Ksant district. Her family has sacrificed much to help her rent a room at the high school in the capital of Choam Ksant since it is very far from their home. They are committed to seeing her finish high school. Sophy had malaria when she was younger and still experiences some weakness since then. She wants to be a medical worker in the future.

Srey Khouch means the girl with dimples and is pronounced Sray Koo’-ij. She is the first of three children in her family. She is 15 years old, and her parents are farmers. She lives in Peuk village, Chey Sen District. She enjoys reading and her favorite subject is health education. Khouch was ranked 2nd out of 25 students, and she would like to be a medical worker in the future.

Thavy (pronounced Ta-vy’) is 15 years old and the oldest of two children. His parents are farmers, and he lives in Chhouk village, Kulen district. His father is a pastor, and they have a small group of believers who meet at their house each week. In the future, Thavy would like to be a teacher.

Tum means ripe and is pronounced Doom. 16-year-old Tum is the nephew of our current student leader at the dorm. He is the oldest of four children in his family. His parents are farmers in Choam Sre village of Choam Ksant district. He is a very good student and likes to read books and study Khmer literature. In the future, Tum would like to effectively farm and raise animals.

Vourn (pronounced Voo’-in) is 15 years old and is the oldest of three children. Her parents are farmers, and they live in Peuk village in Chey Sen District. There are some severe family difficulties, and she is now living with her grandmother. She likes reading and wants to be an elementary school teacher in her village one day.