Jimmy's English School
Donation protected
Jimmy Chan is a young Cambodian man living in Siem Reap. Having successfully become self-taught and fluent in English, he has built his own English school in his sister's front yard to offer free classes to the village children. All that he asks in return is dedication and consistent attendence from his student, something that they are all too eager to give!
In order to keep the classes free in the poor country, maintain the school, provide school supplies, and support himself, Jimmy works as a tour guide during the day and evenings, even after his classes. It is his only source of income and is not enough in a city where increasing tourism is driving all kinds of costs upwards and the number of students is ever increasing.
His family is now looking to sell the land which would leave him without a place to host his school. He wishes to purchase a larger plot of land on the outskirts of town where he may be able to hold and reach more children, and have complete control over the land and how it is used.
‘Education is the torch that will lead you out of poverty.’
- Jimmy Chan
This past year, with sponsorship from passers by who were so impressed with his passion, Jimmy was able to complete his degree in English. He was working, studying, and teaching all at the same time! I first met him last year, when he was still midway through his degree, and the level of energy and enthusiasm he was bringing to his classes gave no indication of how much he was doing all at once.
Jimmy was born and raised in Siem Reap in the developing nation of Cambodia, a country that, at his birth, was still recovering from the horrific Khmer Rouge regime. He realized from a young age that English was one of the keys to escaping the poverty of a developing nation.
He therefore strived to teach it to himself from all available sources. He studied English in his local village for four years. When that wasn't enough, he continued to learn it in his own time by cycling to Angkor Wat temple on weekends and practicing conversation with foreigners and asking them to correct the notes he kept in his booklet. Following this, Jimmy began to set aside three hours every evening, sitting in his mother’s front yard, studying English lessons from his ex-teachers, and engaging with tourists passing by.
He brings this same hard work and dedication to his classes and instills it on his children, making them more than just English classes. He will never give up on his goals and dreams of helping these kids have bright futures and prosper in a developing nation, but he needs our help!
In order to keep the classes free in the poor country, maintain the school, provide school supplies, and support himself, Jimmy works as a tour guide during the day and evenings, even after his classes. It is his only source of income and is not enough in a city where increasing tourism is driving all kinds of costs upwards and the number of students is ever increasing.
His family is now looking to sell the land which would leave him without a place to host his school. He wishes to purchase a larger plot of land on the outskirts of town where he may be able to hold and reach more children, and have complete control over the land and how it is used.
‘Education is the torch that will lead you out of poverty.’
- Jimmy Chan
This past year, with sponsorship from passers by who were so impressed with his passion, Jimmy was able to complete his degree in English. He was working, studying, and teaching all at the same time! I first met him last year, when he was still midway through his degree, and the level of energy and enthusiasm he was bringing to his classes gave no indication of how much he was doing all at once.
Jimmy was born and raised in Siem Reap in the developing nation of Cambodia, a country that, at his birth, was still recovering from the horrific Khmer Rouge regime. He realized from a young age that English was one of the keys to escaping the poverty of a developing nation.
He therefore strived to teach it to himself from all available sources. He studied English in his local village for four years. When that wasn't enough, he continued to learn it in his own time by cycling to Angkor Wat temple on weekends and practicing conversation with foreigners and asking them to correct the notes he kept in his booklet. Following this, Jimmy began to set aside three hours every evening, sitting in his mother’s front yard, studying English lessons from his ex-teachers, and engaging with tourists passing by.
He brings this same hard work and dedication to his classes and instills it on his children, making them more than just English classes. He will never give up on his goals and dreams of helping these kids have bright futures and prosper in a developing nation, but he needs our help!
Organizer
Liviu Chis
Organizer
Brooklyn, NY