This article was written in 2008 while I was working for World Vision Cambodia.
Title: Shy Phearun becomes an
active club leader
Phearun Thin, 18, is the second of
three siblings and is now in grade 12. His father is a vice chief of commune,
Kuch Soeurn, 52 and his mother, Thea Nearl, 47, is a farmer. Phearun is a shy
teenager and was always in poor health. He never drinks boiled water and got
seriously sick of typhoid fever.
Thus, he could not get good grades in school, even if he is smart. “I am shy talking to strangers, even my neighbors”, Phearun says. “I had never gone anywhere besides school and our village. Most of my time was sent reading books. Yet I could not perform well in school due to my health”, he adds.
Phearun’s family did not really understand hygiene and living in a clean environment. Nobody has also educated them and the villagers about the importance of cleanliness; thus, disease was widespread affecting Phearun and many children.
World Vision Cambodia started its area development program (ADP) in the village in 2004. The ADP worked to helps educate people about hygiene and formed a child club to promote awareness among children on many issues affecting them. It also started a project on livelihood for people to have enough income for their families’ needs. Phearun’s family is one of the families that have received assistance from World Vision.
In 2006, Phearun was selected as a children’s club leader of the ADP. After undergoing trainings and participating in many activities, he has changed to be an active leader who is good at time management. His participation also made him realize the value of hygiene and became more confident in working with others.
He has started sharing his experiences to children in the village, becoming very friendly and sociable. “I stopped being timid and shy because I think I could never improve myself that way. I want to be a good leader and set a good example for other children in the village. I want to become a good teacher to educate villagers in my community” says Phearun.
“I was surprised being voted as a club leader. It is unbelievable because I had never spent my free time to get to know other children in the village. I always spent time at home with my family and time at school for only school hours. At home I always help my family to do housework such cowhand, break firewood, sweep house’s area, and collect cow dung; I also know how to cook as a girl. I think they have observed me during class hours and they believe I can become a responsible leader“, says Phearun.
Phearun always shares to other children in the village what he has learnt from the workshop or training. He often communicates with others in the village and he plans well about the activities. “I also share what I know to my family members and my relatives. I feel that I am really growing up now”, he adds smiling.
“He is friendly, talkative and is helpful to others. He always tells all children in the club about the value of educations and hygiene. I want to be like him. We really respect him and consider him as a good role model”, says Reaksmey, a children club member.
Thus, he could not get good grades in school, even if he is smart. “I am shy talking to strangers, even my neighbors”, Phearun says. “I had never gone anywhere besides school and our village. Most of my time was sent reading books. Yet I could not perform well in school due to my health”, he adds.
Phearun’s family did not really understand hygiene and living in a clean environment. Nobody has also educated them and the villagers about the importance of cleanliness; thus, disease was widespread affecting Phearun and many children.
World Vision Cambodia started its area development program (ADP) in the village in 2004. The ADP worked to helps educate people about hygiene and formed a child club to promote awareness among children on many issues affecting them. It also started a project on livelihood for people to have enough income for their families’ needs. Phearun’s family is one of the families that have received assistance from World Vision.
In 2006, Phearun was selected as a children’s club leader of the ADP. After undergoing trainings and participating in many activities, he has changed to be an active leader who is good at time management. His participation also made him realize the value of hygiene and became more confident in working with others.
He has started sharing his experiences to children in the village, becoming very friendly and sociable. “I stopped being timid and shy because I think I could never improve myself that way. I want to be a good leader and set a good example for other children in the village. I want to become a good teacher to educate villagers in my community” says Phearun.
“I was surprised being voted as a club leader. It is unbelievable because I had never spent my free time to get to know other children in the village. I always spent time at home with my family and time at school for only school hours. At home I always help my family to do housework such cowhand, break firewood, sweep house’s area, and collect cow dung; I also know how to cook as a girl. I think they have observed me during class hours and they believe I can become a responsible leader“, says Phearun.
Phearun always shares to other children in the village what he has learnt from the workshop or training. He often communicates with others in the village and he plans well about the activities. “I also share what I know to my family members and my relatives. I feel that I am really growing up now”, he adds smiling.
“He is friendly, talkative and is helpful to others. He always tells all children in the club about the value of educations and hygiene. I want to be like him. We really respect him and consider him as a good role model”, says Reaksmey, a children club member.
-Ends-
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