It has been already two months now by today – November 1^st, 2020 that Mr. Samnang Chhon has been serving AKC school and the AFK organization full time. Sam was the one who laid the foundation stones for the school. Without him, all these projects would have never been existing in Cambodia. You may see his story and the fateful encounter with Helpucation e.V. founder, Mr. Andreas Dorner in this video.

The reasons and what made Sam to be available for AKC school is COVID-19. The darkest nights fills with the brightest stars. The pandemic has destroyed many livelihoods, including also Samnang’s, whose had run a successful tourism company for the past five years. “We are now all the happier to welcome him back to the Angkor Kids Center school almost exactly 11 years after it was founded…” welcome message of Helpucation e.V. team. Samnang has already gained a lot of practical teaching experiences as a volunteer teacher and coach at his company and public. He has several English teaching methodology and pedagogy certificates. In fact, he started teaching English in 2006 and even before, since the school was not officially founded.

Sam has shared with us a statement of his personal competencies and commitment toward AKC as following:

Having served ANGKOR KIDS CENTER on voluntary base for almost twenty years since the center initiated back in 2002; I am convinced that this is the proudest cause and decision made. I have learned a lot and I gained so much, especially the personal growth as well as the influence and inspiration made to this detached community, from the path of my journey from then and yet further.

Covid-19 pandemic outbreak is a deep-down nightmare to me and so does everyone in the world. Especially to the area where we rely almost 100% on tourism like Siem Reap, where Angkor Wat located. Nevertheless, this could be an opportunity, the opportunity to refresh, to restart and to refrain from the mess of….

Furthermore, this means a lot to me personally that I am not alone. Thanks to you all especially the great team of Helpucation e.V. in Germany for always placing yourself into my position and do your best to support me. This made me even prouder of what I have invested in social work and chance to get to know to know you all.

With this message, I would like to outline my interest and commitment over presence with ANKGOR KIDS CENTER / ALL FOR KIDS NGO as TESOL Teacher and Academic Director.

With my extensive experiences in organizing, managing, and leading from the startup to professional establishments along with varied development courses, as well as the background of teaching and coaching, I am definitely confident that my contribution to the time at AKC will be at the utmost productive, effective and efficient outcomes toward the need of school and organization.

Extrinsically, AKC communities are still sensitive in the ways they see things through, their culture, level of being educated, flexibility and adoptability. Misleading behaviors and appearances could lead to misunderstanding and conflicts which resulting in the unwelcoming issues that we do not expect.

Outlining the responsibilities of the task in Teaching English to the Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) will fill up pages. To be a truly and practically successful, this requires personnel carrying with contextual knowledge, experience and has the spiritual borne attached to the beneficiary aborigines. The bullet list delineated in the general Methodology Books and classroom Course Book Teaching Guides are important but not promising in term of social context. From this perspective, I am absolutely persuaded that I could be a required asset that AKC in this particular circumstances needed.

With my career competencies plus talent, digital and agile leadership, proactivity, optimism, people-orientation, teamwork and interpersonal skills. I strongly believe that having me joining AKC team will lift AKC far a huge step ahead.

His open, communicative manner and sovereignty in dealing with official authorities, supporters, parents and people from different cultures represent a great plus point for the Angkor Kids Center. As an “Academic Director / TESOL Teacher” Samnang will also bring a breath of fresh air to the curricula help to focus on the fun and joy of learning. He will also take care of digitizing the school as far as possible. But his most important task will be to use his very good level of English and to teach students as well as to coach volunteer teachers and team members.

Nevertheless, as a born proactivist, Sam always found it hard to be satisfied in the level of what he has reached. Therefore, Sam takes many initiatives to research and learn from different sources to make sure that the ways the school executed are correct. For instance, Sam took different methodology books to review and he takes online course on TESOL with intuitions of the native speaking country.

In addition to those, Sam has also empathized a statement about his deserved pandemic survival position and return to the AKC family: “Having used English for business and career communication for over 15 years, along with some TESOL background and the dream of being a professional English teacher, I am proud to be back to AKC and serve full time. My ambition is to see AKC students and volunteers leave the school with the confidence of using English for their career and education development purposes. “

At least but not last, AKC School / AFK NGO family would like to tremendously thank to Helpucation e.V. in Germany for making all these happen. Without your trustworthiness, confidence, and support, all these big stories could be forgotten.

To conclude my journey with, I would like to pass on two personal messages and beliefs:

1. Plant three things as you move: 1- Plant both inundated and dry plants as many as possible. 2- Plant your personal image, loyalty, reputation or brand. 3- Plant your knowledge and skills.
2. The darkest nights produce the brightest stars. There is always opportunities hidden in the problems. If one is done well, then two is very realistic. Always think positive.

Interested in following Sam’s Journey, visit his personal Blog at Sam-Inspire.com.

Thanks and all the best to everyone!