Yeng Raksmey was born to a single mother in Chey Ta Village, Buntheay Chakrie Commune, Preah Sdach District, Prey Veng Province. Since the death of her father, her mother works as a farmer to support the family. After graduating from Grade 12, Raksmey initially stayed to help her mother with the farm. But her teacher at the local Commune hall encouraged her to continue studying. He recommended her to sign up for the TJSSS programme to learn new skills so that she can go to a University. Raksmey signed up for the free 3-months programme and has since graduated. She is currently studying at Chea Sim of Kamchaymear University, fulfilling her dream of a better future. While studying, she is also working at a Bakery Shop at Prey Veng as a Baker and service staff.

“The TJSSS programme taught me many new and good knowledge. I now not only know how to speak English and use a computer, I also know a lot about team work, having a good attitude and having good communication with other people around me. I have experienced and developed new habits from this programme. I am especially pleased that this programme has taught me how to use software like Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point. I would like to say thank you to the OHF TJSSS programme for giving me an opportunity to join this course for free during those 3-months. I hope this programme will continue to help young people in Cambodia for many years to come.” – Yeng Raksmey

Say Viset comes from Boeng Eith Village, Angkor Reach Coomune, Preah Sdach District, Prey Veng Province. His father is a construction worker and his mother a civil servant. After graduating from Grade 12, he wanted to continue his studies in a University. In order to get himself ready for university, his Commune Hall teacher recommended him to sign up for the TJSSS programme so that he can learn some new skills and knowledge. He is currently working as a Consultant in Prudential Insurance Company in Preah Sdach District, Prey Veng Province while studying part time in a university.

“Joining this course has taught me how to use the Computer and how to speak English. Now I can use the computer, read, write and understand English. It has helpedme greatly. This course has also taught me to have a good attitude, plan my goals for the future and develop good relationships with the people around me.” – Say Viset

Dara is a young village girl from Sakkey Village, Svay Plus Commune, Peam Cher District, Prey Veng Province. Her father is a provincial policeman and her mother is a housewife. After graduating from Grade 12, Dara had big dreams of continuing her studies to upgrade herself. She wanted to become a Korean language teacher at the RSN Korean School, but was required to be able to speak English. Through the recommendation of a friend who is an alumni of the OHF TJSSS Youth Training Programme, Dara decided to sign up for the course.

“Everything I have learnt in the course is new knowledge and new experiences to me. This programme has taught me how to speak, write and read very well in English and it has helped me so much. I can use the computer well, and developed good communication skills due to the constant practice during the course. I am now a teacher at the RSN Korean School. I would like to say thank you so much to all the doners and all the teachers at Hope Training Center that taught me so much.” – Dara

Say Saem grew up in Oknha Em Village, Angkor Reach Commune, Preah Sdach District, Prey Veng Province. Both her parents are farmers and Say Saem worked hards to finished her studies and graduated from Grade 12. After graduating, her Commune Hall teacher recommended her to sign up for the OHF TJSSS programme so that she can learn new skills. Dueing the course, Say Saem developed an avid interest in the Marketing modules. After graduating from the TJSSS programme, Say Saem is now currently working as a Consultant at Prudential Insurance Company in Preah Sdach District, Prey Veng Province as well as studying part time in a University.

“When I joined this course, I was finally able to learn how to use the computer and how to speak English. I also learnt special skills like marketing, soap making and food courses. After graduating from this course, I can now confidently use a computer and I can read, write and translate in English. This course has taught me so much more than just skills, it has also taught me that I must have a good attitude, keep learning new knowledge, have clear goals in the future and maintain good relationships with the people around me.” – Say Saem

Piseth is a student from Kampong TroBek District, Prey Veng Province who joined the TJSSS programme in December 2017 and graduated in June 2018. Back then, he had just finished Grade 12 and wanted to further his studies, but unfortunately his parents, who were both farmers, had no money to support him through University.

Piseth was feeling hopeless about his future as he didn’t know what to do. Fortunately, he heard from the Village Chief about the 7-month fully sponsored TJSSS programme organised by OHF that teaches villages youths English and Computer Skills. Piseth immediately decided to grab the opportunity.

Piseth now works in Phnom Penh, as an Accountant for Lee’s Food Service Ltd. He is proud of himself and extremely grateful to OHF for organising the TJSSS programme. The English and Computer Skills he has learnt during the course has benefitted him greatly. He can speak to his clients and colleagues fluently in English, and use softwares such as Microsoft Word & Excel to aid his accounting work. He also mentioned that he used the Resume writing knowledge he learnt during the “Job Seeking Skills” lesson to write a good resume that actually helped him get hired in his current job.

“My life is better now because I have a salary I can use to pay for my University fees, where I am currently studying in Year 3. Furthermore, I can save some money to send to my parents back home.” – Piseth

As of June 2020, Piseth is working as an Accountant for Lee’s Food Service Ltd in Phnom Pehn.

Born in Kanh Chreach District, Prey Veng Province, Seng Heab grew up in a really poor family and life was a struggle everyday. With sheer determination, Seng Heab tried her best to stay in school, waking up every single morning before the sun rises to cycle a long and tedious 10km just to get to school.

Life constantly threw her hard curve balls, sometimes with fear taking over her when she cycled alone in the wee hours of the mornings; and sometimes with the nagging reality of being unable to afford stationaries and tuition to help her in school.

A gleam of sunlight came through for Seng Heab when she heard from her village chief on the TJSSS programme by Operation Hope Foundation. Seeing the opportunity to reach for a bright future, Seng Heab immediately signed up for the 7-month TJSSS programme.

With the help from the trainers and constant practice on campus, Seng Heab morphed from a village girl to a savvy young lady with valuable computer and English skills. She also learned precious life-skills such as being a good team-player and how to stay mentally strong in the future when she has to work alone away from home.

Seng Heab now has a stable job with a good income in Phnom Penh, and is grateful that she is able to send money home to help her family’s situation as well as save up to futher her studies in Accounting.

As of June 2018, Seng Heab has been working at 9 Dragon Mart in Phnom Penh – with a stable income and making good use of her Computer and English skills.

We studied computer – Excel, Word, Photoshop, Coral Draw, and others – things that help us to find a good job. I enjoyed learning English and Computer, especially. I had never used a computer before, and did not know how to try it. But since I joined TJSSS, I had fun and saw my teachers type so fast. It was difficult for me at first, but now I have improved my typing.

After six months, I could develop myself and it’s so strange now, I feel capable and more confident with myself. I hope that after this, I will get a good job. I plan to go back home and tell my mother that I want to study in Siem Reap and work there at the same time.

Some people do not have enough money or do not know where to go or what to do but they can have an opportunity to continue their studies here. Because without money, a place to stay or food, we cannot study. But here, we have everything we need so we don’t need to worry and can concentrate on our studies.

As of April 2016, he is working as a guide cum interpreter at a shooting range for tourist in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

One of our success stories is about Prum Bunsong, a TJSSS alumni in 2016. He used to be very poor. He was trying to run a photography and printing business, but the lack of exposure and skillset did not help the fledgeling business. After he heard about the TJSSS programme and the classes taught, he decided to enrol in the course for self-development. With the new skills learnt from TJSSS, Bunsong returned to the business and begin to strategically plan to meet the needs of the community. With the Photoshop and Corel skills learnt during TJSSS, he expanded his business by designing and printing wedding invites as well as jersey printing. Bunsong’s business grew and has improved the lives of his family members; he has extended the size of his home and purchased a new motorbike.

As of April 2018, Bun Song has expanded his business and now owns 22 printers – a huge difference from the business’s humble beginnings with only 1 printer.