Kandal man holds free classes for 43 years

June 11, 2022 12:41 PM

“I started teaching in 1979 as I feared the younger generation would be illiterate, because in the Pol Pot era they could not learn. A 74-year-old man, Kong You, has devoted the past 43 years of his life to teaching the children of Ka’am Samnor commune of Kandal province’s Loeuk Dek district for free, as he has wanted to see them all literate and educated.
posted by dancestoblue (4 comments total)

Wow. Talk about living your values.

"It is not your job to finish the task, but neither are you free to desist from it".
posted by lalochezia at 3:35 PM on June 11, 2022 [4 favorites]

"Schools were not only closed, but the majority of the buildings were destroyed or used for government purposes. One of these was the secondary school that became Tuol Sleng Prison in Phnom Penh. Thousands of Cambodians were tortured and killed here. A number of them were educators. These intellectuals were seen as a threat to building a new, agrarian society. In the entire country between 75% and 90% of teachers, 96% of university students, and 67% of all primary and secondary school students were killed from 1975 until 1979. "

More about education in Cambodia.. More.
posted by mareli at 3:39 PM on June 11, 2022 [1 favorite]

I really love this guy. Teaches three times a day -- early AM, noon hour, then late afternoon. All while holding down his job.

A labor of love, real love, love as a verb, an action.

I love that it's not for money; he says he graciously accepts if someone offers in a way that doesn't cross his ideals.

I don't know how to find out if this guy is for real -- he is exactly on the other side of this beautiful ball of water and stone and mud and millions of forms of life. If he is for real, I'd love to send a couple hundred bucks to help fix his leaking roof.

Look at what one man can do, how many lives he can help.

A fine human being.
posted by dancestoblue at 7:58 PM on June 12, 2022 [1 favorite]

I've been thinking about this ever since you posted it. I've wanted so much to do something similar and I just feel like I can't--I don't know how, I'm not good enough, it's stupid when I'm in such a vulnerable state myself, and yet, I can't shake having seen this, someone who is Doing It.

I still don't know how I can offer this kind of service, but this is the kind of life that I want to lead.

I believe that all knowledge should be free. I believe in giving everyone as equal a chance as possible, and this makes me hopeful. Thank you, so, so much for posting this.
posted by liminal_shadows at 7:55 PM on July 10, 2022