Teacher Chheang an English teacher

1- Who are you?

I am Huy Eng Chheang from Kampong Cham province. I am a lecturer of English and kitchen supervisor at Leadership Character Development Institute (L-CDI).

2- What is your background?

I was born in 1983, Kampong Cham province. My parents are seller. I have got three siblings, two younger brothers and one younger sister. I am the oldest son in my family. I started school at the age of six. I finished primary school in …… and graduated from SONTHOR MOK high school in 2003; then I took exam as a secondary school teacher. As soon as I failed, so I decided to study at National University of Management for two years, but unfortunately, my parents did not have enough money to support me because of poverty, that why I have attended (L-CDI) till then.

3- How did you become involved with L-CDI?

In fact, I have become involved with L-CDI for ages; first, I was a student in the class and I was also a Taekwondo volunteering student for almost two years. Through a great satisfaction and enthusiasm, I decided to be a volunteer as a teacher of English till now. After a period of over one year of membership, with some financial help of L-CDI, I am studying at National University of Management.

4- What is your vision to be in L-CDI?

I wish I can teach management skills to students of L-CDI and to poor people from rural area, especially, the student who dropped out from the government school. Moreover, I am willing to provide some possible life skills and skills such as a good leadership and character, including management skills and sustainable development of themselves,, their family as well as society.
As of L-CDI Cambodia strives to provide good quality of education for poor students to develop critical, analytical and creative thinking so they can make well-founded and ethical decisions and be part of an informed citizenry, I am one of the student has received the gift.
Finally, I think and feel satisfied to whatever I have done as my great duties as a good Cambodian and kind citizen to the nation, therefore , it give me the best experiences for my life which can be a good example for next generation. I firmly hope that I could success my excellent plans.

Mr. Vannetr the teacher of English and adminstrator

1. Who are you?

I am Svannet from Kampong Thom Province; I am a lecturer of English and Administrator at Leadership Character Development Institute, in short, called L-CDI.

2. What is your background?

I was born in 1987, Kampong Cham Province. My mother is tailor with low living standard, and I am fatherless. I have got one sibling, one elder brother; I started school at the age of 5. I finished primary school in 1999 and graduated from Kampong Thom High School in 2005; then I took exam as a secondary school teacher. As soon as I failed, I attended L-CDI.

3. How did you become involved with L-CDI?

In fact, I have become involved with L-CDI for ages. First, I was a student in the class and I was also a Teakwodo volunteering student for almost two years. With a great satisfaction and enthusiasm, I decided to be a volunteer as a teacher of English till now. After a period of over one year of membership, with some financial help from L-CDI, I was sent to university majoring in Information Technology.

4. What is your vision to be in L-CDI?

Vision: I always wish to be an IT teacher in L-CDI to teach more skills to the poor students from rural areas, especially, the students who dropped out from government school. Moreover, I am willing to provide some possible life skills and skills such as good leadership and character, including Computer skills and sustainable development of themselves, their families as well as society. Finally, I think and feel satisfied to whatever I have done as my great duties as a good Cambodian and kind citizen to the nation; therefore, it gives me the best experiences for my life which can be a good example for next generation. I firmly hope that I can become the successful person of my excellent plans.

Introducing Mr.Pheap the English Teacher and Director of Studies

1. Who are you?

I am Sopheap from Pursat Province; I am a lecturer of English and director of studies at Leadership Character Development Institute, known as L-CDI.

2. What is your background?

I was born in 1983, Pursat Province. My parents are farmers with low living standard. I have got five siblings, one elder sister and three younger brothers; I started school at the age of 11. During my primary school, I studied at three different schools in the distance of over 10 kilometers from my village. I finished primary school in 1999 and graduated from Kankan High School in 2005; then I took an exam as a secondary school teacher. As soon as I failed, I attended L-CDI.

3. How did you become involved with L-CDI?

In fact, I have become involved with L-CDI for ages; first, I was a top caliber student in the class and interested in humanitarian job. Fortunately, a desirable one as a volunteer was introduced to me. With a great satisfaction and enthusiasm, I took part in it. After a period of over one year of membership, with some financial help of L-CDI, I was sent to university.

4. What is your vision to be in L-CDI?

My vision: I always wish to enlighten the poor, especially, women, youths and children to have high spirit of coming up in their lives. In addition, I intend to provide the low-spirited unmotivated with some possible life skills and skills such as good leadership and character, including English proficiency for the sake of changes and sustainable development of themselves, their families as well as society. Particularly, I think and feel satisfied that I have done my noble duties as a good Cambodian and constructive citizen to the nation; therefore, it gives me an absolute honor and pleasure to play some precious roles in L-CDI.

Interview with Phalla

1. Who are you?

My name is Prak Phalla. I am 24 years old. I am not married and I am an English teacher in L-CDI.

2. What’s your background?

I was born in 1986 and I started school when I was 7 years old. I graduated with a diploma in 2005. My parents are farmers who live in Trapenagtrav Village, Nhor commune, Kompongro District, Svay Rieng Province.

3. How did you become involved with L-CDI?

In 2003, I was told there was an English school called L-CDI located in the town of Svay Rieng. I wanted to learn English very much at that time. However, I could not come to study because I was busy studying in high school. After graduating from my high school, I decided to come to L-CDI in 2006. I graduated the 2 year comprehensive training course of L-CDI and I was employed by L-CDI till today.

4. What is your vision?

I want youths who have dropped out of schools to receive education that can help them to get a job and live better lives as I have seen many Cambodian youths have dropped out and many people are without hope and not motivated, but they have potential.
My vision is to educate youths dropped out in L-CDI and elsewhere so that they can live in harmony. I want to be further educated too.

Thankyou Phalla!

Work ongoing over Khmer New Year

Hi all,

Work on the new campus is ongoing, with a small group of stalwart teachers and students continuing in their efforts while everyone else returns to their province for rest.

The kitchen and rice store is up, with cookers operational and paving and concreting complete.


The girl's dormitory is standing, with bathing area concreted and paneling complete.


The double boy's dorm is framed, roofed and the concreting for the bathing area is complete.






Further, two of the ponds have been cleared for digging out and a pathway has been cleared for a plough to reach the two paddocks that will serve as vegetable gardens for the site.






Special mentions go to

Teacher Tin and Teacher Phalla for their work, Teacher Cheang for his hard work and the students for giving up time and expertise to get everything built. A special mention goes to Teacher ChungEarng for her selfless agreement to stay onsite cooking, rather than leaving to visit her family in the province.

Introducing Staff

Introducing Staff

Who are you?

My name is Kem Kunthea. I am 30 years old. I am married to a former LCDI classmate, Azarin and have a two year old daughter called Sarawin. I am the director of LCDI and I manage the school administration and provide leadership and direction for the school staff.

What is your background?

I was born in Kampot province in 1980, a year after the Khmer Rouge were defeated by the Vietnamese and their Cambodian allies. My Father worked in the province with the Department of Mines and Energy and my Mother taught in a primary school. I have four younger brothers.

I finished high school in 1997 and spent time studying computer and English in a small private school. A friend of mine mentioned to me a position going in Phnom Penh and so I came to work in the city.

How did you become involved with L-CDI ?

In 1999, I was asked to work in a school teaching English, computer and taking care of student’s bicycles. I came to work in the house inside the school. One of my main responsibilities, aside from caring for bicycles was to wake up the principal’s son early in the morning to do exercise.

In 2000, a small group of those involved in the school decided to start a local NGO called L-CDI. I was the vice-director of the NGO and we were tasked with assisting Cambodian youth to find work and develop life skills.
In 2005, I became the director of a remodeled LCDI after problems with the original director. I gathered 20 former teachers and worked with them in a rented house to re-open the school. We restarted the school in the provinces and after 3 months, we restarted the Phnom Penh facility. I have been director since that time and have worked with the staff to overcome many challenges.

What is your vision?

I want all the youth who have dropped-out out of the education system to get education and training so that they can find jobs, develop their character and live better lives. My vision is a self sufficient LCDI with centres all over Cambodia, teaching the youth about the value of education and the need to develop their character and change their lives.

(Kunthea shows his blue thumb, stained by the ink during the signing of the LCDI lease agreement)

Moving L-CDI Cambodia

Hi all,

Sufficient donations have been pledged to allow LCDI to move to a new location. These donations have come largely from the Christadelphian Brothers and Sisters of the UK, Australia and New Zealand. Valuable donations of money and rice have also been received from Khmer supporters in France and other regular donors in Malaysia and elsewhere.

The new site is about 30 minutes by tuktuk further out of Phnom Penh. This new site is much larger, much cheaper and has lots of options for growing vegetables, raising chickens, fish and pigs and harvesting fruit.

The next month will see various organisational changes, plans to develop the curriculum, changes to regional centres and the development of the new Phnom Penh site.

Lots of work needs to be done to make the site habitable and your prayers are needed to make this re-location a success. At this time, we are still looking for donors to cover the $2500 shortfall that exists for Feb 2010-Jan 2011. If you are willing and able to contribute, please contact the Director, Kunthea