A Day in the Life...

To Sambour Primary School and Back Again

It’s a Friday in late March nearing the end of Cambodia’s dry season. The dirt roads are still passable, but the air is heavy with heat. In recent years, that heat has intensified, yet another mark of climate change’s impact on the region. At first light, Dana and Sambath are already up. Though they are not a couple, they share an apartment in the heart of Siem Reap with fourteen children, none of them their own, but all informally adopted. The oldest is now at university, and the rest attend local primary and high schools. Together, these sixteen people live, eat, study, and sleep in a single room.

As the children head off to school, Dana and Sambath begin their own journey. First stop: local markets for provisions. They’ll visit two today, one for fresh vegetables: onions, bok choy, cabbage, and another for fish or chicken, depending on what looks best. Rice is running low at the school, so they pick up a 50-pound bag. Loaded with ingredients strapped to their motorcycles (scooters really), they begin the hour-long trip to Sambour School.

Navigating their way out of Siem Reap is no easy task on a bustling morning. They pause briefly as schoolchildren march by in a parade, a prelude to the Khmer New Year festivities in April. The city slowly recedes behind them as they pass through neighborhoods, markets, repair shops, and temples. Eventually, paved roads give way to gravel, and gravel to dirt. During monsoon season, these roads become rivers of mud, making the school inaccessible. In the dry season, dust chokes the air. Dana and Sambath wear helmets, bandanas, and masks to protect themselves, as both suffer from allergies. Despite the discomfort, they press on…the trip is a daily ritual.

As the noise and congestion fall away, a serene countryside takes shape: rice paddies, palm trees, grazing water buffalo, and smiling villagers waving as they pass. On the surface, it's idyllic, but the reality is one of hardship, poverty, malnutrition, and limited opportunity. Still, the community radiates kindness and resilience. This is one reason why Dana and Sambath are so deeply committed to this place.

Upon arriving at the school, Dana gets to work on preparing the midday meal. She is joined by three women from the village and a group of older students. Boys fetch vegetables and water, girls chop produce, and the women prepare the four chickens and light the fires. Dana orchestrates it all, cooking, teaching, supervising, and lending a hand wherever needed.

Meanwhile, Sambath meets with the school’s principal and teachers. Today, he shifts from his usual morning English classes to oversee the installation of a second electrical line. Thanks to community donations and Sambath’s persistence, two more classrooms will soon have ceiling fans, an invaluable comfort in Cambodia’s stifling heat. Electricity only reached the school’s road in 2024, a small but significant sign of progress during the difficult post-COVID period. Sambath dreams of expanding this infrastructure further by adding computers to the library and fans to every classroom.

By the start of lessons, over 350 students have arrived. As classes pause for lunch, children lay down mats outside the classrooms. Bowls and spoons are distributed, and classroom desks are converted into handwashing and dishwashing stations. As they gather, Sambath calls out, “Are you ready?” and the students respond in unison, “Yes I am!.”  Cheerful rituals like this are used throughout the day to build unity and reinforce lessons. Lunch today is a hearty chicken curry served with rice and vegetables from the school’s garden. For the children, it is the most nutritious meal they’ll eat all week.

After the meal, students clean up: rolling mats, washing dishes, and sweeping classrooms. Then comes recess. Games spring up using ropes and sticks, and a single volleyball, no net required, sparks free time laughter and play.

Dana, having cooked all morning, now teaches classes all afternoon. Today, she offers a special session: traditional Apsara Khmer dance for the older girls. Though she modestly claims she's not very good, her teaching is joyful and deeply appreciated by her students.

As the school day winds down, children trickle out the front gate, walking or riding bicycles home. Dana and Sambath remain behind, debriefing with staff and planning for the week ahead, still hoping to secure a few more fans for the classrooms.

On their return trip to Siem Reap, Dana and Sambath make several important stops. They visit sick villagers, delivering medicine, ramen, and kind words. They check in on a young girl with physical and developmental challenges, making sure her family has what they need. Finally, children from the village and beyond who do not attend the school rush out to the road to greet them. Today, Dana and Sambath hand out small baggies of mung beans and coconut sugar, made by the village women during the afternoon classes, a beloved treat for many.

Back in their small apartment, most of the children have already returned. Dinner is a group effort, with Dana preparing her signature fish curry, spicy corn, and fragrant Cambodian rice. Fruit from Dana’s sister’s market stand rounds out the meal: dragon fruit, longan, mango, and the sweetest bananas you’ll ever taste. While Dana cooks, Sambath makes a bank run and visits local friends to discuss school needs. Then, he heads off to teach his night class at the local university.

By the time Sambath returns, the children have eaten, washed the dishes in the alley outside, and are finishing their homework. He eats his dinner and helps the children with any lingering questions, especially English translations. At the end of the long day, the stools transform from table to seats, the sleeping mats are laid out, and the room settles into quiet.

Another full, beautiful Friday, marked by service, hope, and the unwavering belief that education changes lives.