Contributing from small things
In mid-August, reporters were present at Prey Veng pagoda (Tri Ton commune, An Giang province) to attend the closing ceremony of the Khmer summer language course in 2025. In the airy weather of the gentle That Son area, teachers volunteered to prepare tables, chairs, books, and gifts so that the children could be more motivated to go to school.
While working, Mr. Chau Soc Thi (one of the volunteers at the pagoda) shared with us that the wish of teachers when participating in teaching is to provide a means for the younger generation to have the opportunity to access knowledge... traditional, thereby nurturing the preservation and promotion of the national cultural identity of the Khmer people in the That Son region. Because not only are they allowed to learn from the written word, through that, teachers also convey customs and practices...
"The students are very excited in each lesson, very diligent and hard-working. Many students, even after class, still sit there to try to study more, and seeing that moment with their own eyes, our teachers are warm-hearted" - Mr. Soc Thi said.
According to Mr. Soc Thi, most of the children in the locality come from poor families. Every summer vacation, children often just hang around in the village, and have few opportunities to participate in soft skills classes or travel and entertainment to open up knowledge. Therefore, this course also helps them get to know many friends, share love, thereby reducing some worries for parents when going to work.
It is known that the pagoda still has 8 teachers, including monks and volunteers, who are dedicated to preserving the language and writing of the Khmer people. On average, each class has 24 students, aged from primary to secondary school. The classes are held in the afternoon.
Preserving culture through words
The quiet space of Prey Veng Pagoda became more bustling when students and parents attended the ceremony. The space became even more intimate when teachers took turns performing performances such as singing, blowing the flute... with the encouragement of the students.
Venerable Chau Chhonl - Sa Hai Pagoda Prey Veng said that the pagoda hopes that students will enjoy the traditional cultural values of the Khmer people. Especially studying the ancient capital organs written on the leaves of a plant named slig-krich, now known as Kinh Hoa, performed by the high-ranking and talented people of the Southern family. Of which, the Prey Veng pagoda alone still preserves hundreds of organs.
This is not only a work rich in artistic direction and unique in the line of letters but also has many cultural and belief values typical of the spiritual life of the Khmer community in the That Son region (An Giang province). Organizing Khmer language teaching in the summer is a bridge for the younger generation to have the opportunity to continue with community treasures.
Sharing at the course summary ceremony, Venerable Chau Son Hy (every day of Sa Me Pagoda, O Lam Commune, An Giang Province) expressed that from cherishing and preserving the written text on leaves for nearly a hundred years, to maintaining free free summer teaching for children, every day, the Khmer people in An Giang Province are constantly improving their speaking and writing skills so that the younger generations can love their mother tongue more, thereby preserving and developing it.
These contributions help shape the education cause, improve the people's knowledge of the Khmer people, affirm the community spirit, gentle, simple lifestyle and compassion.
