Filipino educator Erna Lynn Fajarito´s commitment to service has helped change the lives of village children in Khpob Kraom, Cambodia.
What started as an outreach activity resulted in a life’s advocacy for Filipino expat Erna Lynn Fajarito. In 2018, Erna Lynn and her mission team initiated free English classes in villages outside Phnom Penh. Realizing that the quality of English education in village public schools lags behind city learning methods, she was motivated to build a school for the village children.
Four years later, Khpob Kraom, a small village 54 km from the Cambodian capital, would witness the birth of Go Shine School, a reliable place of learning in a village where children have to cross a river to access English education.
“In the Cambodian curriculum framework, English and French are already introduced in Grades 1-6 for 2 hours a week, but the implementation depends on the available manpower. Because of this, many schools only start in Grade 4. Some, especially in remote areas, don’t. This inspired us to provide a facility for the village children, offering them a chance to learn English at par with their urban counterparts,” shares Erna Lynn in our online interview from her house in Phnom Penh.
Building a school in Cambodia
With a vision grounded in missionary work, Erna Lynn and her husband Melbert asked their long-time Cambodian friend, Chin Savuth, also passionate about teaching, to collaborate with them. Savuth was on board right away, offering his house as the foundation for their school they would later name Go Shine School.
By a stroke of luck, Erna Lynn and her husband were able to acquire school equipment from a closed-down school in Phnom Penh for only $1,500 – indoor playground equipment, tables, chairs, and supplies. With only $500 on hand at that time, the couple reached out to friends and even borrowed $1,000 from another missionary. “Little did we know that an American missionary in Taiwan sent us some amount that would help us pay back the loan.”
The school took shape through the collaborative efforts of their mission team. Savuth’s house blossomed into a fully equipped school. The first class commenced in January 2022, with only one student on the first day. At the end of the week, they already had six students.
The locals embraced the initiative with joy, grateful for the establishment of a school in an area previously devoid of kindergarten education. Go Shine school emerged as a beacon of accessible education. They charge an affordable fee compared to regular English schools that charge $200 a month while international schools command $1,000 for a full curriculum.
Cambodians really value education, associating it with success. Our goal is to offer a comprehensive learning experience, incorporating not only English but also values that resonate with the Cambodian culture.
Erna Lynn Fajarito
Teaching and serving
“When I was a child, I wanted to become an aeronautical engineer. But there was no aeronautical school in Bacolod, so I took up accountancy instead,” shares Erna Lynn, adding that, “I remember when I was small, I would gather the kids in my neighborhood and pretend to be their teacher. When I was in high school I really wanted to serve God in any way I could but I never imagined myself living abroad.”
Erna Lynn started her expat life alone in Cambodia in 2012. “My husband had already lived in Cambodia years before. We were supposed to come here after our wedding in 1999 but it didn’t happen. Then we had two children. But the idea of coming here did not leave us.” Her husband and two sons followed her in 2014.
Finding a management job proved challenging due to diverse cultural and language barriers. “Fate had other plans though, leading me to teaching—the most accessible field for Filipinos abroad.”
She gave English, Maths and Science tutorial classes and eventually landed a job as an English teacher in a kindergarten language school, a post she has been holding for over 10 years now.
There are around 6,000 Filipinos in Cambodia and their impact on Cambodian society is substantial, in the academe, factories, and creative industries. Cambodians have high regards for Filipino teachers because of their creativity and care for the students.
Erna Lynn Fajarito
Erna Lynn immersed herself in the local culture, from navigating markets to learning the language through interactions with street vendors. While Asian in essence, the cultural distinctions posed a learning curve including how to embrace the spicy Cambodian cuisine.
She also took part in outreach programs organized by their church, Lighthouse Ta Khmao. “We would delice the kids, teach them hygiene and sanitation, bible stories, values and English. During the pandemic, partnerships with NGOs and supportive friends allowed us to provide sustenance for 14 families weekly for 8 weeks in areas submerged in flood and sporadic relief operations to different villages.”
Thriving village school
“The school now is equipped with TVs and internet access, enabling us to supplement traditional teaching methods with engaging videos. The positive feedback from parents, who notice changes in their children’s behavior and values, serves as a testament to the impact of our approach. Through word of mouth, our school is gaining recognition not just for language proficiency but for instilling essential values.”
While her job in the capital prevents her from being present in school all the time, Erna Lynn’s involvement extends to crafting the curriculum and coordinating with Savuth, ensuring a hands-on approach to implementation.
Amidst these language intricacies, a more profound challenge emerges – students with special needs. In Buddhism, a person with special needs is viewed as equal to any other being so much so that, “In our school, we have kids with special needs, both diagnosed and undiagnosed. Teaching is the same. We are trying to manage it as much as we can. We are not trained professionally and it is a big challenge not only in our school but all over Cambodia.”
As the village school continues its multifaceted role, it stands not only as a source of knowledge for children but also as a source of support and development for local educators. “I am part of a teachers guild in Cambodia mainly composed of Filipinos. I volunteered as a support committee. My heart is really to train Cambodian teachers.”
Go Shine school now has 130 students. “We envision replicating the school in other villages as well. We want it to last in their hands even if we are no longer around.”
Erna Lynn’s dream reaches far beyond the classrooms she has built. Her unwavering commitment to education makes a lasting impact on the lives of Cambodian children.
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