TGC is my warmth, my strength, and my future—it’s like a second brain guiding me forward.

TGC is my second home and the foundation of my education.

TGC is more than a school; it is my ‘homeschool.’ Beyond education, the school provides us with essential study materials, life skills, financial aid, and even daily meals. TGC takes care of everything a student needs. They also open doors to new worlds through workshops and astronomy sessions that we’ve never experienced before. I am so grateful for the opportunities TGC gives us.

Over two decades ago, as Karen and I  stepped away from our careers—hers in the classroom and mine in business—we stepped into a mission that captured our hearts. What began as helping a friend support a filmmaker’s dream in Cambodia became the heartbeat of our lives. There is no ‘return on investment’ quite like watching a child, once trapped by circumstance, walk into a classroom with a full stomach and a future. Seeing TGC grow from a vision into a model of hope endorsed by the Ministry of Education has been one of the greatest honors of our lives. We aren’t just building schools; we are building hope, witnessing communities rise, and there is no pride greater than seeing that spark of success in a student’s eyes.

Since 2018, we have been regularly visiting Cambodia and The Global Child school, where we teach and build relations. Tomek, as heliophysicist, teaches astronomy, and Anna, as an economist and coach, conducts well-being and happiness workshops for students and parents, as well as Career Direct® coaching for older students.

We work in English, both on-site and online.

We came to the school out of curiosity. Today, we are part of The Global Child family.

Here, we meet people who live modestly but are full of happiness. Parents, often illiterate, have immense respect for the teachers and eagerly follow their guidance, knowing that educating their children is their only chance for a better future.

We return to The Global Child school with longing and a sense of the bond we have built together. We are united by a system of values, dreams, and aspirations. We read each other with our hearts – a personal and uplifting experience for us.

In the statements of children and young people, we see a deep sense of interdependence. They are open, motivated, and aware that education is the key to a better future. They emphasize the immense importance of relationships – both within the family and the local community. As children grow up, they often desire to give back to the community what they themselves have received. From childhood, they have been helping selflessly.

What do we learn from them? Above all, humility – especially in the face of the forces of nature. Children of the East can listen attentively, perceive emotions, and care not only for themselves but also for others – even strangers. We have the impression that sometimes they see more, more broadly…

The children are deeply rooted in their culture, a fact they proudly emphasize. They take material limitations seriously, but only as a temporary challenge. Their strength lies in their extraordinary ability to collaborate.

We are delighted by their energy and motivation to learn, both in the children and youth, and in the adults: teachers and parents. They are curious about the world, open to interaction, and I am convinced that together we are building a better future for Cambodia and the entire world.

We are full of gratitude for the trust placed in us and their openness to the knowledge and experience we share.

The Global Child has been instrumental in providing support to impoverished and vulnerable community children. Their efforts aim to promote better family livelihoods and enhance educational quality, aligning directly with the objectives of Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport.

The Siem Reap Government is immensely proud of TGC’s contributions to our community, from promoting hygiene and reading to advancing financial literacy and positive parenting. We are deeply grateful to TGC’s donors for their continued and vital support.

I volunteered at The Global Child from 2017-2018. Unlike most Minerva Fellows sent to Cambodia, I have had the unique opportunity to teach these amazing students a second time, which has helped me realize how important a good teacher is. The fellowship taught me that a teacher not only has the power to distribute knowledge, but to inspire. I am fortunate enough to have found early on in my life an itch I just can’t scratch, which is design and storytelling. I think my fellowship has taught me that I do have the unique ability to inspire others, and this has become a main focus of mine as I navigate this strange thing we all call life.

Without TGC’s support, I can’t imagine what my life would be like right now. They don’t just support my child; they provided food for our entire family during the COVID-19 pandemic. Beyond that, TGC even gave us chickens to raise. The Global Child means so much to me—more than I can put into words.