What is the role of a home monitor at Chandara Students Home?

Pich and Sophary have been working at home monitor for more than 2 years now, taking care of the dorms and the students. But what is their role exactly and how do they contribute to the success of our students at university and in their career choices? 

Could you introduce yourself? 

Pich: My name is Phin Pich. I was born in Battambang Province, Cambodia. I used to work at New Hope Children’s Home for 4 years, Counselling clients on HIV/Aids over 6 years, and then at PSE for 11 years. Currently, I’m working in Chandara Student Home for the past 2 years as home monitor for the Sen Sok dorm.

Sophary: I’m Touch Sophary. I was born in Battambang Bong Province. Currently, I’m working at Chandara Student Home as a Home Monitor for the Boeung Tumpun dorm.

Could you share your experience of working at Chandara Students Home?

Pich: I love working in Chandara Students Home because I want all the students there to have comfortable living conditions here, that even if they’re not with their families, they can feel at home. I like to motivate them in their study and their job. I hope to see them having a good job that can increase their living conditions. A job that can make them live in a good environment.

Sophary: I have been working at Chandara Student Home for 1 year and 11 months. Working here, I have joined activities with the students, I have solved problems students are facing everyday and I have made sure the students are safe and feel good, especially when students are sick at night. My job purpose is that we want the student to become more responsible in their day to day life, in the dorm or outside the dorm, on social media or at their workplace, even if it’s an internship or an important job.  We always motivate our students to become outstanding women in the community and society, to encourage them to give a hand to other people who have harder living conditions than them. 

What do you like the most about your job?

Pich: What I like the most about the job is to be their listener, to be the person they come to see when they have a problem. Then I can give them comforting words, encourage them, motivate them to study hard, but also give them advice for cleaning the dorm (as they are responsible and they need to become independent young women).

Sophary: What I like the most about my job is knowing they have enough food, that they have good results at university and that they are highly committed. I try to make sure the students are healthy, physically and mentally. Moreover, we have a good leadership team who always takes good care of other team members so it is a great way to work well and appreciate our day to day work. 

Can you describe a typical work day/evening at the dorm?

Pich: I’m working at night, starting when the students arrive from university until the end of the evening. I have daily tasks such as looking around the dorm building and checking the information with the security guard every day. Then I go to the kitchen to see the students preparing their dinner, checking the cleaning schedule and which students have to clean for the day. At 10 pm, I will check the attendance room by room to see if all the students are there. 

Sophary: When I arrive at the dorm in the evening, I usually walk around and note down the place where there might be a problem or where it's not clean. After that, I go to the kitchen to check with the students who  are cooking dinner in order to see if they’re having good and enough food. If they don’t, I will give them some advice related to their health and for those who don’t have enough food to eat, I will ask them to share the food with each other in the dorm. These values are important and we want them to keep them even after their time at Chandara Students Home.
After, I check the tasks that other staff need my help for. Then at 9:30 pm, I have to check the students attendance in the dorm and their cleaning schedule. If they haven’t cleaned yet, I must call them to come and start cleaning.  During that time. I try to speak with the students about their living situations or if they are facing any difficulties at the moment. I will note it down and request help from the social team if needed. After that, I walk around the building again and check the gas in the kitchen, turn off the light where we don’t need it.

Can you share some advice with the students at CSH?

Pich: I always want them to study hard, to find the best job they can to get more experience for the future. Also, for more technical advice, I want to help save water and electricity in the dorm. So I suggest students to be careful about their consumption. 

Sophary: I want CSH’s students to be responsible, willing to help and share with others, to have good manners and to be healthy. Of course, I want them to become outstanding women, who are recognized an honored in the society and so they become a good example for other women.