![Cambodian Children are smiling after receiving a t-shirt with “TASSEL” print [Source: https://www.facebook.com/pg/TASSEL-Crescenta-Valley-High-School]](http://www.jstudentboard.com/reporter/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/12-20-tassel.jpg)
[Source: https://www.facebook.com/pg/TASSEL-Crescenta-Valley-High-School]
TASSEL is an organization whose purpose is to educate Cambodian children in the English language and raise funds to provide for equipment that will help further their education. The title of the organization−Teaching All Students Skills for Employment and Life (TASSEL)− well explains what role it plays in community.
Since its founding in 2012, TASSEL has made significant changes in the lives of Cambodian children. Using Internet-based video-conferencing technologies, international student volunteers, including the members of CVHS TASSEL, teach reading, listening, pronunciation and basic grammar to Cambodian children with the local instructors.
CVHS TASSEL, a branch of this organization, held its first teaching training this Friday, December 2. More than twenty members, including all continuing and new students, gathered together to learn how to handle video chatting devices and to have effective communications with young children in Cambodia.
Minji Kim, the president of CVHS TASSEL, told JSR, “The main goal of this organization is to transform the hearts of those helping and receiving help, and work as a community towards a better future. The teaching method we use is highly interactive. Each student teacher can design his or her own teaching curriculums and utilize his or her communication skills to support the with better educations.”
TASSEL not only serves young Cambodian students, but also educates high potential adults in the local villages and support them with funds and trains to motivate them to enter the teaching profession. Every month or so, local adults submit one page essays to the assigned member of CVHS TASSEL and it is the member’s obligation to edit and make comments on their essays.
The ultimate goal of this organization is to to help Cambodian kids to learn and acquire English to a level of proficiency to maximizes their capacity to engage successfully in the future academic studies and higher the living standards of Cambodia. CVHS TASSEL plans to continue its initiative by organizing an outreach to local high schools as well as planning a big trip to Cambodia at the end of the year for more exposure and interaction with Cambodian children.
