At Little Hearts, some people leave footprints that remain long after they step away. This week, we said goodbye to one of those people.
On April 30th, Teacher Vann Chandary, known affectionately by many of our children as Teacher Chy or Teacher Vanchy, taught his final class after an extraordinary 12 years of service to Little Hearts. Having reached a new chapter in life, he has decided to retire from teaching and devote more time to his family, his granddaughters, and the family business. While we fully support his decision, saying farewell was not easy.
For more than a decade, Teacher Vanchy has been a steady presence in the lives of our children. As an evening tutor specializing in mathematics, he patiently guided countless students through homework struggles, exam worries, and those moments when numbers simply refused to make sense.
But his contribution went far beyond formulas and equations. He gave confidence to children who doubted themselves. He reminded them that hard work matters. He encouraged them not to give up when lessons seemed difficult. Many students say they learned as much about life from him as they did about math.
Reflecting on his years at Little Hearts, Teacher Vanchy said, “Teaching at this NGO for the past 12 years has been one of the most meaningful and unforgettable experiences of my life. What started as a role to teach math became a journey filled with memories, challenges, and growth together with the children.”
He added that his greatest joy was seeing students slowly gain belief in themselves: “Watching them understand something they once found difficult, seeing them improve step by step, and knowing they never gave up always made me proud.”
That patient, step-by-step approach is something many of our children will always remember. One student described him as kind, patient, and hardworking, saying he always reminded them that education is the key to building a better future. Naomi said, “I really love the way he explains the math problems. It’s clear and understandable.”
Others spoke of how their grades improved thanks to his support, and how even his repeated advice eventually became lessons they came to value deeply.
To mark his final day, we held a simple farewell ceremony with the children and staff. We presented him with a certificate of appreciation, a framed group photo, heartfelt letters from the children, and traditional gifts of fruit and food—a small but sincere Cambodian gesture of gratitude.
We thank him for 12 years of loyalty, patience, and dedication. His impact on the Little Hearts family cannot be measured in numbers. As a former teacher at Little Hearts, he will always be part of the extended family.
We wish him health, happiness, and precious time with his loved ones in the years ahead.
