The Yutaka Araki School

On the new building:	“The new building is not only creating favorable conditions for the students to study in, but it is also beautifying the whole school area. In the old building, it was hot on sunny days, and noisy on rainy days.”
On his family:	“I have four daughters and one son. Two of my daughters are at the new school, both in sixth grade. My son is in junior high school, and my other daughters are married. My family has four hectares of rice fields and an old motorbike. Our house is 2km away from the school.”
On teaching:	“I graduated from teaching school in Phnom Penh in 1980. I spent two years at a primary school in Preah Vihear, then two years at a junior high school nearby. In 1984, I was moved to another junior high school until 1995, when I took a four-month sabbatical. After that sabbatical, I was appointed as the director of this school. Since I was a boy, I thought I would like any job, but teachers are the people who provide the young generation with education that makes them a strong and unshakable pillar of the nation.”
On school subjects:	“I like teaching Khmer and mathematics. Khmer language is the key subject; it is necessary for a student to study other subjects. Most of the students like mathematics, but are not strong in Khmer. Right now, during summer vacation, we are holding a summer school for the weaker students to catch up.”
On war:	“In my life, I hate war most. Due to the war, I lost my leg and one of my eyes is injured. During the Lon Nol government from 1970 to 1975, I was a soldier stationed in southern Phnom Penh. My regiment was there to prevent the Khmer Rouge soldiers from infiltrating the city. I remember being injured on June 4th, 1974. There was no fighting at all, but I stepped on a land mine while our regiment was on a mission to enlarge the protective belt around the city.”
Message for Mr. Araki:	“I would like to express my thanks to Mr. Yutaka Araki for building the new school for the children of the village. I pledge to maintain it forever.”