![\"cambodia](\"https:\/\/staging-live.lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/cambodia-town.JPG\")
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Chhoub Chhoun (left) and sister Thilda in the UUC’s offices. Photos by Jason Ruiz.<\/em> <\/p>\n For the last 35 years, The United Cambodian Community in Long Beach has helped mitigate immigrants\u2019 struggles with cultural assimilation.<\/p>\n Nineteen-year-old Chhoub Chhoun, and his sister, Thilda, 17, are just two of many volunteers who work out of the modest, upstairs suite on Anaheim Street in the middle of Cambodia Town. Both have volunteered hundreds of hours to the community, doing anything from performing secretarial duties and tutoring peers to working food drives. Tomorrow, the UCC will honor Chhoub and Thilda for their relentless efforts and dedication to helping others at the non-profit’s 35 Anniversary celebration. <\/p>\n Despite the breadth of issues the UCC tackles, it represents something much simpler to Chhoub. \u201cWhen I\u2019m here, it feels safe,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Thilda and Chhoub are children of Cambodian refugees, who like countless others, were forced to flee their country during the Khmer Rouge in the late 1970\u2019s. They\u2019ve never met their extended family, and after their parents separated, the two were forced to become interpreters for their mother who speaks very little English. They know first-hand the obstacles that new immigrants face in this country and the challenges it presents to their children. \u201cShe never came to parent-teacher meetings,\u201d Chhoub said. \u201cIt\u2019s not that she\u2019s a bad parent, she just can\u2019t communicate.\u201d<\/p>\n The assimilation issues didn\u2019t stop at the language barrier. Cultural differences often lead to disagreements between Thilda and her mother that left her living at friends\u2019 houses and eventually landed her in the foster care of a Guatemalan family. Thilda, who now serves as an interpreter at the UCC, was forced to communicate with her foster parents through their English-speaking daughter. She jokes that her experience in the home inspired her to take on French and Spanish as her third and fourth languages.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to learn as many languages as I can so that doesn\u2019t happen again,\u201d Thilda said with a smile on her face.<\/p>\n Over the past five years, Thilda and Chhoub have overcome their personal struggles to take on leadership roles at the UCC. This April, Chhoub served as parade monitor and was charged with making sure that the Cambodian New Year floats didn\u2019t collide with each other, something he took great pride in. Thilda teaches a class at the UCC that helps adults learn about the Constitution and America\u2019s political process before applying for citizenship. Stephen Khou, youth organizer at the UCC says it\u2019s simple to understand why these kids happily devote so much of their free time aiding others.<\/p>\n \u201cThey take pride in what they do because they see themselves being recognized for it,\u201d Khou said. \u201cThere\u2019s a reason why these kids come here even though they don\u2019t need the hours. Because when they help someone, they\u2019re proud of themselves for that.\u201d<\/p>\n Khou is endearingly referred to as \u201cPoou\u201d\u2014Cambodian for uncle-by his kids. As youth coordinator, he knows the work ethic of both the Chhoun siblings. He also knows the struggles they\u2019ve overcome to be successful contributors to the Cambodian community.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been through the same things they have,\u201c Khou said. \u201cEverything they\u2019ve seen, I\u2019ve seen already. Born and raised, Eastside Long Beach, just like them. We\u2019re two peas in the same pod. My pod\u2019s just a little bit older.\u201d<\/p>\n Although the Chhoun siblings are anxious to be recognized at the masquerade-themed celebration tomorrow night, their aspirations for the future don\u2019t stop there. Chhoub is finishing up his general education at Long Beach Community College and hopes to transfer to CSULB. Thilda is eyeing the possibility of a career in law after she graduates from Long Beach Polytechnic High School.<\/p>\n \u201cI think I want to become a lawyer,\u201d Thilda said. \u201cI just like helping people. Even if they don\u2019t need it, I still ask them.\u201d<\/p>\n The UCC 35th Anniversary and Award Ceremony titled \u201cEngaging New Faces in Our Community\u201d will take place at Hak Heang Restaurant (2041 E. Anaheim St.) tomorrow at 6PM The price of admission is $70 with all proceeds going toward funding programs to benefit the Cambodian community in Long Beach.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Nineteen-year-old Chhoub Chhoun, and his sister, Thilda, 17, are just two of many volunteers who work out of United Cambodian Community’s modest, upstairs suite on Anaheim Street in the middle of Cambodia Town. 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