Celebrating the Legacy of Kham Khon Malis

June 20, 2022: Harpswell is saddened to share the news of the passing of beloved TT house mother Kham Khon Malis on June 5. Om Malis, as she was affectionately known by staff and students, came to Harpswell in 2010 after a long career in government service. 

Kham Khon Malis began her career as a secretary for the Ministry of Commerce in Phnom Penh during the 1960s. She then spent more than 20 years as a math teacher at Srey Santhor Secondary School in Kampong Cham, gaining a love for education in the process. She later worked for the Department of Education. She retired from government service in 2007, and came to work for Harpswell in 2010 as the TT dorm House Mother.

TT Dorm manager, Suon Raksmey ‘10, has these words to share about Om Malis’s time at Harpswell:

Om Malis was called “Big Aunty” by all Harpswell students, and she was truly seen as a mother. Om Malis stayed with so many daughters over the years, day and night, so that the big house had a mother’s presence whenever we needed anything. Om Malis was a mother herself, raising her son as a single mother after the Khmer Rouge genocide of the late 1970’s. Om Malis lost her son in the late 1990’s and truly adopted Harpswell’s students as her own. 

When Om Malis first came to our dorm in 2010, she immediately told us that Harpswell is her second family, and she treated us all like one. Whenever she returned from visits to her home province, she would walk to each room and hand fruits and snacks to every student, one by one. Although she was the oldest person in the dorm, she would never fail to visit a sick student and offer any support possible. 

One thing Om Malis is particularly remembered for is her healthy diet. She enjoyed eating local grown food including zucchini and fish. Whenever we wanted to prepare some food for her, she always requested fried zucchini, as it was her favorite. 

Her love, generosity, and care for all of us was extraordinary. We love her and she will always be remembered. 

Country Director Moul Samneang also shared her reflections on Om Malis’s service to the Harpswell community:

Having a House Mother who stayed 24 hours a day with a community of all the young girls was a blessing. The dorm was filled with affection and warmth because of her presence. She had a heart that cared completely, a smile that brought so much happiness, and love that brought so much joy to our community. 

Finally, Harpswell Founder and Board Chair Alan Lightman shared about Om Malis’s impact:

Om Malis arrived at the TT dorm (in Teuk Thla) in 2010, at the moment it first opened its doors. She lived at the dorm and became “mother” to our students, a constant loving presence, taking care of them when they were sick in the middle of the night,  comforting them when they were homesick, giving them advice about life. She made a lasting impression on twelve generations of young women. We will miss her greatly.

A large group of staff, students and alumnae attended Om Malis’s funeral in her home town on June 5. Staff members presented the family with a token of Harpswell’s deep appreciation for the years of care and love Om Malis contributed to the Harpswell community. She will be deeply missed.