Proud to Be a Girl: Empowering Girls in Cambodia

Vorleak is resilient, brave, and hardworking. Growing up, her home life wasn't easy, Vorleak can’t remember her father. He left when she was very young, leaving her mother to take care of her and her three sisters alongside of her grandmother.

The women in her house often had to work nights, and when they did, they would leave her alone with her Uncle. When Vorleak was 12, her Uncle took advantage of this and raped her repeatedly. Vorleak was afraid to tell her Mother about the abuse, but she felt she had to tell someone, so Vorleak told her Grandmother. Her Grandmother went to the police, and although she hadn’t meant for it to, word spread throughout their village quickly. Finally, Vorleak found the courage to tell her mother about the abuse, but her Mother resented her for not confiding in her first, and even worse, said she didn’t believe her. She found herself entirely alone.

Vorleak was provided with safe accomodation and was referred to Hagar, where she started her journey to healing. She didn’t want to live. Vorleak considered suicide, but her counsellor encouraged her that things could get better. Her counsellor was right, and slowly but surely, they did.

Through Hagar’s counselling and support, Vorleak was able to continue to heal from the abuse of her past. Hagar's trauma-informed care approach has helped her to heal in a safe and encouraging community. Her counsellor and case manager have walked each step of her whole journey so far alongside of her. She knows now that what happened to her was never her fault, and that her abuser is the guilty one. Vorleak now has the courage to stand up to people who tell her she is to blame, and she tells them that she knows she is not.

For two years now, Vorleak has been working hard at a restaurant. She loves her job. The restaurant managers encourage her in her education, Vorleak is learning English and is really enjoying it. She dreams of one day opening and running her own small restaurant. Now, Vorkleak sees her future, and she is no longer bound by her past.