Proud to Be a Girl: Empowering Girls in Cambodia

Life growing up in Takeo province was simple. My father was a fisherman, and my mother stayed at home. My parents struggled to support us financially, my mother did her best to find small jobs to make ends meet, but my father would waste our money by visiting brothels. I had three siblings.  

My father contracted HIV, which he passed onto my mother, and my youngest brother was born with it. They had no access to medication because we lived so rurally. My mother passed away, shortly followed by my brother. My father's health eventually deteriorated, and he passed away too. 

My elder sister knew the manager of an NGO who was living in nearby, and the NGO took us in.  I was 11 years old when my sister and I were sent to live with foster parents- a foreign couple. They looked after us so well, while we were in their home and I felt good and safe. We lived with them for six years. It was a happy time. 

We went to school and received services from the NGO. Five years after they took me into their care, I had a problem with the manager. He raped me, and it soon came to light that he was raping many other children. Many young girls were sexually assaulted by the manager, as was another boy I knew quite well.  We didn’t tell adults, but word spread. 

One day, MoSVY (Ministry of social affairs, youth and veterans) and the police came to interview me and the others. It was very scary, and they decided to close our NGO.  

We were all referred to other NGO's so that we could continue to get support, but most of us were separated. I had to change schools, everything in my life was topsy-turvy, I had a new foster family and had to make new friends. I felt alone. 

After a transition period, I was referred to Hagar just over a year ago. Before, I was depressed, but Hagar helped me. When I first met my case manager, I was afraid to tell him my story. I was scared of sharing my thoughts in case I would be judged. But as he encouraged me, I opened up. I started having dreams for the future and planning my life. After soft skills training at Hagar, I chose to become a barista at a café.  

At first when I joined Joma Cafe, I found it quite difficult. I wasn't as fast and I didn't know much as other staff, but I am learning and enjoying it. I like working at Joma, but in the long term, I would like to learn more about makeup and become a makeup artist. 

I would like to say thank you to Hagar for providing skills and allowing me to get a job placement. I didn’t know about anything before but I now have a plan and a job. I feel like my dreams are coming true.