Proud to Be a Girl: Empowering Girls in Cambodia

Since our last update, the following miilestones were achieved within the Empower Girls in Cambodia program:

• 85 school-age clients received appropraite formal education opportunities
• 30 young women received job placements or small business support to improve their income during the economic crisis, brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• 23 female clients were represented by a lawyer to support them with bringing their perpetrator to justice

Here is one story of hope.

Kanha's Story

One day when Kanha was on her way home from school, a man approached her and forced her to follow him to a quiet and less populated space. There, he raped her, leaving Kanha both physically hurt and emotionally traumatised. The trauma of this event resulted in Kanha having terrible nightmares and reflecting on the event often. She also faced discrimination from people in her community and her own family who all looked at her differently as a result. It was in this season of her life (at 17 years of age) that Kanha got referred to Hagar Cambodia and she received support services from the team in Battambang.

The Hagar Cambodia team supported Kanha to recover from her trauma. She received case management and counselling services and Hagar also helped and encouraged her continue her studies as well (which her family had wanted her to discontinue). She is now working for another NGO that Hagar partners with as a child educator in her community and teaches others about child protection and development.

Kanha is now healed and thriving and wants to use her skills and experiences to help other children who have little opportunity and challenges in their lives too. She is due to finish her university study at the end of 2021.

She says of her time with Hagar:

“I got a lot of support for my emotion and economy, especially my study till I am able to use my knowledge to support back to my community children in my provinces…I am happy to share back my resource and knowledge to my people and I do hope that one day I will fully become the full support to them.”

Kanha is truly an example of what the long-term love and support of Hagar donors and staff can achieve in a person’s life. Together, we have seen transformation!

Links:

• Survivor Story