Help a young woman escape Cambodia's sex industry

In 2015, our Counseling and Reintegration Program supported 127 survivors, along with their relatives. Exposing the importance of this work, in 2015, 13 child survivors of sexual abuse were enrolled in the program along with 17 child survivors of human trafficking. The Counseling and Reintegration Program cares for and supports many children, below is a story of eight-year-old Lin.

Lin's family suffers from poverty and has been forced to make ends in whatver ways are possible. Lin's parents decided to travel across the Thai-Cabodian border to look for labor work. While her father worked construction, Lin was forced to beg for money on the streets with her other siblings.

One day in August 2015, Lin, her mother and her younger siblings were arrested by Thai police for begging for money in Bangkok. Her mother was sent to prison and charge with child exploitation. Lin was referred to stay at government shelter. Lin did not know where her family was after the arrest. On the 12 August 2015, Lin was repatriated to Cambodia directly to the Poipet Transit Center, a transit and reception center of the Cambodian Ministry of Social Affairs based in Poipet. Lin was referred to stay and receive services from CWCC on 13 August 2015.

At this time, Lin was not happy about living in the shelter because she missed her family and wanted to go back home. Unfortunately, it was impossible to get in touch with her family. Lin expressed to the counselors that she wanted to know how her mom was doing in jail, and if her father was okay. Sadly, they were unable to give her an honest answer. 

When Lin was originally admitted to the Counseling and Reintegration Program she was afraid to join in on the group activities with interact with other survivors in the shelter. The counselors provided counseling to Lin encouraging her to build relationships with the other girls. The counselor also organized group plays and group counseling in the shelter and engaged Lin in those activities. Lin produced souvenirs, painted pictures, played with dolls, and played with other children. Through these activities, Lin finally expressed that she felt happy. She formed positive relationships with others and was brave enough to join in on the group plays and activities in which she was originally afraid to do.  Currently she is healthy both physical and emotionally. She is now attending school at a nearby shelter. She said she will wait for her mother or her father to come pick her up from the shelter and she wishes to see them soon.

So far they the program has not been able to track the whereabouts of her family. The counselor will continue to follow up her progress while the reintegration project will continue seeking for news of her parents. Thank you to all of the donors who have made it possible for children like Lin to receive the support she needs.

Lin*is a name given by the writer. Her real name is hidden to protect her privacy in according to child protection policy of CWCC.