Provide women and girls education in Cambodia

Meet Bopha*, a 25-year-old woman who lives in Slorkram Commune, Siem Reap. Bopha lives with her mother who is a widow and her younger sister, who is currently in Grade 12. Bopha is largely blind, which can be very challenging here in Cambodia in terms of the support available and, sadly, the stigma that disabled people may face. She works as a basket weaver to support her family and her sisters education. Bopha recently took part in one of our Financial Literacy courses and has learned ways to track her money through drawing pictures (as she cannot read and write) and has also learned about how to save for the future. She says…

“My job is making basket for sell to support financially to my family and sister education. I am illiterate and blind, but I can see things blurry. It was great to meet Women’s Resource Center, They give me an opportunity to learn to manage how to manage money. I feel very grateful that WRC include me to the group however I am a disable person.

Since then, I am able to write a little bit, tracking income and expenses by drawing pictures instead of writing, make budget and saving. The big success is I am able to manage my money, income growth and I am able to support my sister to complete her high school.

Conclusion, my life is getting brighter and I can see a bigger advantages and opportunity to participate the future session. I am happy that they include me with other people groups in the community and society.”

It is wonderful to see Bopha, her family, and many others thriving.

Thank you for supporting WRC in supporting Cambodian women.

*name changed for confidentiality

Meet with a 35 years old, name SAT. She has 4 children, 2 boys and 2 girls. SAT, moved to live in Siem Reap because of her husband is a tuk tuk driver. Unfortunately she cannot read and write. This is the first time that Sat joined the work shop with Women’s Resource Cen ter. She always feels nervous and no confident in when speaking to others. She said I have never been to school and “I am illiterate”.

Her husband doesn’t allow her to go to work; they don’t even have enough food to eat. She does all the cohesion/dynamics from cleaning, cooking and looking after their children at home. The whole family is realizing on the husband income only. If he doesn’t have customer then back home without money. Her husband was beaten the children. Sometimes she is feel hard and difficult to stop him, she feels very sad when seeing the children crying and paint.

 SAT was referred from her friends to Women's Resource Center seek counselling support. She meet with our Social worker and she got referred to one of the NGO who provide a school support for her children.

Our social worker referred her to attend 7 weeks session on positive parenting workshop. She learned how to build healthy relationships and good communication with their children, child development, children needs, discipline, anger management for parent, protecting the children from any form of abuse, and the importance of child play and affection.

After workshop and a few counselling session she found her own strength that she could work not just stay at home. She said “I f eel a lot better and I will speak to my husband about stop beating our children.”

The knowledge she gained from workshop connects her to the real story of life. And counseling could help her to discover her strength and skills. SAT, decided to speak to her husband and tell him about the negative impact of the children if he use violence on them.

She continues to negotiate with him about the important if she has a job as well. Her husband understood and he changed his behavior toward their Children and allows her to work. She is very happy now her husband. She said

"I have got a job and I am very happy because I can make my own income and I can still take care of my children” Finally, SAT spends time every morning with her part time job at a noodle soup restaurant near her home and stay in a happy healthy family.