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Meet the children In order to better understand who the children of Krousar Thmey are, discover some of their stories... |
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Wanna's story
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From a refugee camp to a massage practice... "I was the first blind child taken in by Krousar Thmey. I was abandoned at a hospital in the Site II refugee camp in 1991 at the age of 10, and was then welcomed by Krousar Thmey. Returning to Cambodia in 1993, I had a big disappointment: blind children did not have access to education. Krousar Thmey then opened some specialized schools. You could say I
was the origin of the first school for blind children in Cambodia!! My favorite subject? Music! In 2001, Krousar Thmey offered me training in traditional massage. Today I work in a practice with 14 other blind people in Siem Reap and we now live independently. I love this new life !" |
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Sothy and Sothea's story
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« We are twin sisters. I'm Sothy and this is Sothea. We're 16 and we're in grade 6 at the school for the deaf in Chabr Ampov, Phnom Penh. We are both deaf. Our mother told us she had measles during her pregnancy. She doesn't know if it was the medication or the illness itself, but we were born deaf. For 9 long years, we stayed shut away at home, unable to communicate with our parents, our older brother and sister, and even between ourselves. Of course, we could understand each other better than others, but it was more instinctive. We didn't have any friends and our family didn't pay much attention to us. My sister was so sad, she didn't even want to help with the chores. One day while watching TV, our parents saw an item on Krousar Thmey's education programme. At that time, Krousar Thmey had just opened a class for deaf children in the school for blind children in Chabr Ampov. That was in 1996. After 9 years of doing almost nothing, suddenly we could learn to communicate and read! Our life has completely changed but we don't regret our old life. We're lucky because our parents have been very enthusiastic about the idea of sending us to school and as my father is a bus driver, they had enough money for transport to school. Now our parents are even learning sign language! At school we're learning many things; we have friends and many activities. Our favorite is dancing, which we've been learning since 1997. When we dance in public, we're proud to show others what we can do. Dancing helps us feel strong and gives us confidence. I'm also part of a discussion group on sign language. There are two groups: the first made up of students from our school and another made up of people from DAC (Development Action Council) and DDP (Deaf Development Program). Our mission is to create a Khmer sign language. I'm happy to do my bit and contribute to the blossoming of the deaf community in Cambodia. Every day at 10 o'clock we meet and discuss new signs. This has been going on since April 2003. Thanks to Krousar Thmey, our parents have gotten to know us better and we've been able to blossom and become part of society. The next step for us is learning a career! We'd like to be teachers! » |
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Sam Buntheoun's story
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From abandoned child to family man… "I was taken in by Krousar Thmey at the age of 11 in the Site II refugee camp. In 1992, I was repatriated and went to a Krousar Thmey protection center in Siem Reap. I studied there then trained as a motorbike mechanic. I've been working since 1997. I met my wife, Bith Chan, at the protection center: she was orphaned and was entrusted to Krousar Thmey's care in 1993. She now works in a big hotel in Siem Reap. We got married in December 2001 and live just next to the center! We had a baby, Buntheoun Teem Panya, in October 2002. Thanks to Krousar Thmey, we can now take care of our family by ourselves, and lead a happy life!" |
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Lim Loeun's story
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Lim Loeun arrived at the Poïpet street children center in August 2002 He was 5. His story ? A trafficker took him away to Thailand and forced him to beg in the streets. Arrested by the police, he was handed over to the International Office of Migration (IOM) which repatriated him to the border, as begging is prohibited in Thailand. Returning to Cambodia, he was taken in by the grandmother of two boys he was repatriated with. She received money from the IOM to meet their needs. But it seems the IOM suddenly stopped the financial support, because the grandmother sent the 3 children into the streets of Poïpet. Educators from Poïpet found Loeun wandering near the border and took him to the street children center. For 9 months, he took time to stabilize himself in the bosom of a 'new family' while the educators searched for his parents. Discovering he was orphaned, Loeun was settled in the Sisophon protection center in May 2003. He's now leading a healthy life, surrounded by about 40 other children and a team of educators. His trauma is sometimes still apparent in his behavior. He has a tendency to provoke and be a bit insolent, but the woman in charge of young children at the Sisophon centre is there to give him emotional support and help him adapt to communal living. Next year, he'll begin school, which will make his life even more stable. |
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Noy's story
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Noy was just 5 years old when she crossed the Thai border for the first time, heading for Bangkok... Too deprived to take care of her, her parents sold Noy to a child trafficker who smiled deceitfully and gave false promises. Once abandoned by her family, she lived in the hell of the Thai capital's streets for three long years. But for the trafficker, what could be profitable than a child dresses in rags and black from grime imploring Bangkok tourists for money in a distressed voice? Beaten and manhandled by the trafficker, Noy had to bring her more and more money, up to about $12 a day. Day after day, sleeping under bridges, stealing to feed herself, avoiding child prostitution networks, she faced a hostile street environment. It was no longer a matter of living but simply of surviving. On February 10th, 1999, Noy, was arrested by the Thai authorities for begging, which is considered a crime there. She was imprisoned for several days in one of Bangkok's jails before being repatriated to Cambodia with about 15 other children. It's estimated that between 100 and 300 beggar-children are deported each month from Thailand, where they were begging on behalf of adults. Back in Poïpet, Noy stayed about two weeks in one of Krousar Thmey's
reception centers. Inquiries by our staff revealed that the conditions
for Noy's reintegration into her family were too hazardous, as the child
could easily come under the trafficker's yoke again. Indeed this woman,
named Seng Saroeun, did not think twice before entering Krousar Thmey's
property accompanied by a well-muscled escort, asking for Noy and two
other repatriated children. She intended to get "her children"
back, pretending she was their natural mother. Krousar Thmey's team
alerted the local police and Seng Saroeun was arrested. In September
1999, under pressure from a poster campaign launched by Krousar Thmey
against child trafficking and prostitution, she was tried and sentenced
to 15 years in jail. Rescued from this criminal's clutches, Noy began learning to live as
a real little girl. She joined a foster family in Kpop Veng and
began going to school every day. After a few months refusing to talk
and play, retreating into silence and the past, she eventually opened
up to enjoy a child's life in the warm environment of home, family and
school. Let's mobilize and continue helping these courageous children get back their dignity. |
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Thai Riya
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My name is Thai Riya. I'm 17 and I'm currently in the 9th grade. "The school where I've been for 4 years offers all students an artistic apprenticeship at Krousar Thmey's School of Khmer Arts & Culture. I've chosen traditional dance because I think it's a beautiful art. I like it so much that 3 years ago, I asked my parents for permission to be part of the school's permanent troupe. Being a troupe member involves a lot more rehearsal and travelling every second Sunday to remote villages to dance as part of Krousar Thmey's prevention campaign against child trafficking and prostitution. At first, my parents weren't really keen because they wanted me to help in their hair salon, but I insisted and stressed the fact that Krousar Thmey was offering us free educational materials and English classes ! Seeing my determination, they finally agreed ! My brother was also part of the troupe. He's now studying art in Phnom Penh, with one of the most famous painters in Cambodia. My sister, Thai Lina, also dances with me. I have another brother and another sister, but they're not permanent members of the troupe ! Every second Sunday, we travel to perform our show in a small village. I like dancing for the villagers because I try to help them appreciate their culture and traditions. Our theater piece helps them understand what's good and bad : the guilty are arrested and children find their mothers again in the end. Later on, I'd like to be a journalist, but I still have to make progress in English!" |
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