This is an article was written by me when I worked for World Vision Cambodia:
Chenda, I love my family
Seven-year old Chenda is an only child and she once
lived in a very troubled family. Chenda’s father used to beat her mother and
their home environment was dirty and unsanitary.
“My father was an alcoholic. He would wear only a
scarf with no shirt on,” says Chenda, who is World Vision registered child. “He
hit my mother whenever he was drunk. He shouted to my mother for no reason. He
used to scold me with insulting words. I was so scared of my father; he became
a stranger to us when he was drunk.”
“I didn’t want to go to school and I didn’t want to
see the abuse at home. My father didn’t even help my mother make Cambodian
noodles which she sold at the market to buy food for us.”
“My father was drunk everyday. I’d run to call my neighbor
and my grandmother who live nearby to help whenever my father uses violence on my
mother. My mother protected herself by trying to escape and sometimes she will
fight back.”
“My parents never cared about my studying. I was a
weak student and my health was not good either. Because my father was always
drunk and my mother was busy making Cambodian noodles, so nobody paid attention
to me.”
“I got diarrhea and vomited so often. We didn’t
have a toilet at home nor did the other villagers. I had to go to the bush or
rice field like other villagers do. Especially when I wanted to defecate at
night, I was so scared of snakes and other insects.”
“My father used to scold World Vision staff who visited
our family to invite him to attend different trainings. But my mother liked
World Vision staff and listened to their advice related to hygiene, cleaning
hands, building toilets, and sweeping around the home.”
“My mother and I encouraged my father to stop
drinking alcohol because it was not beneficial for us and it brought shame on
our family. Others would look down on the family if he still enjoyed alcohol
and did nothing to help the family.”
“I love my family so much. My father gradually
changed his attitude. I kept telling my father to stop drinking because I feel
shame and I want him to be healthy.”
“I see my father now has given up alcohol and he
loves my mother and me dearly. A new toilet is built at our house and there is
a toilet at each villager’s house. Everywhere is clean. I like seeing my house
clean and now there is no bad odor.”
Chenda seems shy when asked about her future but
says, “I want to be a good doctor in the future so I can earn lots of money and
look after my parents and my grandmother.”
“I love helping my mother sweep the house and I
make the bed myself daily. I never forget to wash my hands before and after
eating, and after using the toilet. I share with my classmates what I have
learned from World Vision staff.”
“Word Vision staff are so
kind and teach me many things about sanitation, living in good health, and being
a good daughter. I drink boiled water and also bring it to school.”
Looking at her daughter with a beaming smile,
Chenda’s mother says, “My family got to know World Vision around 2010. My
husband at first didn’t like World Vision staff because he thought his life was
his business. He loved his own way. He used to say he never saw people in the
village die because there were no toilets.”
“Now my husband understands how important living in
a good environment benefits the children. I was shocked when my husband gave up
drinking alcohol and began thinking about my daughter’s future. I am happy
because my family now lives in good situation.”
“My daughter studies so
hard now and my husband raises many chicken and cows along with farming. He
cares about Chenda so much.
“I am thankful for World Vision’s presence in this
village. Everything has changed for the better.”
-Ends-
