Saturday, 1 February 2014


This article was written in 2008 when I was working for World Vision Cambodia.

Orphaned boy Nan’s courage rises above HIV and AIDS

Nan, 11, is an orphan with HIV and AIDS. His father left him living with his two caring grandmothers when he was around 6-months old. When he was eight, his father passed away without even knowing him.

His grandmothers, Ren, 50, and Roth, 64 year-old raised him and became his refuge. Nan was discriminated in the community and even in school, playing at home most of the time because other children were discouraged to join him. HIV and AIDS seemed to have impaired him intellectually. Despite this, Nan really likes to learn and study. So interested that as a slow learner, he would always request his grandmothers to teach him how to read and write almost every night.

Nan feels really depressed whenever his teacher would sometimes refer to him as “you with HIV and AIDS”. Nobody wanted to be close or even talk to him. “I get upset when my teacher does not acknowledge me, I just keep silent and stay far and alone. I feel really ashamed because teachers always highlight my having afflicted with HIV and AIDS and do not allow me to play with their kids” Nan complains.

Nan says, “When something gets lost in the classroom, everyone accuses me all the time”.

“Villagers and neighbors who know I have HIV and AIDS do not talk to me and do not allow their children to play with me because they afraid they will have HIV and AIDS, too. Others also hated my two grandmothers. My family seemed isolated. I often cry because I miss my father,” sadly adds Nan.

Nan’s school is two kilometers away from home that he walks to school daily. Nan said some of his classmates have bicycles but have never given him a lift. Even while walking, I have to walk as far as I can because I looked so skinny with itchy body and cough.  

World Vision came into his life in 2005, providing for his needs, medical treatment and other forms of support he urgently needs. “I get school materials, pen, bag and clothes frequently from HIV and AIDS project of World Vision. I was provided with mat, soap, mosquito net, blanket and food, especially I got a lovely bicycle from the project; I will ride a bicycle to school instead walking. The staff members give me and my family encouragement and strength,” says Nan.

The World Vision HIV and AIDS project’s staff members always visit and encourage patients like Nan and educate communities about elimination of discrimination on HIV and AIDS patients. The project works actively in promoting and preserving life of HIV and AIDS patients.

Nan is now strong and healthy, the trace of HIV and AIDS almost unrecognizable in his face. The encouragement and support has been valuable for him.  Now people in the village and children in school learned to accept Nan’s condition – thus, helping him do well in his studies and gain a lot of friends.

Nan said he wants to be a doctor in the future to earn money and support his family. “I like mathematics because it seems easier than other subjects. In my free time, I like kite flying and play with other children. My neighbors now talk to me and sometimes call me to watch television at their house because we do not have one”, he adds.

Nan hopes HIV and AIDS would be cured in the future. “Nan is an active grandson, cooks and washes his own clothes. He sometimes cleans house and cuts firewood to be of help. I thank World Vision for supporting him,” concludes Ren, 50, Nan’s grandma.

Note: all names in this article were changed.



-Ends-

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