This article was written in 2008 while I was working for World Vision Cambodia.
Title: Sokunthea goes back to
school
Sokunthea Chan, 14, lives with her
three siblings and her parents. Everyone in the family, including her older
brothers Vathana Chan, 18 and Vathanak Chan, 12, and youngest brother
Sotheavann Chan, 8 had experienced abuse from her alcoholic mother, prompting
her to leave her family and stay in
a church.
“Everytime my mother is drunk, she always scolds us and all our neighbors in the village could hear. I felt extremely ashamed,” says Sokunthea.
Sokuntea’s mother, Sivorn Chum, 49, is often drunk every day, and when she is, she curses the children, even her husband. She sometimes throws things out of the house, such as their clothes and personal things. Because of this, the neighbors look down upon them and avoid them. Nobody even wants to talk to Sokunthea.
“It is difficult, but I can understand why my mother resorts to alcohol to forget her problems and heartaches. She is stressed with our family’s poverty and my grandparents have not recognized us. We do not have other close relatives aside from them. I could not attend school because my parents could not afford to send me. I really want to study. I want to see my family live in peace. I do not want to see my mother to become alcoholic. We want her to love us her children Only my father supports us but his income as a cyclo-driver (a three vehicle which forced to move) could only earn 5000 to 6000riels (US$ 1.25 to 1.50) per day,” says Sokunthea.
“Even before I started drinking alcohol, I felt I have never been a good mother. I wanted all my children to attend school but I do not have the money to let them. I once tried to ask help from my father because he is a rich but he refused. I feel so frustrated and upset with my life,” explains Sokunthea’s mother.
Sokuntea always persuaded her siblings to go to the church so they all are able to study both spiritual and literature.
“I decided to ran a way from home to live in the church so I cannot see my mother’s alcoholism and my family’s extreme poverty”, says Sokunthea.
With World Vision Cambodia’s partnership with the church, Sokunthea and her siblings were assisted to return home and study at a public school. This started her family’s journey back to God.
“I always pray for my family’s condition to be better and my alcoholic mother to become a good mother,” says Sokunthea with sadness.
Sokunthea’s mother got curious and secretly observed her children living in the church.“Before, I felt angry and I didn’t believe in Jesus. I get angry with Christians who try to explain to me about the disadvantages of alcoholism. Now, I understand and I always go to church and pray my hope is renewed in this world when I got to know Jesus,” says Sokunthea’s mother.
“I am very happy that I have returned to school. I am now in Grade 5. My mother has changed and become a new person right now. She quit drinking alcohol and has become an adviser of community team. I am so proud of her,” says Sokunthea excitedly.
“World Vision Cambodia also helped to reconstruct my house, and provides me uniform and school materials as well as medical care when needed,” shares Sokunthea.
“In my free time, I like reading English books and help my mother’s work; my favorite subject is English literature. I want to be a good English teacher because I want to teach everyone in the village and be able to improve myself,” says Sokunthea with conviction.
Bubbly and friendly, Sokunthea shared her life with honesty as her brothers listened.
“World Vision Cambodia and the church’s assistance made my family whole again, become better, and admired by neighbors,” said Sokunthea.
“Everytime my mother is drunk, she always scolds us and all our neighbors in the village could hear. I felt extremely ashamed,” says Sokunthea.
Sokuntea’s mother, Sivorn Chum, 49, is often drunk every day, and when she is, she curses the children, even her husband. She sometimes throws things out of the house, such as their clothes and personal things. Because of this, the neighbors look down upon them and avoid them. Nobody even wants to talk to Sokunthea.
“It is difficult, but I can understand why my mother resorts to alcohol to forget her problems and heartaches. She is stressed with our family’s poverty and my grandparents have not recognized us. We do not have other close relatives aside from them. I could not attend school because my parents could not afford to send me. I really want to study. I want to see my family live in peace. I do not want to see my mother to become alcoholic. We want her to love us her children Only my father supports us but his income as a cyclo-driver (a three vehicle which forced to move) could only earn 5000 to 6000riels (US$ 1.25 to 1.50) per day,” says Sokunthea.
“Even before I started drinking alcohol, I felt I have never been a good mother. I wanted all my children to attend school but I do not have the money to let them. I once tried to ask help from my father because he is a rich but he refused. I feel so frustrated and upset with my life,” explains Sokunthea’s mother.
Sokuntea always persuaded her siblings to go to the church so they all are able to study both spiritual and literature.
“I decided to ran a way from home to live in the church so I cannot see my mother’s alcoholism and my family’s extreme poverty”, says Sokunthea.
With World Vision Cambodia’s partnership with the church, Sokunthea and her siblings were assisted to return home and study at a public school. This started her family’s journey back to God.
“I always pray for my family’s condition to be better and my alcoholic mother to become a good mother,” says Sokunthea with sadness.
Sokunthea’s mother got curious and secretly observed her children living in the church.“Before, I felt angry and I didn’t believe in Jesus. I get angry with Christians who try to explain to me about the disadvantages of alcoholism. Now, I understand and I always go to church and pray my hope is renewed in this world when I got to know Jesus,” says Sokunthea’s mother.
“I am very happy that I have returned to school. I am now in Grade 5. My mother has changed and become a new person right now. She quit drinking alcohol and has become an adviser of community team. I am so proud of her,” says Sokunthea excitedly.
“World Vision Cambodia also helped to reconstruct my house, and provides me uniform and school materials as well as medical care when needed,” shares Sokunthea.
“In my free time, I like reading English books and help my mother’s work; my favorite subject is English literature. I want to be a good English teacher because I want to teach everyone in the village and be able to improve myself,” says Sokunthea with conviction.
Bubbly and friendly, Sokunthea shared her life with honesty as her brothers listened.
“World Vision Cambodia and the church’s assistance made my family whole again, become better, and admired by neighbors,” said Sokunthea.
-Ends-
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