This article was written in 2009 while I was working for World Vision Cambodia.
Title: Khim Understands the
Value of Education
Fifty-six year-old Khim Ben is a mother
of seven who misunderstood the value of education for years. Her husband Heng
Khi, a 55 year-old farmer and motor taxi driver also had the same beliefs with his
wife. But now things have changed after they got involved with World Vision.
“All of my children just know how to read and write very little. We work together in the farm to earn income to support the family’s needs,” shares Khim.
“I stopped my youngest daughter Pov Heng from going to school due to my sickness and our living conditions. We needed her to help earn income for our food to eat,” Khim says. She adds, “I told her that even if she study hard and get higher education, she will end up working in the farm and do housework because we are poor.”
Khim was also a battered wife. Her husband was an alcoholic. “My husband always goes home with his drunken wrath and all of us always suffered in fear and silence. I am really ashamed with the neighbors but there was nothing I can do,” recalls Khim. She further says, “ there were times I also became violent to my children if I am upset with my husband. Often, I scold them loudly for no reason.”
In 2008, Khim became a saving group member that World Vision helped organize because she thought it will benefit her family with the available financial support. “I thought only of one purpose and ended up getting a lot. The trainings were one of them,” she shares. “It is a golden opportunity for me to learn new skills and get to know a lot of people in the community. By joining trainings and events on domestic violence, human rights, child right, International Women Day, and many more, I learned a lot,” says Khim with a smile. Since then, things have changed for the better for her family.
“I now have a good relationship with my neighbors and we really help each other. The saving group helped us a lot such as when one of my sons got seriously sick and we needed the money for surgery. I borrowed 1,000 Thai Bath (30 USD) and my son was treated on time,” Khim recalls. She said she is grateful for the encouragement of the group as well as the financial support. She adds, “I am thankful to World Vision for providing the trainings to educate mothers like me and made me see the value of education.”
With her newfound knowledge, Khim now encourages her children to study hard and advises her married children to support their own children’s education. With sadness, she said she feels guilty that she stopped her youngest daughter from school in 2007 and is now trying to compensate for that mistake.
Khim is presently the saving group leader who schedules group meetings and activities well. She shares, “I am more patient now and was able to convince my husband to stop drinking. Our family is at peace now.”
Khim’s family sets a good example to people in the community by working hard to improve their condition. Khim says with confidence, “I hope to see my children live happily and my grandchildren get higher education for a bright future not just for our family but also for the country.”
“Other saving group members look up highly at Khim. She is a good saving group leader, always ready for good words to encourage all saving members. She always has a good plan to present during meeting,” affirms ADP staff Rattanak Huot, 35.
“All of my children just know how to read and write very little. We work together in the farm to earn income to support the family’s needs,” shares Khim.
“I stopped my youngest daughter Pov Heng from going to school due to my sickness and our living conditions. We needed her to help earn income for our food to eat,” Khim says. She adds, “I told her that even if she study hard and get higher education, she will end up working in the farm and do housework because we are poor.”
Khim was also a battered wife. Her husband was an alcoholic. “My husband always goes home with his drunken wrath and all of us always suffered in fear and silence. I am really ashamed with the neighbors but there was nothing I can do,” recalls Khim. She further says, “ there were times I also became violent to my children if I am upset with my husband. Often, I scold them loudly for no reason.”
In 2008, Khim became a saving group member that World Vision helped organize because she thought it will benefit her family with the available financial support. “I thought only of one purpose and ended up getting a lot. The trainings were one of them,” she shares. “It is a golden opportunity for me to learn new skills and get to know a lot of people in the community. By joining trainings and events on domestic violence, human rights, child right, International Women Day, and many more, I learned a lot,” says Khim with a smile. Since then, things have changed for the better for her family.
“I now have a good relationship with my neighbors and we really help each other. The saving group helped us a lot such as when one of my sons got seriously sick and we needed the money for surgery. I borrowed 1,000 Thai Bath (30 USD) and my son was treated on time,” Khim recalls. She said she is grateful for the encouragement of the group as well as the financial support. She adds, “I am thankful to World Vision for providing the trainings to educate mothers like me and made me see the value of education.”
With her newfound knowledge, Khim now encourages her children to study hard and advises her married children to support their own children’s education. With sadness, she said she feels guilty that she stopped her youngest daughter from school in 2007 and is now trying to compensate for that mistake.
Khim is presently the saving group leader who schedules group meetings and activities well. She shares, “I am more patient now and was able to convince my husband to stop drinking. Our family is at peace now.”
Khim’s family sets a good example to people in the community by working hard to improve their condition. Khim says with confidence, “I hope to see my children live happily and my grandchildren get higher education for a bright future not just for our family but also for the country.”
“Other saving group members look up highly at Khim. She is a good saving group leader, always ready for good words to encourage all saving members. She always has a good plan to present during meeting,” affirms ADP staff Rattanak Huot, 35.
-Ends-
No comments:
Post a Comment