This article was written in 2010 while I was working for World Vision Cambodia.
Title: A Better Life for a
Former Soldier
Fifty-eight year-old Rom Pok is an
important income earner for his family. His sixty-two years-old wife has been
paralyzed when she lost her right leg to land mine a few years ago. She went to
the forest
to look for bamboo shoot and tomatoes and had stepped on the land mines that
were left over from the years of war in Cambodia. Pok is a former soldier whose
pride made him think that his ideas were perfect. He shared, “I never listened
to anybody’s ideas. I always wanted my family members to respect me so I used
insulting words often to intimidate them.”
When Pok was still a soldier, he thought he was the most powerful. He never respected others. He sometimes hit his wife and children whenever he was drunk. His family’s living condition was poor, because of domestic violence. He sadly said, “I was extremely sad when I lost my eldest son who died from mine explosion. I almost became crazy after losing my beloved son. One year later, my wife stepped on land mine and became a paralyzed in her right leg.” He added, “I drank more alcohol and I was really depressed at that time. I had no energy to work, and I felt that I wanted to end my life too. Yet one idea came up, I wanted to see my family live in peace and happiness.”
During 1996, Pok got to know World Vision and he worked as a road construction for World Vision in the village. In return for his working, he received food for his family members—it was a food for work project. Later on, Pok was always invited to attend trainings held by World Vision. At first Pok ignored the invitation of World Vision staffs. Once, he participated in the training to raise fishes. He became really interested in this training and was curious to practice in reality. World Vision provides food to Pok’s family, and helped to dig a pond to raise fish. World Vision staff always visited and advised Pok on raising fishes as well as telling him the kinds of vegetables he should plant. Pok smiled, “I attended many trainings and I got lots of knowledge to see a big world. More than this, World Vision staffs advised me often about domestic violence and the uselessness of drinking alcohol. This makes me really ashamed about my previous acts, and I really wanted to be a good model person with a better life in the community.”
Sitting close to his wife, Pok said, “I got angry easily with less considerations, and I know I was a problem maker for the family. I was an alcoholic husband and father; my family members and experienced domestic violence from me.” He smiled sadly, “I thank World Vision for making me change and my family’s living conditions changed too. We now have enough food to eat and I try so hard to earn income for a family. I want my wife and all my children to live a good life, with peace.”
Pok said with a sad face, “I gave up working as a soldier, so I can stay home and work as a farmer with my family to earn income together. And I really pity my wife, who has a weak health because she lost lots of blood when she lost her leg. I need to work hard and I want to see them smile.”
Pok, with hundreds of wrinkles of his face, shared, “My children said it’s unbelievable to see I have changed so much. I know my family members hurt and have been ashamed because of me. Now things changed for us. I won’t return to alcohol and violence anymore. I am committed to work hard, and I am so happy to share with others in the village how to improve livelihood.”
A World Vision staff, Serie Vichea Sok, who works very close to Pok’s family for more than two years, is proud of the big change in Pok and his family. Sok said, “Pok was a person who was stubborn and closed-minded in terms of others’ ideas. He was an alcoholic and used violence in the family. He changed now. He works hard on his farming activities. I see all his family members are very active in improving livelihoods. I am so happy for the changes in this family.”
When Pok was still a soldier, he thought he was the most powerful. He never respected others. He sometimes hit his wife and children whenever he was drunk. His family’s living condition was poor, because of domestic violence. He sadly said, “I was extremely sad when I lost my eldest son who died from mine explosion. I almost became crazy after losing my beloved son. One year later, my wife stepped on land mine and became a paralyzed in her right leg.” He added, “I drank more alcohol and I was really depressed at that time. I had no energy to work, and I felt that I wanted to end my life too. Yet one idea came up, I wanted to see my family live in peace and happiness.”
During 1996, Pok got to know World Vision and he worked as a road construction for World Vision in the village. In return for his working, he received food for his family members—it was a food for work project. Later on, Pok was always invited to attend trainings held by World Vision. At first Pok ignored the invitation of World Vision staffs. Once, he participated in the training to raise fishes. He became really interested in this training and was curious to practice in reality. World Vision provides food to Pok’s family, and helped to dig a pond to raise fish. World Vision staff always visited and advised Pok on raising fishes as well as telling him the kinds of vegetables he should plant. Pok smiled, “I attended many trainings and I got lots of knowledge to see a big world. More than this, World Vision staffs advised me often about domestic violence and the uselessness of drinking alcohol. This makes me really ashamed about my previous acts, and I really wanted to be a good model person with a better life in the community.”
Sitting close to his wife, Pok said, “I got angry easily with less considerations, and I know I was a problem maker for the family. I was an alcoholic husband and father; my family members and experienced domestic violence from me.” He smiled sadly, “I thank World Vision for making me change and my family’s living conditions changed too. We now have enough food to eat and I try so hard to earn income for a family. I want my wife and all my children to live a good life, with peace.”
Pok said with a sad face, “I gave up working as a soldier, so I can stay home and work as a farmer with my family to earn income together. And I really pity my wife, who has a weak health because she lost lots of blood when she lost her leg. I need to work hard and I want to see them smile.”
Pok, with hundreds of wrinkles of his face, shared, “My children said it’s unbelievable to see I have changed so much. I know my family members hurt and have been ashamed because of me. Now things changed for us. I won’t return to alcohol and violence anymore. I am committed to work hard, and I am so happy to share with others in the village how to improve livelihood.”
A World Vision staff, Serie Vichea Sok, who works very close to Pok’s family for more than two years, is proud of the big change in Pok and his family. Sok said, “Pok was a person who was stubborn and closed-minded in terms of others’ ideas. He was an alcoholic and used violence in the family. He changed now. He works hard on his farming activities. I see all his family members are very active in improving livelihoods. I am so happy for the changes in this family.”
-Ends-
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