This article was written in 2010 while I was working for World Vision Cambodia.
Title: There is no more discrimination for
Vontey
Vontey Teng and her family suffered discrimination
from her neighbors and schoolmates because Vontey’s father is HIV positive.
Everyone in the village were scared of HIV and AIDS, they thought it would
transmit through conversation. Vontey felt really depressed and discouraged.
Things started to change for Vontey after World Vision staff held trainings on
HIV and discusses it openly with the community. As the community learned more
about HIV and AIDS, Vontey’s family saw less discrimination. Vontey is happy
now because her family has been accepted by the community.
Vontey is now 17 years old, the 6th daughter of 7 siblings. She shared with sadness, “I miss my father who died from AIDS. Our family’s condition is really bad without my father. My mother sells our properties to buy medicine for my father. All the neighbors were very friendly and helpful to us, yet things changed when they realized my father lived with HIV. My neighbors didn’t talk to us, and they seemed to ignore my family.”
While her mother is sitting close to her, Vontey continued, “I remembered once my mother made food, and I shared some to my neighbors. It’s ashamed that they threw out all the food we shared because they were scared of getting infected with HIV. This really hurt me and I cried. Even at school, my classmates also didn’t talk to me. I was a weak student and I didn’t want to go to school because I don’t have any friends; they all seemed to hate me because my father was HIV positive. Walking from home to school, I walked alone. Other students stayed away from me; they said they are afraid of HIV and AIDS.”
Vontey’s father passed away while she was only 14-year-old; discrimination from neighbors took many years before it went away. Vontey’s mother, Kimhorn Eng, who is fifty years old make money from making Khmer rice noodle. Vontey always help her mother to make Khmer noodle; it’s a main income to support a whole family. Vontey said with her eyes looking at her mother, “I see my mother is trying hard to make Khmer noodle and other cakes, and she looks after all her 7 children while my father was a soldier who only came home sometimes. Before we made so little because others thought they would get HIV and AIDS if they bought our noodle or cakes. I was angry at my neighbors, but I just remained patient and continued to believe that they all will understand someday.”
Vontey’s mother went to take blood test many times and fortunately she does not have HIV. Vontey and her family are visited by World Vision staff, who regularly encourages them. Since 2001, Vontey is a World Vision sponsored child and also a child of Orphan Vulnerable and Children (OVC) Project in 2009. She is a leader of OVC club in the village. She said, “My family has only World Vision staff who never discriminated against us. They always visit and advise me to study hard. Asides from encouraging and visiting my family, I see World Vision staff conducted HIV and AIDS awareness event in the community which called all community people to attend and learn together. I am very happy with this.”
“There are many events and trainings such as HIV and AIDS, Hygiene, Health Care, Child rights, Child protection and Domestic Violence that World Vision doing in my community. My mother and I participated in and learned many things. I see things gradually changing in my community; they seemed to be more open and have changed their behavior. World Vision staff keeps improving our understanding to eliminate discrimination in my community,” said Vontey. Added, “I always train to all children of OVC club and all children in the community about what I have learned from World Vision. I really enjoy to spread my knowledge to others.”
When asked about her future plans, Vontey said with a serious face, “I want to be a good NGO staff to work very close with the community people and educate them to love and help each other, and value HIV and AIDS patients because they are the same as the people in good health.”
Vontey is an outstanding student, and she really likes learning. Vontey’s family living conditions is getting better now because her mother is recognized a skilled person in making Khmer noodle, so everyone comes and buy Khmer noodle from her. Vontey never spent her time away from her mother, she always be with mother and helps any stuffs. Vontey described, “I now have many friends, and I sometimes remind my classmates who discriminated me about HIV and AIDS session and told how I feel; we all well understood now.
“I thank World Vision’s programme that always support and encourage me such providing me clothes, school supplies, food and other materials. World Vision staffs keep visiting and giving good advises to me as my family to be struggle in life. Without this supports, I don’t think I have hope,” smiled Vontey whiles he is sitting on the stairway with her mother.
Vontey’s mother concluded, “I am happy now because no more discrimination and my daughter Vontey is very active helping me to do any chore at home. She is now well known by other children in the village; she teaches English and Khmer literature to other children at home everyday without getting any pay. She shares me always what she has learned from World Vision; I thank World Vision that give us hope.”
Vontey is now 17 years old, the 6th daughter of 7 siblings. She shared with sadness, “I miss my father who died from AIDS. Our family’s condition is really bad without my father. My mother sells our properties to buy medicine for my father. All the neighbors were very friendly and helpful to us, yet things changed when they realized my father lived with HIV. My neighbors didn’t talk to us, and they seemed to ignore my family.”
While her mother is sitting close to her, Vontey continued, “I remembered once my mother made food, and I shared some to my neighbors. It’s ashamed that they threw out all the food we shared because they were scared of getting infected with HIV. This really hurt me and I cried. Even at school, my classmates also didn’t talk to me. I was a weak student and I didn’t want to go to school because I don’t have any friends; they all seemed to hate me because my father was HIV positive. Walking from home to school, I walked alone. Other students stayed away from me; they said they are afraid of HIV and AIDS.”
Vontey’s father passed away while she was only 14-year-old; discrimination from neighbors took many years before it went away. Vontey’s mother, Kimhorn Eng, who is fifty years old make money from making Khmer rice noodle. Vontey always help her mother to make Khmer noodle; it’s a main income to support a whole family. Vontey said with her eyes looking at her mother, “I see my mother is trying hard to make Khmer noodle and other cakes, and she looks after all her 7 children while my father was a soldier who only came home sometimes. Before we made so little because others thought they would get HIV and AIDS if they bought our noodle or cakes. I was angry at my neighbors, but I just remained patient and continued to believe that they all will understand someday.”
Vontey’s mother went to take blood test many times and fortunately she does not have HIV. Vontey and her family are visited by World Vision staff, who regularly encourages them. Since 2001, Vontey is a World Vision sponsored child and also a child of Orphan Vulnerable and Children (OVC) Project in 2009. She is a leader of OVC club in the village. She said, “My family has only World Vision staff who never discriminated against us. They always visit and advise me to study hard. Asides from encouraging and visiting my family, I see World Vision staff conducted HIV and AIDS awareness event in the community which called all community people to attend and learn together. I am very happy with this.”
“There are many events and trainings such as HIV and AIDS, Hygiene, Health Care, Child rights, Child protection and Domestic Violence that World Vision doing in my community. My mother and I participated in and learned many things. I see things gradually changing in my community; they seemed to be more open and have changed their behavior. World Vision staff keeps improving our understanding to eliminate discrimination in my community,” said Vontey. Added, “I always train to all children of OVC club and all children in the community about what I have learned from World Vision. I really enjoy to spread my knowledge to others.”
When asked about her future plans, Vontey said with a serious face, “I want to be a good NGO staff to work very close with the community people and educate them to love and help each other, and value HIV and AIDS patients because they are the same as the people in good health.”
Vontey is an outstanding student, and she really likes learning. Vontey’s family living conditions is getting better now because her mother is recognized a skilled person in making Khmer noodle, so everyone comes and buy Khmer noodle from her. Vontey never spent her time away from her mother, she always be with mother and helps any stuffs. Vontey described, “I now have many friends, and I sometimes remind my classmates who discriminated me about HIV and AIDS session and told how I feel; we all well understood now.
“I thank World Vision’s programme that always support and encourage me such providing me clothes, school supplies, food and other materials. World Vision staffs keep visiting and giving good advises to me as my family to be struggle in life. Without this supports, I don’t think I have hope,” smiled Vontey whiles he is sitting on the stairway with her mother.
Vontey’s mother concluded, “I am happy now because no more discrimination and my daughter Vontey is very active helping me to do any chore at home. She is now well known by other children in the village; she teaches English and Khmer literature to other children at home everyday without getting any pay. She shares me always what she has learned from World Vision; I thank World Vision that give us hope.”
-Ends-
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