The Brick Worker Turned Hairdresser
Written by Vichheka Sok
So Sok Heng experienced life working in the
brick factory, and worked cutting off fish heads and cleaning houses as a
housemaid in order to repay her mother’s debt. She was supported by Social
Mobilization Against Child Labour Project to learn how to be a hairdresser.
Now, she opened a hairdressing shop that will help her support all her younger
siblings to go to school.
“My name is So Sok Heng. I am 22
years old. I am the second daughter of six siblings. My mother’s name is Om
Srey, 45 years old. She is a vegetable seller. My father died in a car crash when
I was a young kid, and I can’t remember his face. My mother had another husband
and he is an irresponsible guy who I never wish to meet. I have so pity for my
mother and the whole family. My stepfather left home and lives with another
lover.
“When I was 13 years old, I
decided to stop studying in Grade 7 to work in the brick factory to earn a little
money for the family. I carried raw bricks into the kiln, prepared bricks, and
grinded soil. I earned only 2,500 riels [0.63 US dollars] per day.
“The amount that I daily earned,
it’s really a small amount. Then I decided to go to Poipet which is located
close to the border of Cambodia and Thailand to work as fish-head cutter. I
earned 200 bahts [5 US dollars] per day. I sent money every month to my mother.
I was working under the sunshine. It’s a big place, and everyone had to work
under the sunshine as the fish dried. It’s hard work, but I must work because I
was thinking of my family.
“I was introduced by another
fish-head cutting worker to work as a housekeeper because there was no need to
work under the hot sunshine. I then moved to work as a housekeeper and I earned
60,000 riels [15 US dollars] a month. I was safe and the house owners were kind
to me. However, I was never allowed to join them for lunch or dinner. I felt
they discriminated me as a housemaid, but I understood where I am from. All
money I had earned, I helped my mother to repay the debt. She was in debt due
to living conditions and my younger siblings were not really well with their
health.
“When I was 17 years old, I
returned to work in the brick factory, so I could stay with my family and take
care of my younger siblings. And there was no more debt, that’s why I could
return to stay with my family and just work to earn a small amount to buy daily
food.
“Once, there was World Vision
staff who visited all children at the brick factory, and he explained the
purpose of his visit. He’s from Combatting the Worst Forms of Child Labor
project (former name of Social Mobilization Against Child Labor Project) of
World Vision. The staff named Sambo asked about my dream; what I wanted to do.
“I replied
to him that I wanted to be a hairdresser because it’s much easier than working
in the brick factory. And I can also be always looking nice and clean as a
hairdresser. I dreamed of being able to earn more for my family and to support
my younger siblings to go to school for a better future.
“I studied at the drop-in centre for three
months. I studied how to read and write with them. All World Vision staff are
really nice and helpful. They keep encouraging me and other children in the
centre.
“I was so happy when World Vision
supported me to go to study as a hairdresser for six months. I received warmth,
love, care, and more knowledge from World Vision staff. They have given me a new
environment and life. I shared with them about my family’s living condition.
“All my family members lived in
the very old and small cottage. It’s so hard for us in the rainy season because
there were many holes in the roof of the cottage. We couldn’t sleep whenever
it’s rain. World Vision staff visited my family with rice, plates, a barrel,
mat, blanket, mosquito net and pot. These [things] were really helpful for my
family. I was so excited.
“World Vision supported me
financially to open a hairdresser shop at where I selected myself. The shop was
renting for 30 US dollars a month. The shop was just three metres by 2.5 metres.
“I was so worried about the
opening of the new shop since there were not any customers. I didn’t earn anything
for the first few months. So I went to work in the brick factory to save to pay
for the rent of the shop. Sometimes, I cried silently because I thought there
was no way that I could earn more through the hairdressing shop.
“I wanted to quit the hairdressing
shop. However, World Vision staff encouraged me emotionally and pushed me to
struggle hard in life. I have them who always care for me.
“I told my story to the owner of
the shop. She understood my conditions, and she agreed to rent the shop to me for
only 15 US dollars a month.
“I now have earned more and I can
support my younger siblings to go to school. I keep sharing my life’s struggle
to every customer who comes to my hairdressing shop. I share with them about
the value of education and the skills that I have gotten is from the support of
World Vision together with my own passion to make good things happened in my life.
I share with others about life working in the brick factory, about the dangers
they face and that it’s not safe for children. And I would love to help those
children and the poor.
“I teach other girls from the poor
families and girls who work in the brick factory to do hairdressing for free of
charge because I understand how hard life working in the brick factory is. I
could earn 60 US dollars from each person who wants to study hairdressing.
“I always manage my time to join
the forum and meetings conducted by Social Mobilization Against Child Labor
Project and share my story with other girls and children who are living in hard
conditions, especially encouraging all girls who are now studying life skills
which is supported by World Vision to never give up.
“I see my younger siblings try to
study hard and they love one another. And my customers also seem to keep
talking about education to children. They admire me lots. I am happy. There are
also people (mostly girls) who just come and ask me about my story at my
hairdressing shop. I am open to share my story because I hope it would be a
lesson for others.
“Now, I have a dream to operating
a big hairdressing shop and would love to help those who want to learn from me.
I wish I could help save the girls and children in the brick factory and those
who live in the poor family.
“Thanks so much World Vision; with
no World Vision, there is no me today.
-Ends-
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