Sunday, 9 March 2014



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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