Vichheka Sok

This article was written while I was working for World Vision Cambodia.

Keota, “I dream to be a cosmetician, not brick factory worker”

Keota is a cute and smart girl. She bravely shares her story.

“I am Keota. I am 11 years old. I am the oldest daughter of four siblings. I am studying in Grade 3. I love studying and I want to be a good cosmetician, not in a brick factory worker because I experienced it. It’s not easy and dirty too.

“My father’s name is Klei Pou, 35. And my mother’s name is Chen Sreb; she is 34 years old. Both of my parents work in the brick factory. They work so hard and I pity them so much.

“I love being neat and clean, so if I become a cosmetician, I would look good and pretty. Working in the brickyard, it’s not safe. For me as a small kid, I earned a very small amount.

“I used to work in the brick factory with my parents. It was really hard work. Every time I held the cooked clay bricks and prepared them in row. I got hurt so often because the bricks fell and hit my toe. My toe was swollen, and I couldn’t complain since it was my work to help my parents earn money to buy food.

“It was so heavy to carry raw clay bricks to be cooked in the kiln. I had no time to play and all my friends also worked in the brick factory. We were so busy. It’s tiring working in the brick factory. Whenever I returned home, I fell asleep. That’s why I didn’t read any books or even do homework. I was also a weak student.

“I went to work in the brick factory to help my parents after school because I think my family needed money to buy food to eat. My eyes hurt since the ashes were swirling in the brick factory. And it was also hard to breathe well. 

“I thought that to avoid working in the brick factory, I have to study hard, but I had no energy to focus on studying because I worked so hard, and it was exhausting.

“I remember one day, there were two people who visited children at the brick factory where I worked. They were from Social Mobilization Against Child Labor Project staff of World Vision. They asked many questions to all children about the difficulties and risks working in the brick factory. I was interested in the many questions they asked, especially when they asked about education. I wanted to study so much. I shared with them about my difficulties, and what I wanted.

“World Vision staff came to my community. I was so scared of World Vision staff the first time I met them. But later on, I felt good because they are so nice, and use good words to encourage me to study hard.

“I went to the drop-in centre and studied many things there with World Vision staff. I started to love them more; and I was so cared for and loved by all people at the centre. I learned how to read and write, how to calculate, hygiene, and good food to eat. I received a bicycle, bag, school materials, soap and clothes for schooling.

“I understand lots now about education. I commit to study hard for a better job. I want to help my family to have a better condition. I am the oldest daughter of the family, so I have to be a good model for my younger sisters. I look after all my younger siblings and tell them to be keeping themselves clean. I sometimes teach them how to read and write; and I read storybooks for them too.

 “With many children and World Vision staff, we went to resort area in Siem Reap province, and I liked that resort because it’s fresh air with many trees, and it’s my first time to see the nice view. I loved it so much, I felt so relaxed. I remember it well.

“World Vision staff also shared with my parents about the risks for children who work in the brick factory. They encouraged my parents to push me hard to study, so good things will happen to the family if children are able to get a higher education.

“My parents understand well and they smile when they see me reading a book, and teach my younger siblings to read and spell words. They now do not allow me to go to work in the brick factory. What they tell me to do is to go to school, look after younger siblings at home and do house work.

“I keep sharing with my parents what I have learned with at the centre and all the good words from World Vision staff. World Vision staff still keeps visiting my family and checks how thing are going with my family, especially my studying. I like them.

“I now became an outstanding student in class. I am healthy and I can focus on studying. I am happy to hear my mother say that she will not let me give up school. She supports me, and I will study hard. I will not give up my studying because I want my dream come true. I dream to be a cosmetician.”

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