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| MI NEA, MRS. RIN LEN'S YOUNGEST DAUGHTER. |
Mrs. Rin Len lives in Trapeang Ruessei, a community relatively new to partnership with Food for the Hungry (FH) in the Svay Leu region. She is a 40-year old widow with four children: three sons and a daughter. Samnang Sopheaktra, her son, is 17 years old and the eldest. Three of her children attend school in the nearby community at the Teuk Lich Primary School. Samnang Tola, her second son, is 15 years old and studying in grade 4. Samnang Makara, her third son, is 13 years old and in grade 3. Samnang Minea, the youngest child and only daughter, is 7 years old and a grade 1 pupil. Makara and Minea are sponsored children in FH’s program.
Mrs. Rin Len is also a proud member of a Savings and Loans Group, and has gotten further involved as her area’s local volunteer Health Promoter.
Yi Sam Ang, a local FH staff member, knows Mrs. Rin Len. “I’ve seen with my own eyes Mrs. Rin Len’s high commitment to participating and cooperating with FH to develop community.”
Yi Sam Ang sat down with Mrs. Rin Len to ask her a few questions:
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| MI NEA, MRS. RIN LEN'S YOUNGEST, DOES CRAFTS WITH HER FRIENDS AT THEIR CHILDREN'S CLUB. |
Yi Sam Ang (YSA): What was your life like before being involved with FH?
Mrs. Rin Len (RL): “Before FH came to work in our community, my family’s living condition was difficult. We lacked food to eat during six or seven months out of the year because we have a very small rice field where we plant the rice. It’s only 1 hectare. I had to earn more income to support my family.
So I did work as a wage earner by clearing the forest, harvesting cassava and rice, and planting rice on other people’s land. My children were sick very often with fevers, malaria, and colds. When they were sick, I brought them to Svay Leu’s health centre. We drank unclean or unboiled water. We didn’t use mosquito nets when we slept. I didn’t have good relationships with my neighbours because I went outside the community to earn money, so I didn’t have time to talk with them.”
YSA: How are you involved with the project?
RL: When FH came to our community, my Village Chief invited me to join a meeting facilitated by FH staff. I was encouraged by other community members to be a health volunteer, and my two children were selected to be sponsored children.
I’m happy that I’m able to cooperate with FH. I got encouragement from teacher Chan Naren (FH staff). I attended training on health and Savings Groups. I borrowed some money from my Savings Group to run a small business (pig raising) for more income. Nowadays my livelihood is better. I have stopped working as a wage earner because now I have my own business.
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| A DISCUSSION BEING LED AND RESPONDED TO ON HOW CHILDREN CAN BE MORE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY'S DEVELOPMENT. |
YSA: How has your life changed since being involved with the project?
RL: Since I have been walking with FH, my family has changed. Now we drink clean, boiled water. We sleep under mosquito nets to prevent bites, so my children are no longer suffering from diseases. I have my own business. All of my children have access to education. I’m encouraged by my relatives and neighbours, and I have a good relationship with them.
YSA: What else would you like to see changed in your community? Or, what do you want for your (and your children’s) future?
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| MI NEA ASKED TO HAVE A RECYCLING BIN BUILT FOR THEIR FAMILY AFTER LEARNING FROM THE CHILDREN'S CLUB. |
YSA: How do these changes and the project make you feel and why?
RL: I’m so glad to be a health volunteer and get involved with FH’s activities. I would like to say thank you to the FH staff for working hard in the Trapang Ruessei community to help my fellow communities, as well as my family.”
WALK WITH FAMILIES IN CAMBODIA
