Somaly is from Pursat Province. She is 16 and has 4 sisters and 5 brothers. Several years ago, her mother’s health deteriorated and the family needed to seek treatment in Phnom Penh. In desperate need of money for treatment, her father was forced to sell the family’s home. After treatment, with nowhere else to live and no skills to survive in the city, they rented a home near the Phnom Penh garbage dump and picked through the garbage to support themselves and their 10 children.
Somaly met with Phymean in 2003 and really wanted to attend school while continuing to help her parents. When she met Phymean, Somaly only had limited schooling and was unable to read or write. PIO was able to support the family with 100kgs of rice monthly and offered the children to study free of charge at PIO. 6 of Somaly’s siblings now study at PIO. These include Nita and Pov, grade 1, Sreykong, grade 2, Seda, grade 3, who also trains in Apsara Dancing at PIO. Her brother, Rambo, 17, is studying computers in addition to grade 5-6 classes.
Unfortunately, Somaly’s mother died in April 2007. Her father was left to take care of his 10 children alone by scavenging garbage, earning on average USD2.00 a day. Without PIO’s support these children face an uncertain future and can fall prey to human trafficking. PIO is committed to support people like Somaly and her family who understand the value of education and need support to lift themselves out of poverty. Through PIO efforts, a donor was found who sponsored Somaly and 2 of her sisters.
Today, Somaly attends grade 4 and is studying at the PIO beauty school part-time. She also studies Khmer literacy, Math, Social Study, English Language. Somaly is a hard studying student and can now read and write in Khmer, speak some English as well as calculate numbers and solve problems in math. Since studying, she has also taken a keen interest in drawing. Her pictures are bright and lively and PIO is able to supports her interest by providing sketch paper, paints and pencils which are donated by various supporters.
In the future, Somaly wants to be a painter and a beauty salon shop owner.
PIO relies on your help to assist this family. Please consider making a donation or sponsoring a child today.
Working for 3 months at the Stung Mean Chey school during the summer of 2008 completely changed my life. The children in my classroom and practically every person I encountered in Cambodia, inspired and empowered me. There I was trying to make a difference in their lives, and I too was positively impacted. From the moment I stepped into my classroom, I felt the complete embrace of the students and the staff at PIO. Cambodia and PIO are forever in my heart.