Poverty reduction program brings hope to Cambodian families

Ouch Yan

Ouch Yan, 46 years old, toils tirelessly to support her family.  Affected by poverty and frequent robberies in the past years, life has become worse.

After the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime, Yan’s husband,  was sent to fight the Khmer Rouge guerillas and never returned. Poverty also swept away opportunities for Yan’s children.  They grew up helping their family to survive by rice-farming and selling labour. Little time was spent in school.

 “My youngest son who is 12 years old went to school in the next village but has stopped now,” said Yan.  “He did not like the school after his teacher hit him.  He could not keep up with the others.” 

  Soy Ra is now a lucky boy. Unlike his other five elder siblings, he has been given a second chance. Plan has built a new school in his village which will help give  children like Ra safe and easy access to school. 

Although education in Cambodia is free, poor families still face difficulties in sending their children to school.  The obstacles include distances to school, and the expense of clothing, study materials and costs for private tuition, which deprived families can not afford.

“I am in debt.  I do not own farm land, or a cow. Life is harder from year to year,” said Yan.

But her hopes for a better life can gradually materialise.  Plan is now working with her community and the newly built, first ever primary school in the village will help to improve access to education for all of the children there.
 
Plan and the community are now looking at initiatives to promote family income, agriculture and healthcare.