From struggle to strength
This Halloween – and every night – millions of children face a night of fear. It isn't fun or exciting and it isn't a choice for one night. 31 October is simply another night of facing hardship, loneliness, abuse, hunger or conflict. 17-year-old Srey* was once one of those children. She moved from her small village in Cambodia to the busy capital Phnom Penh to work and help pay for her father’s medical bills. Despite the assurances of her neighbour who had found her a post, Srey found herself working in the sex industry.
“I used to like school, I studied up to Year 4,” Srey begins shyly, “I used to enjoy reading, languages and music, like hip-hop.”
“I would also spend a lot of time with my older sister, we’re really close. We don’t want to be away from each other for long. She looks a lot like my mum and I look a lot like my dad.”
A few years ago Srey’s happy childhood changed when her father became gravely ill and spent two days in a coma. Her mother borrowed from a loan shark to help pay for his medical care. Struggling to make the high interest repayments, Srey’s mother became increasingly stressed trying to work and still take care of her family.
After being approached by a neighbour that promised well-paid work in Phnom Penh, Srey decided to move out of her family home and pursue work in the city to help her family pay off their debt.
Upon accepting a job in a massage parlour from her neighbour, Srey was unaware of what she was getting herself into, “I didn’t really think about it all too much because my mind was wandering around with thoughts of my family. My only purpose was to work and get money so that my Dad could get better.”
“I moved into my neighbour’s city house and lived there for just one evening before I was expected to begin servicing customers. I didn’t know if I’d come to harm in Phnom Penh or if the men I was servicing would hurt me. I didn’t really care. I thought I would only do it for a little while.”
And so, at the age of 17, Srey began working in the sex industry to help pay off the large loan her family had been forced to take out.
“When I met my first client I was scared and I feared what I would have to do. I was a virgin and the price to sell that is high. I didn’t have sex education, so no one told me about anything. I wanted to run away but where could I run to? I told myself to stay calm and that I needed to do it for my family. I was nervous and I felt so much pain. So many things were running through my mind, I imagined people counting cash in front of my eyes. I told my co-worker afterwards that I felt so much shame.”
“When I was living with my parents I felt calm and happy. I felt safe. When I am away from them, I feel cold. No one could come and help me. I felt heavy. I told myself no matter how heavy I felt, I have to do this for my family.”
“One day, I met a woman from World Vision who asked if I’d like to come to a recovery centre. At first I didn’t want to because I didn’t know who to trust. I then realised that the people there really wanted to help me. At the recovery centre they teach in classrooms, there are gardening plantations outside and on the weekend there is dancing.”
“Now I have no doubt why the men and women at the centre are called mothers and fathers. They’re kind and they love us. The centre mother asks me what I will do when I leave and I say, ‘I will use the skills I have been taught at the centre to earn a living and I will not do the same thing again. I won’t break your heart’. She’s happy to hear that from me.”
“I don’t want my old life to trouble my new one. Before, I didn’t have a dream of anything to come, but now that I’m living in the centre I’ve got a dream of what I want to do. I want to see my own family life get better and so far the centre has supported this. I’m so thankful and appreciative of all the work they’ve done for me.”
“Now, I go home to my parents and I smile. I want to show them that I’m okay. I’m happy. I wasn’t really feeling that before. When I do visit my parents, it is such a great moment. I feel so joyful. I can feel the difference.”
Srey is now safe from sexual exploitation, but many children around the world still live in fear of similar experiences. This Halloween, World Vision UK is asking our supporters to carve a heart in their pumpkins and text HEART to 70060 to donate £5** and help us to bring hope to children like Srey. You can find out more about the campaign here.
*Srey’s name has been changed to protect her identity and dignity
**This is a charity donation service for World Vision UK. Texts cost £5 plus your standard network rate message. World Vision will receive 100% of your donation. If you have a question about your payment call 0203 287 7863. If you would prefer we didn't contact you again in future, text NOCOMMS WORLD VISION to 70060. Charity no England and Wales (no 285908).
