From Rock Bottom to a Bright Future

Life for Khun Deap had hit rock bottom. Her violent husband was an alcoholic, she and her young daughter found they were HIV positive and the burden of providing for herself and her child, together with the stigma she experienced from her neighbours and her community led her to attempt suicide on several occasions.

Then she heard about Cord’s partners Banteay Srei. Still fearful of discrimination, she went along to her first women’s meeting and slowly, with support from them and her family, she once again felt that life was worth living. She legally divorced her husband in 2006 with support from Banteay Srei, despite being very scared during the court proceedings.

Now 30 and widowed, she and her 8 year old daughter live with her parents and three other members of her family. Ms. Khun Deap works as an agriculture community facilitator for Banteay Srei where she is committed to helping poor women and families to improve their lives and live in peace.

Despite not being in perfect health, she has improved her Khmer reading and writing skills and gained self-confidence. Then she enrolled for numerous training courses, from raising poultry to local administration law, basic human rights, sustainable and integrated agriculture, the saving movement and small business management- sharing what she learned with target communities.

Ms Khun Deap is now able to write small project proposals and build networks at provincial level.

‘The most important thing in my life is the motivation and the values offered by the women’s group at Banteay Srei,’ she said.

‘Because I now understand something of social affairs and laws and regulations I have been able to earn a living from growing and selling agriculture products. As a result, I know that people in my community value me, ‘she added.

Ms Khun Deap is now in constant demand at meetings, sharing her experience in creating a family garden, raising animals and solving family issues.