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The day began not like any other at the Somaly House center. The children woke up earlier than usual—some dashed to the bathrooms to wash up, leaving the older children to sweep the yard while staff busied themselves decorating and setting up, preparing to receive students and teachers from the nearby schools. The grounds were abuzz in anticipation of the day’s events.
To welcome the guests, dancers from the Somaly House center perform a “Wishing Dance.”
Read more: AFESIP Celebrates the 63rd Annual International Children’s Day at Somaly House
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19 year-old Ling Ya, resident of AFESIP’s Somaly House center in Kampong Cham and Grade 12 student, was recently selected as one of two activists to represent Cambodia at the first “UNiTE Global Youth Forum” in Thailand from 21 to 25 May, 2012. UNiTE is the United Nations Secretary-General's Campaign to End Violence Against Women, and the Global Youth Forum brought together young activists aged between 18 and 30 from all over the world to build partnerships and strengthen the movement of young people working to end persistent gender inequality and violence against women and girls. They were invited to exchange relevant knowledge and experience and share the successes and challenges in their work.
Here, Ling Ya shares with us what she learned from this great experience, how she intends to implement this in her own community in Cambodia, and what she thinks is key to ending all violence against women and girls. We couldn’t be more proud of her!
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In the past, photographers and other members of the media have unknowingly violated the right of AFESIP’s residents (many who are victims of human trafficking for sex slavery) to identity and protection, by photographing their faces and not concealing their identities. Similarly, visitors using smart phones, personal cameras, and social media too often run the risk of revealing the identity of victims without their knowledge or consent.
Read more: AFESIP Workshop on Identity Protection, Photography and Use of Images
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Somaly with mother and newborn
In June, Somaly Mam and her staff paid a visit to an entertainment worker in Phnom Penh who had recently given birth to a baby girl. The new mother, along with the other twenty or so women that joined her are well acquainted with Somaly and AFESIP’s social workers. The social workers with AFESIP’s outreach teamregularly visit this particular group of entertainment workers to distribute condoms and other hygiene and sanitary items, as well as raise awareness on HIV/AIDS, STDs, drug abuse, personal hygiene, human rights and self protection.
The new mother had a particularly harrowing tale. Just two days following her delivery, she left the maternity ward alone. She explained that her husband, a known drunkard who squandered his garbage collecting salary on alcohol, was nowhere to be found for the birth of his daughter. As a result, the woman plans to return to her clients in order to provide for her children. Somaly felt compelled to assist the new mother with a personal donation and after chatting with the women, distributed dozens of boxes of food. Somaly’s gesture did not go unappreciated—the immense gratitude of the women was evident with their expressions of thanks and warm, smiling faces.
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When Miss Seng Khim* was sold to a brothel in Phnom Penh, she could never forget the family she was forced to leave behind in Kandal province. Seng, a former AFESIP resident, is now a proud and self-assured young woman with Voices for Change. Sensing that her younger sister Khara* was also vulnerable to the same fate, Seng asked that Khara be brought to Somaly House Center in Kampong Cham Province.
Young girls from impoverished backgrounds are the most in danger of being exploited, as poor families tend to incur debts that compel them to sell their daughters to brothel owners and human traffickers. AFESIP works to help women and girls who are victims of this and other forms of exploitation rehabilitate and rebuild their lives. Similarly, Voices for Change is an initiative that gives former AFESIP residents like Seng an opportunity to educate others about their experiences.
Read more: AFESIP Cambodia helps a survivor’s mother improve her livelihood
