From Surviving to Thriving

Vourn and Sarourm live in rural Cambodia with their three-year-old son. Both have lost a leg to a landmine on separate occasions while in Thailand.

“After losing my leg, my life became very difficult,” says Sarourm. “I did rice farming, and while others could finish a hectare a day, I would struggle to get through 20% of what they could.”

Vourn echoes her husband, saying, “Before the accident, I was able to do so much. Now, I can’t carry heavy things, and I can’t work as hard as I want. It’s difficult for me to go out, and I feel shy because of my disability.”

Daily life was hard. With no local job opportunities, Vourn and Sarourm used to migrate to Thailand to work as construction labourers. But the work was hard, and it was challenging to be separated from family. And so, the pair returned to Cambodia and tried various ways to make a living.

Vourn made rice noodles, Sarourm repaired motorbikes and bicycles, and the pair grew vegetables. But it wasn’t generating good income, and they struggled to make ends meet. Additionally, the family often experienced poor health due to a lack of clean water and poor hygiene.

“I didn’t have enough money to start my own business,” Sarourm says.

When ADRA began working in their community, both Vourn and Sarourm were eager to participate. The BEST Choices project, which is supported by the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP), works with families to help them make safe decisions about labour migration, personal health, non-communicable diseases, hygiene, waste management, and livelihoods.

Sarourm participated in the business skills component of the project and received specialised training in bike repairs as well as materials such as tyres to boost his bike repair efforts and help him establish a bike repair business.

“The most significant change is the improvement in my bike and motorcycle repair skills,” says Sarourm. “If I can repair two or three motorcycles, I can earn 10 times as much as I do from farming.”

Both Vourn and Sarourm participated in the agricultural training to help them get the most out of their vegetable garden.

“When I joined the ADRA program, I was trained on how to grow vegetables and nutritious food for my child,” says Vourn. “I followed their instructions and saw an increase in my vegetable yield. ADRA also provided other materials, such as bike tyres, chickens, garden tools, seeds, a water filter, and a toilet.”

Now, the family is experiencing improved health thanks to the project.

“My family doesn’t get sick as often anymore,” says Vourn. “We drink clean water, maintain good hygiene, and eat the food we grow ourselves.”

After receiving health education through the project, Sarourm also made the decision to stop smoking.

But for both Vourn and Sarourm, the biggest change that the project has brought is the chance to have their own business at home in Cambodia.

“The biggest difference is that I no longer have to leave my country to find work,” says Vourn. “I have a job at home, farming, so I don’t have to travel far away. My expenses have also been reduced because I grow my own vegetables. I don’t have to buy food from the market.”

Sarourm says, “Without ADRA, I would not have had enough money to start my motorcycle repair business. Now, I have been able to grow my business and support my family.”

Thanks to the ADRA project, Vourn is no longer shy about her disability. Now, she feels confident she can fulfil her dreams for the future.

“I don’t need to be rich and wealthy,” says Vourn, “I just want us to have enough food to eat. I also want my child to have a good education.

“My life is much better now because ADRA has been supporting us. My family is also healthier.”

The BEST Choices project in Cambodia is supported by the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).