Srey Ka’s family is one of the poorest in Rumchek village in Prey Vey province, Cambodia. Srey Ka, 11, and her older brother live with their grandparents in a small, zinc-roofed house covered with palm leaf walls. Her grandparents took her in when she was 6 years old. She is a grade 7 student of Rumchek primary school located 100 metres from her house. Her older brother worked as a construction worker for a living. They earned USD7.5 per day, but they never sent the money to Srey Ka for a living. To fulfill the need, Srey Ka caught crabs, snails in the field to make food and, sometimes, she had to wash clothes for others to get rice and food. Srey Ka was responsible for the entire household chores- doing laundry, cooking, washing dishes and feeding the cows, whereas her 70 years old grandmother played cards every day without looking after her grandfather who is very sick. Her grandmother often hit, shouted or scolded and never asked her how her school was going. 

Srey Ka recalls being shocked when her grandmother shouted at her and that sometimes, she would just run to seek help. When her grandmother returned from playing cards, especially when she lost money, her grandmother would blame and hit her. Her grandmother’s loud screaming made her feel sad to the point where she did not dare to interact with her classmates at school. This behaviour at home basically affected her studies that she could not concentrate on the lessons because she constantly felt anxious, nervous and scared. In addition, her family member did not care much about her learning. She experienced domestic violence in her family which made her feel scared to talk to other people.

In 2017, with funding support from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Save the Children and its local NGO partner,  Women Organization for Modern Economy and Nursing (WOMEN) have worked to support Commune Committees for Women and Children (CCWC) to train and utilise Community Social Workers (CSWs) in Prey Veng Province. The CSWs work to support and respond to the needs of children who experience violence, discrimination, and other problems. CSW received information about Srey Ka’s situation and managed to meet her and her grandmother. When CSW intervened, the CSW listened to their story and tried to provide counselling to the family. Srey Ka freely expressed her feelings and described what she has gone through.  

In order to further curb the grandmothers’ violent behaviours, Pring Yam, a Community Social Worker, worked closely with Srey Ka’s grandmother to provide her with counselling about the impacts of domestic violence has on her granddaughter’s well-being and performance in school. Ms. Yam also raised the bad impacts of playing cards on her family’s well-being. After providing counselling support, Srey Ka’s grandmother now has a better understanding about the importance of raising her granddaughter in positive ways, especially the importance of a safe and encouraging education.

Srey Ka is happy that CSW listened to all of the issues and she now feels relieved and relaxed. Srey Ka’s grandmother does not play cards like before and she does not use violence on Srey Ka anymore. Srey Ka’s life has been improving day by day that she now feels close to her grandmother and has started to care about her study. She reminds Srey Ka to go to study at her friend’s home, and her learning outcome is now improving with better grades.

Srey Ka wants to be a teacher in the future so that she can support her family’s well-being and educate the young generation to involve in developing the community. She would like to see all children in the community to avoid from poverty-stricken, especially to empower children to stand for their right to express the concerns.