Kanya*

AGE

21 yrs

AMBITIONS

Tailor

WELCOMED TO SHE

2018

Reintegrated

2024

Occupation

Sewing

THINGS SHE LIKES TO DO

Jump Rope

FAVORITE FOOD

Pork & Sour Soup

ABOUT Kanya*

Kanya* came to the SHE Rescue Home 6 years ago when she was just 15. Kanya* told her family about the abuse and they called the authorities. Horrifically, her perpetrator was protected by his position in the community and after 2 years of waiting for a court date and 4 years of fighting for justice in the Cambodian Courts her lawyers have run out of options to prosecute as they have appealed to the highest level of the legal system to intervene as the case seems to involve corruption. She hasn't had a chance to testify in court as the trial keeps being postpones, rescheduled, cancelled. We usually wouldn't reintegrate a girl with an open court case but her family has moved from the province the perpetrator is living in to the new house we built for them and the justice at trial seems unlikely and Kanya* is ready to move forward with her life.

When Kanya* came to the SHE Rescue Home she had very poor literacy and numeracy skills and didn't want to go back to primary school and be in class with much younger children than her. Over the past 6 years she has studied in sewing vocational programs that included literacy and numeracy lessons. She has stayed consistent in the programs and developed her skills through the pandemic closures and health conditions that took months to heal. She has finished her training and secured a full time job at an ethical and safe sewing factory.

A few months ago Kanya* moved into our Transition Home - a semi independent living arrangement where she still had support from a house mother but have the freedoms to go out with friends, cook her own meals etc. She really enjoyed her work and living in the city. Her family home is near Phnom Penh and she went home many weekends. She has decided that she would like to return to her family home permanently. She is planning to stay in her job, just with a longer commute.

Her social worker has been working closely with her family since a incident last year when her father became violet against her mother. The family were going through a stressful time and we have provided extra support and helped them create a safe place and healthy outlets for the stress and frustration felt in the whole family. They are in a much better place now and have taken time to improve their communication. Her mother works on the local family rice family and her father is working in construction. Kanya* is excited to go home to her family.

We are so excited to see the life Kanya* builds for herself in this new season. Our counsellor and social worker will continue to visit her regularly while she is reintegrated and make sure she has the support she needs in this transition. We are so proud of the young woman she has become.

*names changed for privacy