Kanitha*

AGE

14 yrs

GRADE

8

WELCOMED INTO HOME

in 2025

THINGS SHE LIKES TO DO

Soccer

FAVORITE FOOD

Sour Soup

AMBITION

Finish High School

ABOUT Kanitha*

Kanitha’s* was caught in trafficking and abuse at her school. She couldn’t escape as everyone she asked for help at the school was involved and kept abusing her. Kanitha* was eventually able to get to the women’s affairs commission in her community to tell her story and they helped her report it to the police. The police listen to her and arrested most of the perpetrators but the suspected ringleader is on the run. Kanitha’s* grandfather was called, so she had someone she felt safe around while she stayed with the police for 4 days as they rounded up all the perpetrators. As there are still perpetrators on the run in the community and there is evidence that people are actively trying to stop her from testifying, her family requested sanctuary for her.

She was welcomed into the SHE Rescue Home the same week we installed a new playground and she had fun testing the trampoline with the other girls. She enjoys playing games outside, especially soccer. She also got to eat her favourite dinner, sour soup – which happens to be a favourite Khmer dish of many of the girls in the home. They were all very happy!

SREY Loy’s* FAMILY

Kanitha*s parents divorced when she was a small child and she hasn’t seen her father since he remarried. Her mother has suffered serious trauma for many years and hasn’t been able to support herself or her family on her own. Kanitha* has been living with her grandparents who look after her mother and another of their grandchildren who is 2 years old.

Her mother is currently receiving psychological support from another organisation who specialised the trauma care she needs. We will be providing support for the family as a whole.

SREYLen’S* FUTURE

Kanitha* isn’t sure what she wants to do in the future but knows she really wants to finish high school so she has a lot of options. We have been advised that it is not safe for her to leave the SHE Rescue Home yet, as the perpetrators who escaped arrest are actively look for her. She will be tutored at the home until it is safe to attend school.

Kanitha* will stay at the SHE Rescue Home until her court case is completes. The perpetrators are on the run from the police so it could be a while until the community is safe for her to reintegrate too. In the meantime, we will work with her family to help them become more financially secure and receive support to heal with their own traumas. Her counsellor will make sure she feels safe and learns key skills in coping and healing from her trauma.

Sponsor her today and help her realise her potential, away from the suffering of exploitation and into a future full of promise.

*names changed for privacy