A Student, The Broom Lady & Keo
- Ends of the Earth Cycling
- Feb 3, 2022
- 5 min read
Updated: Sep 28, 2022
Written By: People impacted by LOHI
Legacy of Hope International (LOHI) has been reaching youth in Cambodia that are most at risk of being trafficked/abused for years.
Ends of the Earth Cycling was blessed to partner with them on our 2021 Texas Bike Ride. Through the prayers and funds raised by many of you, LOHI has been able to start a scholarship program that is impacting the lives of youth there. Here are some stories from some youth and adults that are coming to know the Love of Jesus through your participation.
To God be the Glory!
PRAK SONEITRA (A Student)
Nowadays I am a student of LOHI school. I have been a student in this school for 6 years and I have learnt a lots from this school. My English gets better and better now. Also this school has helped me a lot since the beginning till now.
My family are not really in a good situation. We’re lacking money but fortunately, I have a supporter who helps me study English. That’s so relieving for my family. Actually, I couldn’t study in the first day of the new class because I didn’t pay yet. But my school was so kind, they gave me the book to study first and paid the money later. I felt a bit shamed at that time but felt grateful inside. Then the principle of the school tried to contact my supporter to pay for my new term. Since 2020, the coronavirus has been offensive so much in my country. All the school has been closed and some places also closed too. The students have to study through online at home. My parents have been extremely hard to earn money. Only a few people go to buy my parent’s food. They could only reach a little money in a day. They have to feed family, pay for the electric and water and my study also. But sometimes they couldn’t afford it and I myself also need to buy sim card costs (one dollar) for my phone to study in each week [the sims cards are load with school curriculum basics and a Bible app. Sim Cards one of the best ways to get curriculum to students there]. As you know, it was so hard for my family but fortunately my English School, LOHI gave me the one dollar for my sim card in each week for all students to study. It was really a blessing. I was so happy when I heard that!
Moreover, this school has been teaching me a lot. Actually, I am not really good in English. During my English class, I was reading an article and I made some mistakes. The LOHI teacher didn’t blame me but instead, he gave me advice how to read fluently. And I have tried since that day and now I think I have become better that before. My teacher has been telling about how to improve English really frequently. He’s really a good teacher.
As you know, my family isn’t rich. Therefore, I really want to help my family to get out of this situation when I grow bigger. I will try to study hard to get a good job in the future. I don’t know what my dream is yet but I’ll try to find a job that’s a fit for me and get a good job. [This is only possible] Since I study English in LOHI School now. So I’ll try my best to make my English perfectly, so it might not be so hard to get a good job.
I’m sincerely thankful to LOHI school. They have helped me since the beginning till now with many things like scholarships, free sim cards and free phone top-up. [mobile airtime or recharge. It's a simple way to send phone credit to your family or friend's prepaid mobile phone] It’s really meaningful to me for all your help. I’m so proud to be a LOHI student. This school is really a wonderful school and I hope that LOHI school will be a source of knowledge for all of us forever.
LOK YEAY (The Broom Lady)
My name is Lok Yeay. I am very thankful to LOHI School. In our village, I’m the oldest female person. I’m 70 years old. All people here have known me as the person who carries a lots brooms on my head and also the shoulder. I travel long distance walking to sell brooms and other cleaning stuff. If the weather is not too hot, it’s fine for me. But if the weather is too hot, that’s a problem. Sometimes I walk under the sun all day, trying to sell all of those items. I get exhausted and hope that I could sell all of them. People live nearby said, you should stay home and take care of your health. But I can’t do that. I have many grandchildren to feed. I need to do hard work for earning money. I really love and care my grandchildren very much.
I want them to have enough food to eat and can go to school. But thank God, I went to LOHI to sell the brooms. The school helps me to sell lots brooms. They always buy when I went there. The school provided me a rice, noodle, canned fish, alcohol spray [a medical supply] and many stuffs. The biggest surprise I’ve gotten was a new bicycle from LOHI School. It made things easier than before. I can put those brooms on it and I don’t need to carried and walk so much. It’s really help me out of walking so hard while took those heavy things.
KEO CHANTHA
My name is Keo Chantha. I’m 47 years old. Before coming here to Battambang [Cambodia], I lived in Phnom Penh and I worked in a factory. Actually I’m a single mother. I rent a place and lived with my child there. My situation wasn’t very good. That is the reason why I forced myself to move here to Battambang. I have only one daughter who lives with me now. Before we used to live together. But I can’t support her in the school and our lives. So I decided to move her to [the LOHI] Dorm [in part made possible through scholarship program] to have a chance to study. I really didn't want to do that. Every mother really wants to stay and feed their own child and make them feel comfortable. I’m a person who didn’t go to school. That’s why I don’t know what job should I can do [or get a decent job]. Nowadays I don’t have a home to stay, I can’t sleep on the road. Because of that, I try to rent a small room in Battambang to stay. Sometimes I even have enough money to pay the rent. Luckily, I got a job at LOHI. I’m a cleaner. During that time I lived here at the school. They help me a lots like give me the rice, noodle, canned fish, and other stuff. Because I don’t have enough food to eat. Furthermore I don’t have many clothes to wear. People around me knew it, they always gave some clothes to me and my daughter. Though in this two years [covid] pandemic, it made it harder to live. Everything isn’t going well. But I still have a chance to get through it thanks to LOHI.
Recap Video
2021 Texas Bike Ride - 1:21 min Through the Texas Bike Ride, much of these "Stories of Impact" were made possible through the Lord using you!
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