Soeurn Family
The Souern Family comes from a small village in Prey Veng Province, near Phnom Penh. Tul Chim is physically disabled by Polio – he is able to walk with the use of crutches but becomes tired very easily and can only use one hand at a time. They were originally sustaining themselves through rice farming on a small piece of land given to them by Tul Chim’s father, however due to poor land quality and Tul Chim’s disability – they struggled to make a living as their crop was failing.
Tragically, this family lost two young boys because they could not afford to take them to see a doctor. It is unknown exactly why the little boys died, however their home could not keep out the dangers of Malaria and Dengue Fever, unclean drinking water carries many dangerous bacteria such as Giardia, and undernourished children in Cambodia so often succumb to the fevers and diarrhoea that accompany these common illnesses.
After borrowing $50 from a neighbour and using damaging chemical fertilizer on their flood-damaged crop – the family, in debt and desperation to keep their remaining two sons alive, came to Battambang city to beg and collect recycling. They were living under a slum house on a bed frame. The boys were very thin and weak with fevers from severe sinus infections. When asked what the main concern in her life was, Somnet Noy replied “I want to be able to feed my children every day- but there is no hope for us, our debt is too big.”