From Brick Building to Holding Books and Pens
By Vichheka, Transformational Development Communications Officer, Mar 2008

Sokchan Voeung was only six when he became a worker of the brick factory family, following his parents’ divorce in 2002. Together, the family of five earned less than 25USD a month. The job involves clay lifting, carting, drying, and carrying brick blocks into hot furnaces.

“I know it’s very hard work for my children, I feel their pains from losing their father at such a young age. Often times, my tears fall when seeing my children starve,” complains Kim Oun, the 46 year-old mother.

Sokchan and his oldest brother Sokkong ( 14 ) are the main source of labour in the family. Besides helping with the factory work, they are responsible for searching supplemental foods for the family’s daily meals. Nine year-old Sokchet is a third son in the family. But unlike the two older brothers who hardly break a single smile, Sokchet looks more lively and is more active. However, 7 year-old Sokchen who is the youngest son in the family, is the most quiet. Although the 4 siblings carry different personalities, they have one thing in common: They are all skinny and look underdeveloped for children their ages.

“Since we don’t have adequate nutrition, sometimes my brothers and I have to walk as far as 3 kilometers away from home to search for fishes in canals along the roadway. With some luck we can return home with some fishes, while on unlucky days we are forced to eat rice with fish sauces or salt. Only when we get our monthly salaries can we afford to add pork,” Sokchan describes sadly.

From hunger, none of Sokchan’s family members ignores the potential risks they face daily. “My oldest son once drowned while catching fish. Luckily, he was saved. Working in the brick factory, my children is challenged with the risks of getting their hands caught in clay cutting machines, or cough out blood from excessive weight from carrying clay,” says the mother.

Sokchan’s family spends over 5 years working in the brick factory commonly known as “Ta Por brick factory”. None of the children is in school. For Sokkong he has dropped out of school since grade 3, while Sokchan dropped out in grade 1. Sokchet and Sokchen never attended school. Their jobs are far from desirable but they have no choice.

“I have been thinking about changing jobs, but I cannot since I have no place to stay and cannot afford rent. This factory gives us room to stay, although small, it’s better than nothing,” says Kim Oun.

World Vision has pioneered cooperative efforts to combat the worst form of child labour in Cambodia. The organization is committed to upholding the rights of children and ensuring their safety and protection. Through the Combating the Worse Form of Child Labour project, the outreach team has come down to visit and observe conditions of working children in brick factories. After attending an introduction to the World Vision’s drop-in center and services that children could receive from the project, Sokchan’s mother decided to send him and his younger brother Sokchet to attend.

“I was quite happy after hearing the project staff told me that my children can receive education and support from the center. I wanted them to become educated and at least read and write. If it were up to my ability, I know I would not be able to send them to school,” Kim Oun describes excitingly.

At the center, both Sokchan and his brother Sokchet attended the non-formal education class. The project provided Sokchan and Sokchet with new clothes, school supplies, proper nutrition and clean drinking water. More importantly both brothers are sent to attend public classes like other children.

Kim Oun expressed her deep gratitude to World Vision for the support and assistance it has provided to her family. “World Vision not only helped my children to go to school but also provided my family with food assistance and houseware. Now I have enough rice, pots and pans, mosquito nets, blankets and other necessities.”

Kim Oun has observed significant progress in her two children after joining the center. “I see Sokchan is a lot more clever than before, he’s now attending grade 2 and has been selected as a classmaster”.

“I like literature the most. Everyday I spend half an hour walking to school. I leave home at 6 AM and return at 12 PM. When I grow up I want to become a truck driver, so I can make more money,” says Sokchan.

Sokchan likes to play knuckle breaker with marbles with his friends during school breaktime. “I am quite good with marble, I beat my friends most of the time.” As Sokchan spoke, Sokchet squirmed in his seat, smiling and teasing Sokchan for his ego.

In order to enable Sokchan and Sokchet to attend school on time, World Vision has provided them with a new bicycle. “ I like this bicycle so much, I’ll use it with love and ride it with my brother to school everyday,” says Sokchan.

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