Pictured here is Sovann, 30 years old and invisible. She is invisible because she is poor, paraplegic and a woman in Cambodia. Her grandmother is her caregiver. They are about to be evicted from their squatter shack close Angkor Wat.
Our coalition, Building Community Cambodia, Bracelets 4 Buildings, Ability Fair Trade Village, and the Siem Reap Food Bank are raising funds through the Homes4Grannies campaign to build them a new, wheelchair accessible home in Run Ta Ek Village, some 30 kilometres east of where they live now.
Sovann spends her days lying on a floor mat staring at the tin roof, living with little hope of a better life. Until yesterday that is, when Naret Chhoy, the director of the Siem Reap Food Bank asked Sovann if she would be interested in running a small convenience store in from her new home, once they were relocated. Sovann’s eyes lit up, she sat up and said;
“Oh yes sister, I would love to do that. But I have no money to start.”
Naret told her that some friends would like to help her, if she was willing to work hard, so she could start to take care of her grandmother and disabled brother.
Within 3 hours of their meeting, this is what happened:
- Lee, at Bracelets4Buildings said yes, they can build their home to accommodate a street front shop.
- Ian, from AGILE in Phnom Pen, said “Sure, we will train and support her to manage banking, cash flow, inventory and more.”
- Naret said, “Perhaps Sovann can operate a satellite for the Siem Reap Food Bank from her shop. People in that new village will need our help.”
Please help Sovann become visible and a contributing member in her family and community by donating to the Homes4Grannies campaign. Your gift can change not only Sovann’s life, by helping her become visible, but also the lives of her mother, brother and future generations of their family.