This is my family. This is where God wants me

Through its anti-exploitation campaign Be Free Cambodia, Elim Missions is helping women rebuild their lives after trauma. These are the stories of courage, healing, and faith that are emerging from the darkness. Chris Rolfe reports.

Sokim: Be Free Cambodia Manager

“When I was four, I was sold to a Chinese family for $600,” says Sokim, who manages Be Free’s centre in Cambodia. “I lived with them as their housemaid. I would clean and tidy for them but because I was only four I knew nothing about housekeeping, so when I did it wrong they beat me.”

This was the miserable situation Sokim endured until she was ten when she was moved to another family.

“The second family were even worse,” she says. “They called on me at all times of the day and night to wash their clothes, clean their house and look after their children, and beating me more than I had ever known. I was so desperate to be free.”

A friend told her about an organisation which sheltered and educated girls in her situation, but with no money to reach it Sokim was trapped.

When a neighbour caught her stealing money and heard how the family were treating her she took pity and confronted them. They dumped her at the shelter. Sokim was welcomed but struggled when she fell for a man and became pregnant.

“I was 18 years old, pregnant by a man I didn’t really know and who had run away once he found out about the baby. I was so upset. I felt so stupid. I wanted to get rid of the baby and I wanted to kill myself,” she says.

“The Centre offered me counselling and encouraged me to stay strong and believe in God. I will be forever thankful to these people for keeping me going and for encouraging me to keep my baby.”

Sokim gave birth to a daughter, Chiera, who was offered a free place at Elim Cambodia’s Early Learning Centre. Through this, Sokim began attending church and made friends in the church community. She was desperate to find work to support herself and Chiera. Her only skill was cardmaking, but via a conversation with Elim missionaries David and Esther Allen, she was commissioned to use it to make cards to sell to a team of ladies who were visiting Elim Cambodia.

Shortly after this, the vision for Be Free Cambodia was birthed and Sokim was asked to become the manager of the programme. She would not only be able to teach the trainees skills in craft making but can also empathise with what they have gone through and relate to how they are feeling.

“Now I am the manager of Be Free Cambodia. I feel so different to how I did before: I feel so warm, I feel happy every day as I walk into Be Free. This is my home. This is my family. This is where God wants me.”

Piseth: Be Free Graduate and Church Planter

Piseth joined Be Free’s recovery programme from a very challenging background. Despite everything she had faced, however, she was passionate about helping others.

She had the idea of offering free English lessons in her village. Learning a new language, she reasoned, would help children and adults connect with the outside world.

With just a handful of textbooks, she approached the local church with her idea. Thrilled, they welcomed her with open arms. As word spread, curious villagers trickled in and the classes were soon full.

Then Piseth had another idea. Why not weave Bible passages into the lessons to teach the word of God too?

“Piseth’s English classes became the heart of the village,” says Sokim. “People from all walks of life came together to learn, laugh and pray. The church became a beacon of light and hope thanks to her unwavering dedication and passion for spreading love and kindness.

“She brought a sense of community and togetherness to the village and her impact would be felt for generations to come.

“Piseth’s story became an inspiration to all who heard it; a true testament to the power of love, faith and a little bit of creativity.”

Bopha: Be Free Graduate and Childcare Worker

Bopha* was one of the first girls to enter Be Free’s programme, having escaped domestic slavery in Malaysia.

Her history from early childhood was tragic. As a teenager, she was raped by a neighbour, attempted suicide and fled her village. She was rescued by a humanitarian organisation, Friends Cambodia, but ran away when she discovered she was pregnant. Living on the streets, believing her only option to be an abortion, Bopha begged for money to pay for it. She longed for a better life, so when she met a woman who promised her one she leapt at it.

Instead, she was trafficked into domestic drudgery.

Bopha’s situation was dire. She had no friends and for three years worked unpaid in Malaysia for a man who beat her daily. She fled and returned to Cambodia.

Her situation was transformed when the humanitarian organisation Hagar referred her to Be Free.

“We have seen her growing, healing and recovering each day,” says Sokim. “She was confused, scared and wouldn’t dare look into my eyes when we first met. However, every time I spoke with her I saw she was a great girl. She had great potential to help reach other girls.”

At Be Free, Bopha opened up to her counsellors. She graduated and accepted Christ. Today, she works as a childcare worker at Elim’s Early Learning Centre, volunteers in her church’s worship team and Sunday school and helps manage girls living in the Be Free dormitory.

“She’s not confused, scared or hopeless anymore but is a strong lady who gives thanks to Jesus every time we talk to her,” says Sokim.

This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.