Friends Case Study:

With the pale light of kerosene lamp I could see my books filled with finished homework ready for my teacher to check tomorrow. I patted my books gently, of course I love them. But I was not going to use them any more. It was sad but true. My father had asked me to stop going to school from tomorrow onwards. I disagreed with him and strongly reacted to his decision but it was useless. My family was very poor and my older brother had just got married. He would have his own family and I was therefore counted on to replace him doing farming work and supporting my family. I explained to my father that I was only a boy at 16 years old and I had to at least finish high school. I told him that education was very important. “Education? Can you eat education?”, my father asked me, “I have been working for a long time without any of your education and I have survived, not only by myself but also with many children. And you", he pointed to me, "included”. I was angry at his primitive argument and decided to say something unusual, "Yes, you are right! Sur..vi…val, but not to live as a normal human being." For these unusual words I received a heavy beating twice on my mouth. It was bleeding. Some adults of my neighborhood said that I deserved this for my behaviour so I decided to run away from my family.

I came to Phnom Penh and had no place to stay but in the streets. The street life was terrible at the beginning but I got used to it later. In the streets I met with Friends' social workers, with whom I had interesting discussions and good lessons on life skills. I told them my problem. They listened to me carefully and then helped me to plan my future life. Many options were identified but only two of them I liked best. First option: Friends helps me to go back to my family and my father allows me to go school again. If this option does not work the second one is to come to Friends and learn a vocational skill. I hope, that if I complete the second option I will become a good professional and of course it will give me a better life and freedom.