In Manin’s words
“I asked myself how long do I have to live this difficult life, a life being in hell?”
I was ten years old and on the worst night of my life I couldn’t forget, I didn’t
know that my father was leaving us. My father died because he got HIV and he
didn’t close his eyes because he was thinking of us. We were all crying and I knew
that without my father my mum was going to hold all the problems in the family.
After my father died my mum started working as a fruit seller for a year and she
died. My siblings and I lived with my grandmother and I became a garbage picker.
When I was at the dump I had to work seven days a week and didn’t go to school.
My uncle would hit me if I didn’t find him any money. I asked myself how long do
I have to live this difficult life, a life being in hell? I knew I had to live for my
grandmother and my siblings.
“The sun was shiny and gave a bright light with a prosperity to the earth”
The sun was shiny and gave a bright light with prosperity to the earth. One day I
was working under the hot air and I saw a crowd of people. My friend came to tell
me that Papa Sokha (Centre Director) wanted to take some children to live at The Centre for
Children’s Happiness (CCH). I told him about my life, especially that I really wanted
to go to school. Papa Sokha took me and my little brother to CCH. Papa Sokha is a
wonderful person, also a best father in the world that can lead us to a prosperous
future.
Now I am studying at the International School of Phnom Penh and I want
to go to Oxford University in England. Thank you to all the donors that support all
of the children living in our centres. All the donors give a bright future and a
prosperity to me and all the children.
Left: Manin as a garbage picker, aged 9.
Above: Manin helping children to read, aged 15.
