In the quiet, rural town of Chikraeng, Cambodia, life is lived mostly outdoors in rice fields, under stilted wooden homes, and along dusty roads. But for 18-year-old Rachana*, the world inside her home was far from peaceful.
Her father’s drinking turned their house into a place of fear. Neighbours heard the shouting, saw the bruises, and kept their children away. The shame was isolating.
“I was really hurt when my father hit me and forced me to stop going to school.”
Her mother, Leakena*, worked tirelessly to support their family of six. With no help from her husband, she farmed a small plot of land and took on any work she could find. One by one, Rachana’s older siblings left home. Eventually, Rachana dropped out of school to help.
But hope arrived in the form of World Vision’s sponsorship programme. Local staff heard about Rachana’s situation and stepped in. They helped Leakena earn more income and encouraged her to keep Rachana in school. Then came a turning point: her parents were invited to join the Happy Family group — a community workshop focused on healing, communication, and positive parenting.
The transformation was real. “My father joined the Happy Family group, which helped him understand the negative impact of his actions,” Rachana says. “That’s when he gave up those behaviours and began providing warmth and support to the family.”
With her home life stabilised, Rachana returned to school. She joined youth training on child protection, child rights, and healthy relationships. She became a youth club leader, sharing what she learned with other children in her village.
“I want the next generation to understand the value of education — it ensures them a bright and secure future.”
In Chikraeng, girls face enormous pressure to drop out, marry young, or migrate for work. Many families believe girls should stay home, do housework, and care for younger siblings. But Rachana is breaking the cycle — and helping others do the same.
She recently sat her final high school exam and dreams of becoming a teacher. “Domestic violence should not be a normal issue,” she says. “It affects children and the family itself.”
Right now, 100 girls like Rachana face the threat of violence just because they’re girls.
Will you stand with them?
Sponsor a girl today and help build a future free from fear.