Disabled Living Foundation

Kong Thuok family: mother, two daughters

Even if a reliable count of the current population with disabilities is not available, however, it is generally agreed that Cambodia is one of the highest rates of disability worldwide and approximately 21% of the population are disabled children. The most common types of disabilities among children in Cambodia are polio, hearing and visual disturbances and problems related to the brain such as cerebral palsy, and emotional and behavioral problems. Source: WorldEnable

There is a long history of discrimination against the disabled in Cambodia. Most Cambodians believe that a disabled person has something in his past life to deserve this condition, which must be left alone to suffer and wait for their next life. is the case with the girl's Thuok Kong, Socheat. Socheat was born with cerebral palsy, one of the 400 cases in the province of Kampong Speu. Her mother is infected with HIV, and her older sister has disowned his family, leaving Socheat care of herself after her mother dies.

FCS works with Socheat as a pilot project in the province of Kampong Speu show the community that people with cerebral palsy may indeed become independent members of society. SSF supports visits by physiotherapists who have helped restore some motor function in basic Socheat. Socheat can now sit in her wheelchair by herself. She can also speak and speak, she could not formally.

In addition, SSF gave Ms. Kong Thuok three scholarships of $ 375 U.S. to start, then expand her business selling groceries. Because the sale of groceries is a challenge, we encourage him to enjoy his life with her children and continue to support it. In addition to paying for his much needed operation goiter, SSF continues to give Ms. Kong Thuok U.S. $ 20 per month for transportation to Phnom Penh for its drugs against HIV.

In the future, we will continue to work with Socheat if it can hope to become the head of his family.