Successful Reunification back to Family
Phalla** was sent to live in a Residential Care Institute in Siem Reap Province when he was only one month old after his parents divorced. In March 2020, the This Life Reuniting Families team introduced Phalla to the purpose and activities of the program. Due to the COVID-19 related restrictions, tracing his family was difficult as it was not possible to meet people face-to-face. In June 2020, the TLRF team was able to take up the search again, in collaboration with the Siem Reap and Battambang Departments of Social Affairs, Veterans, and Youth Rehabilitation.
After three attempts to search for the family, the team finally found Phalla’s 72-year-old grandmother, who lives in Battambang. Unfortunately, she did not have any information on Phalla’s parents as she lost contact with them many years ago. Nevertheless, the grandmother decided to care for Phalla as she did not want to lose him. After reunifying Phalla with his grandmother, the TLRF team continued to provide support to the family, including planning and setting up a small business to provide for their daily income, based on the existing skills of the grandmother. For the first three months, the confectionary business was going well. However, due to the rise in COVID-19 cases, the income has been completely lost.
(Phalla and his grandma raising the chicken)
Photo by: This Life Cambodia
“Now, I feel I have a family as another child although we have only two people at home” says little boy Phalla with a soft smile
The TLRF team analyzed the economic impact on the family and, in consultation with them, revised the Case Plan accordingly. Since then, the program has supported the set-up of facilities for the grandmother to raise chicken and grow chilies. After a short period, she was able to sell her chickens at a good price and does not have to worry about looking for buyers. This business allows her and her grandson to stay at home safely, thus helping prevent them from potential exposure to COVID-19 transmission.
“During Covid-19 is like during Khmer Rouge, it is scary. But now I am very happy that This Life Cambodia reunited me with my grandson, they always supported us by giving us advice and reducing our worries about COVID-19, and by helping us with food and to build a business so that we can earn a living in these difficult times” says Phalla’s grandmother.
Phalla is 11 years old and is in grade 5 of primary school; he is a good student. Because schools have been temporarily closed due to the rise in infections, his grandmother teaches him at home.
(Phalla’s grandma teaching him at home while his school is closing due to the Covid-19 outbreak)
Photo by: This Life Cambodia
** Name of the child has been changed to protect the confidentiality