At Cambodian Children’s Fund (CCF), there are inspiring stories to be found everywhere - of children who rise above hardship to build brighter futures. But it’s not just the children whose lives are transformed. Parents, too, embark on remarkable journeys, rewriting their futures alongside their kids.
Chemra is one such mother. A devoted mum, a resilient woman, and now a valued CCF team member, her story is proof of the power of opportunity and belief.
Chemra’s life was a fight against poverty from an early age. Losing her mother young, she never had the chance to attend school. Instead, she worked tirelessly on construction sites, scavenging through trash under the scorching Cambodian sun—doing whatever it took to provide for herself and later her children.
She never stopped pushing forward. After moving to the Steung Meanchey area around the former city landfill site in Phnom Penh, she would spend her free time working as a tuk-tuk driver, even ferrying CCF staff and visitors around the community. One of those staff members was Hoin, CCF’s beloved Community Outreach Manager, who saw something special in her. He gave Chemra her first opportunity at CCF—two days of work as a cleaner.
That small chance changed everything.
CCF gave me a chance to make my life better
With Hoin’s encouragement, Chemra’s role at CCF grew. Today, she is a dedicated member of our Community Outreach team, caring for elders through our Granny Program. She recently traveled with them to Siem Reap—a moment that symbolized just how far she has come.
“I love my job because it helps society,” says Chemra. “I like to give joy to others. I used to work in construction and collecting scraps. It was hard work and so tiring. CCF gave me a chance to make my life better.”
Chemra, a single mother of four, has built a new life after leaving a difficult marriage. She now lives in a CCF housing community, in a home made possible by the generosity of our supporters. And while she never had the chance to study as a child, she took part in CCF’s adult literacy program—proudly graduating after passing Khmer reading and writing.
“CCF has helped me and my children a lot,” she says. “Help my children go to school, help me have work, provide peace of mind when someone is sick. I am very lucky to have known CCF.”
I want to be a teacher to give other children an opportunity for a better life.
Chemra’s resilience and love shaped the path for her children, all of whom have been educated through CCF. Her eldest daughter, Srey Pich, has come full circle—once a high school student who voluntarily taught younger kids in her community, she is now studying Khmer language at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, on her way to becoming a teacher.
“CCF helped me so much and changed my life,” says Srey Pich. “I could get an education and a future. I want to be a teacher to give other children an opportunity for a better life.”
Even as she studies, Srey Pich works part-time as a cashier to help support her family. And her younger sister, 10-year-old Srey Nich, is already following in her footsteps, teaching neighborhood children using the same whiteboard her sister once used.
Chemra’s story is a reminder that change doesn’t happen alone. It takes opportunity, community, and someone who believes in you. For Chemra, that person was Hoin. For her daughters, it was her. And now, through CCF, the cycle continues—one generation lifting the next, shaping a future filled with hope.
