Feb 6th, 2019 02/06/19 | Community Stories

HOME SWEET HOME

Thanks to generous supporters of our #GivingTuesday campaign the Sok family of seven have a new house, the first of three CCF families to be helped Sophy and her family had been living in the same cramped and decaying wooden shack for seven years. When it rained, water would pour through the roof and the floor would flood, spoiling all the food, and forcing Sophy and her three children to flee and find somewhere dry to sleep that night. Among the many ramshackle dwellings in Steung Meanchey, one of the most deprived communities in Cambodia where CCF works, theirs was one of the more rundown. With little chance of ever affording a new place, the family was resigned to staying put. That all changed when CCF launched its #GivingTuesday appeal to raise funds for families in need of new homes. Generous donors from around the world raised $11,000USD, enough to support at least three families in our community. Sophy and her family officially received their new home at a gifting ceremony last Friday (Feb 1). Their old rickety shack has gone. In its place is a watertight and secure house, built in Cambodian style, large enough for Sophy, her husband and three children, a nephew, aged 14, and her mother-in-law to live comfortably. A new concrete floor means the family need never worry about flooding again. “I am so happy,” said Sophy, who was in tears as the house was handed over. “I never expected that I would have a nice home like this in my life. From my heart I would like to thank all the people who helped me.” Sophy is the sole breadwinner for the family after her husband injured his knee while working as a trash scavenger and was left unable to work. Her job as cleaner at a nearby hospital brings in around $130USD a month for a six-day week, which must cover all expenses for the family and their $22.50 monthly rent for the land on which they live. Some months she has to borrow money from neighbours from survive and CCF helps with extra rice. Two of Sophy's children attend CCF schools while her mother-in-law looks after their youngest boy, aged one-and-a-half, during the day. Their new home provides a safe environment for the children to study, along with extra space on the ground floor for Sophy and her husband to sleep. Scott Neeson, Founder and Executive Director of CCF, said: “I would like to thank all those who donated. We had a wonderful response from people who cared enough to give money so that the family could have this home.” Another two CCF families will be receiving new homes from the #GivingTuesday donations so watch this space for more updates as our #GiftAHome project moves on to the next family, the Cheas. Kate Ginn/CCF
Written by

Kate Ginn

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