Meet Phirun*
At 15 years old, Phirun* feels the weight of her parents’ debt on her shoulders.
It all started with a job. The job was stable enough and not far from home but after a few months, Phirun’s* broker persuaded her to take a job opportunity in China. This new job meant more money and more money means freedom.
Yet chasing freedom enslaved her.
She was met in China by 2 brokers who held her in their home until she was bought by a Chinese man to live with him as his wife. After a few months, she became pregnant. She eventually managed to contact her parents to tell them she wanted to return home.
Phirun’s* parents paid the Chinese man $1,500 in the hopes that Phirun* would be able to return to Cambodia. While he accepted the money and in exchange let Phirun* go, she was given no means or a way to travel to Cambodia, just kicked out of his home.
Phirun*, a young, pregnant girl, was stranded in a foreign country.
She was lucky enough to meet a Khmer couple visiting China and they kindly helped her return to Cambodia. They were generous and paid for Phirun’s* travel expenses out of their own pockets. Upon her return, Phirun’s* family paid the couple back, costing them another $400.
In order to reunite with their daughter and save her life, Phirun’s* parents had to borrow the $1,900. With not being able to pay interest on the loans, their debt has grown to $8,000.
In July 2019, Phirun* gave birth to a baby boy. As exciting as this new life is, the family now all live in danger of the father of Phirun’s* child, who has made several legitimate threats to the family. It’s a frightening time for all of them and unfortunately neither of Phirun’s* parents have stable income due to health reasons.
With threats to their wellbeing and intense financial pressures, the family is under severe stress. Phirun* feels the burden of needing to provide for her family and her parents want her to work in a Casino on the Cambodia-Thai border. This would require her to let go of her own dreams of learning the skills of a salon and eventually owning her own salon.
Were you asked to give up your dream at 15 years old?
The SHE Rescue Home exists to rescue girls and give them dignity. We do this by inspiring them to shape their own future and chase goals. We believe in them and we give them the tools to believe in themselves.
If you and I can pursue our dreams, so should Phirun*.
We would love to relieve Phirun’s* parents of their debt, remembering that their debt is only because of the corrupt world we live in that takes advantage of young girls like Phirun*, deceiving them and enslaving them. We are so grateful that Phirun* is safe in our Home and is now doing an incredible job as a new mother. We want to set her up for a future of hope and peace, with a sustainable income and a passion for her work.
Partner with us to bring freedom to Phirun’s* life and to her family.