You helped Phally become a voice for change
Sponsorship helped Phally find her voice and confidence to help herself and others.
Phally, now 18, grew up in poverty and shame, raised by an aunt who struggled to provide for everyone under her roof.
Each day was a struggle to survive.
“When I came to stay with my aunt, her economic situation was not good,” says Phally.
“Sometimes I had to go to school and come back without eating.”
Phally moved in with her aunt and her cousins after her mother died, and her father remarried and moved away with his new wife.
Going to school was a luxury that Phally didn’t take for granted. Her cousins and siblings had already dropped out because her aunt couldn’t afford the costs of their education.
“I used to tell my aunt that I also could stop studying, but she encouraged me to keep studying because all the other kids in the family had already stopped going to school. The only way she could help me in the future was to make sure I kept going to school.”
It wasn’t easy. Phally battled complex health issues that left her weak and vulnerable. Her family’s poverty was visible in everything she wore, and other children often avoided her.
“People used to look down on me,” she says. “I didn’t have any friends. When I went to play with other children, they would ignore me. Because I came from a poor family, my clothes were not good and sometimes I would even smell, so no one wanted to play with me.”
A kind sponsor opens doors of hope and opportunity.
Phally’s life was transformed when a generous Kiwi like you sponsored her to help her build a brighter future. That kindness opened new doors for Phally, including the opportunity to join the Youth for Change programme.
This is where she learnt about child rights, protection and safety, as well as other life skills that built her self-confidence and saw her excel at public speaking.
Eventually, the girl who was once pushed to the fringes of her community became a leader in the youth club.
“Everything has changed. I’m braver than I was before. I can share, I can talk to people,” she says.
Phally is now a leader who wants other children to know about their rights
“There’s been such a big transformation between before and after I was in the youth club.
“Now I have a lot of friends to play with, I can share what I want to share, and the club leaders told me not to listen to what other people say about me – I have to be myself.”
Stepping up as a leader.
Phally is passionate about making sure all children in her community are safe and protected.
“I wanted to become a leader so other children know about their rights, and I want them to know about my story and show them that I can do anything.
I share with the other members that we all have the same rights, and we can become anything we want.”
Phally has experienced such drastic change in her own life, she can’t help but spread the message as far and wide as possible.
You helped create a safer community where girls like Phally can thrive.
“I also really want to encourage mothers and caregivers to send their children to the groups, because, with this club, they learn about the different forms of violence and how to protect themselves so we can have a safer community.
“When I finish school, I want to see the other children become the next generation of leaders.
“I want to become a teacher in a secondary school in a rural area. I want to take the experiences that have been difficult for me and help other children.”
Phally’s journey hasn’t been easy. But day by day, she’s grown stronger, gained confidence and became more determined to build a brighter future for herself and others.
From surviving to thriving, sponsors like you make stories like Phally’s possible. Thank you!
Each day was a struggle to survive.
“When I came to stay with my aunt, her economic situation was not good,” says Phally.
“Sometimes I had to go to school and come back without eating.”
Phally moved in with her aunt and her cousins after her mother died, and her father remarried and moved away with his new wife.
Going to school was a luxury that Phally didn’t take for granted. Her cousins and siblings had already dropped out because her aunt couldn’t afford the costs of their education.
“I used to tell my aunt that I also could stop studying, but she encouraged me to keep studying because all the other kids in the family had already stopped going to school. The only way she could help me in the future was to make sure I kept going to school.”
It wasn’t easy. Phally battled complex health issues that left her weak and vulnerable. Her family’s poverty was visible in everything she wore, and other children often avoided her.
“People used to look down on me,” she says. “I didn’t have any friends. When I went to play with other children, they would ignore me. Because I came from a poor family, my clothes were not good and sometimes I would even smell, so no one wanted to play with me.”
A kind sponsor opens doors of hope and opportunity.
Phally’s life was transformed when a generous Kiwi like you sponsored her to help her build a brighter future. That kindness opened new doors for Phally, including the opportunity to join the Youth for Change programme.
This is where she learnt about child rights, protection and safety, as well as other life skills that built her self-confidence and saw her excel at public speaking.
Eventually, the girl who was once pushed to the fringes of her community became a leader in the youth club.
“Everything has changed. I’m braver than I was before. I can share, I can talk to people,” she says.
Phally is now a leader who wants other children to know about their rights“There’s been such a big transformation between before and after I was in the youth club.
“Now I have a lot of friends to play with, I can share what I want to share, and the club leaders told me not to listen to what other people say about me – I have to be myself.”
Stepping up as a leader.
Phally is passionate about making sure all children in her community are safe and protected.
“I wanted to become a leader so other children know about their rights, and I want them to know about my story and show them that I can do anything.
I share with the other members that we all have the same rights, and we can become anything we want.”
Phally has experienced such drastic change in her own life, she can’t help but spread the message as far and wide as possible.
You helped create a safer community where girls like Phally can thrive.
“I also really want to encourage mothers and caregivers to send their children to the groups, because, with this club, they learn about the different forms of violence and how to protect themselves so we can have a safer community.
“When I finish school, I want to see the other children become the next generation of leaders.
“I want to become a teacher in a secondary school in a rural area. I want to take the experiences that have been difficult for me and help other children.”
Phally’s journey hasn’t been easy. But day by day, she’s grown stronger, gained confidence and became more determined to build a brighter future for herself and others.
From surviving to thriving, sponsors like you make stories like Phally’s possible. Thank you!