Cambodian Acid Survivors Charity: Learning to read and write

This article was written by CASC project manager, Nora Lindstrom and Kaitlin Johnson.

At the beginning of the year, CASC staff realized that several young women working at Kanya Massage – CASC’s income generating pilot project – were unable to read or write Khmer. Literacy is an enriching life skill, so CASC decided to provide further education to the survivors.

The women were initially apprehensive to go back to school. It can be embarrassing to admit to illiteracy and learning as an adult is a frustrating challenge.

“I was afraid, I thought it would be very difficult” said Sokhom, a survivor employed at Kanya massage.

The women were more enthusiastic about learning to speak English than they were about learning to read and write. They felt that improving their English skills would help them communicate with customers. CASC staff made a deal with the survivors; they would provide English lessons if the women agreed to learn to read and write in Khmer.

CASC’s partner organization, Hagar, helped find a teacher experienced in teaching illiterate adult women.

Classes are now held every weekday between 8 and 10. They are attended by the Kanya Massage staff Sokhom, Rany and Ngeb, as well as CASC’s cleaning lady Sydoeun.

While the lessons are challenging, Rany said she is happy she made the effort.

“I am very lucky to have been given this opportunity, and now I really can read and write,” she said.

The lessons enrich the quality of life of acid burn survivors.

“I still have some way to go, but everything is becoming clearer, brighter, not dark like before,” said Sydoeun

CASC staff found volunteer English teachers to tutor the women. Rajpreet Sandhu spent two weeks teaching every day, starting with a, b, c. Christina Bradlee has now taken over, teaching once a week.

Now, when customers step into Kanya Massage traditional Khmer greeting is accompanied by a friendly ‘Hello! How are you?’ which is usually followed by giggles.

The girls’ only complaint is that once a week is simply not enough.

In the future, CASC hopes to continue literacy and English courses for survivors. As Ngeb says; “Learning English is fun!”