I am studying in grade 8 C at Chroy Chorng Var High school. I was born in Prekompeus village, Kandal Steung District, Kandal Province. I have one sister. My father died when I was six, my mother before him. We have been orphans since then. I went to live with my aunt who is a widow and has many children. She supports her family by selling fish and working on a farm. It was difficult to live there because they are a poor family. My sister was luckier than me – she went to live with a different aunt in Phnom Penh, her life is better than mine.

My aunt tried really hard to look after me, as well as her four children – for a while she gave me enough food and clothes, and I also went to school, but gradually her standard of living worsened – the rice that she harvested was not enough. Although she tried to find another way to support her family – through selling fish, which I helped here with, eventually she decided to send me and one of her own sons to live in the pagoda. There I lived and learnt with the monks for two years. Eventually, I decided to leave the pagoda – I wanted to find my other aunt and sister in Phnom Penh. It was impossible for me to find them. I didn’t have anything to eat and nowhere to sleep. I was homeless for almost one year.

Finally, I decided to go back to my aunt’s house in the village, but she sent me to live in an orphanage the next day. She also took me to Phnom Penh to see my sister and my other aunt. This made me really happy. Now, I have enough food and clothes and I can go to school and take photos. I think that in the future I’ll be a well-educated person. I’m so happy now.