The future he wanted for his daughter

“I am her father, but I cannot speak to her."

Is my daughter safe?

Does she understand what’s happening around her?

Does she understand me?

What will happen to her when I’m gone?

For years, Hol Neng*, carried these questions with him. His daughter, Srey Oun*, was born deaf. Without sign language, he couldn't communicate with her. The simplest things were difficult: asking about her day, telling her he is going to work, knowing what she was thinking.

And there were bigger things he worried about, too. Her education. Whether she would one day be able to work. What would happen when he was gone.

That began to change when Srey Oun connected with KHEN, ChildFund Australia’s local partner in Cambodia, through the Disability Empowerment and Education Project (DEEP).

Here, Hol Neng shares his story.

"I am her father. But I cannot speak to her.

My daughter Srey Oun was born deaf. She is 18 years old and has never heard my voice.

Raising and guiding her has been very challenging because I do not know sign language and cannot understand the way she communicates.

When I leave for the fields in the morning, I cannot call out to tell her where I am going. I cannot ask if she is hungry, or check that she is safe.

In our village, people did not understand her either. When they spoke to her and she did not answer, some of them thought she was being rude. She was not. She simply couldn’t hear them.

Before Srey Oun joined the special education school, I was very worried about her future and development. She went to class every day and wrote everything down, but I did not know if she was truly able to learn and make progress in her studies.

Previously the school was located very far from our home, making it difficult for her to go. When the community school was established about two years ago, she was able to enrol and begin attending classes. But the teacher did not know sign language, which made communication and learning very difficult for her.

Then KHEN and her teacher Rina told us about a school where teachers know how to support children like Srey Oun.

Since starting at the Special Education School, she has gained more knowledge and understands considerably more than she did before. She has friends. She comes home happy.

In the community people pay more attention to children like my daughter because KHEN has conducted awareness-raising activities. They have learned more and become more aware.

My daughter has received educational materials and notebooks, pens, pencils, erasers. Even a table and a chair. I sincerely appreciate the support provided by KHEN and the teachers in educating my daughter and helping her gain skills and knowledge for her future.

I am not a young man. I often think about what will happen to Srey Oun when I am gone – whether she will be able to work, whether she will be able to look after herself. I believe she has a chance now. I believe she could find a job one day. I hope the organisations and the authorities will help her find work that suits her.

My own life may not move far forward, but my child will be able to continue her path, and hopefully, contribute positively to society in the future."

A future of her own

For years, Hol Neng worried about what would happen to Srey Oun when he was gone. Now, he can picture something different. With the extra support from KHEN, Srey Oun’s teachers began learning new ways to support her.

Now, she has friends. She comes home happy. She is learning more. Her father believes she could one day find a job and look after herself.

There are still barriers in her way. But they don’t have to define her future. Your support can help more children learn in inclusive classrooms and communicate in ways that work for them – so they can learn, connect and build a future of their own.

ChildFund Australia acknowledges the support of the Australian Government for the implementation of the Disability Empowerment and Education Project (DEEP), in partnership with local organisation KHEN Cambodia.

*Names changed to protect identity.