No More Worries

Sophon’s wife passed away outside their house nearby a creek, made of corrugated metallic sheets for the roof and wooden planks and tarpaulin sheets for the walls. As there is not enough space for the whole family to fit in, the wife passed away outside the house, leaving Sophorn to raise his baby daughter alone. His mother, Inn Sokchen, also was always sick, and her condition worsened with the stressful environment they live in. Inn said, “I cannot breathe. I always go to the doctor because I am always sick. I told the doctor that it has been hard and I do not want to live anymore.”

Despite the challenges, Sophorn worked hard as a tuk-tuk driver for the sake of his daughter, Panha, now 6, and his family.  Sophorn says,“I have my parents, brother, and sister to help me move on. They always support me no matter what happens.”

Their lives improved after they moved into their Habitat home in September 2016, “I remembered how happy my family was. My family kept smiling because of this wonderful and unexpected present.” he said.

Still, after more than 2 years, Sophorn and family have kept the smile on their faces. Eventually, Sophorn increased his monthly income to US$380 – from an ordinary tuk-tuk driver, he is now a PassApp driver. His father works as factory security guard and earns $120, and his mother earn 80$ per month with poultry raising (chicken and ducks) and selling.  His family feels more stable and has fewer problems in life. The health of their mother also improved, “I do not feel unhealthy, maybe because I have fresher air to breathe in and I do not worry a lot anymore!”