Heng’s life underwent a significant transformation after her family received a new home built by Habitat for Humanity Cambodia, thanks to the Building Resilient and Empowered Community project and the efforts of dedicated Global Volunteers. Previously, Heng and her family of five lived in a dilapidated hut made of old zinc sheets, which lacked even a proper door or lock, providing neither safety nor comfort. Struggling to afford daily meals, Heng had never imagined having a secure and decent house.

Today, Heng’s family resides in a tall, sturdy home with a spacious veranda where she enjoys sitting and relaxing. The new house provides a safe space for her children to play underneath and includes a proper toilet, greatly improving their living conditions. Grateful and proud, Heng and her husband make an effort to keep the house clean, often welcoming neighbors who come to socialize with them.

Heng expresses her love for her new home, noting that she has planted colorful flowers around the house and corn to earn extra income. “This house is beautiful in every way,” she shares. “It has doors and windows that I can lock. Unlike my previous home, which lacked locks and left my valuables unprotected, I now feel secure. When my husband goes fishing at night and I’m at home with our little kids, I no longer worry about our safety.”