Cambodia Women's Crisis Center

Later in the afternoon (after we had cleaned the nasties off of our bodies) we visited CWCC. One of the directors, Vathany, gave us very helpful information (she was born in Cambodia but lived in Washington D.C. her whole life. She moved to Cambodia 4 months ago). While much of what she told us was new, a lot was information I have already posted... and I'm just getting a bit tired tonight to write a lot more.

Basically, I want to share about our time visiting with the women and their children. It was wonderful. The girls were so friendly (they took a little time to warm up to us) and playful. I am also still so amazed at how willing they are to share their stories (one girl told us about how she was raped by her step brother when she was 8. She is 12 now.) Other little girls (4 and 5 year old sisters) told me (in Khmer, with Chaunty translating) that their father was an alcoholic and beat them and their mother. Aside from these horrors, the people their seemed hopeful, healthy, and happy.

One thing I want to point out about CWCC is that they have set up a men's anger management program for the husbands of the wives in the shelter (those who are willing to attend). They have had great success with it. One man told them that he never knew that beating his wife and kids was wrong; it's what he saw all around him growing up. Now he knows that it is wrong and that he can talk with his family in a way that is not yelling and not angry. They are able to discuss feelings, plan for the future, and just communicate. It's these basic things that are so normal for us (like knowing what's right and wrong) that come as such a surprise when we see how different someone else's reality might be.