One Widow’s Grit is Igniting Change: The Inspiring Journey of Mrs. Khlai Phak
Meet Mrs. Khlai Phak, a 42-year-old widow from Ronam Thom village, who’s proving resilience knows no bounds. After 14 years working in Thailand and a divorce, she returned to Oddar Meanchey province to live with her family of 11, including 6 females, caring for her nieces and nephews like her own.
But her story doesn’t stop there. Noticing kids in her community struggled with reading, writing, and math—coupled with neglected hygiene and poor parental focus on education—Mrs. Phak felt a fire to act. “As a widow with limited resources, the challenge was steep, but my resolve was stronger: I won’t give up—I want thriving kids and a better community.”
Enter FH Cambodia. Introduced by her village leader, she joined Hope Group Volunteer for Education (HGV-E) and Hope Group Volunteer for Child Monitoring (HGV-CM). Through training in childcare, nutrition, and facilitation, she gained skills to uplift her village. Now, she’s a School Management Committee (SMC) member at Ronam Thom Primary School, collaborating with relevant stakeholders to tackle challenges and plan progress. She shares her knowledge with parents and community members, inspiring them to prioritize education and health matters.
The impact? Huge. “Children have access to education, homes are cleaner, every household has a toilet, and families drink safe water,” she beams. Teaching her nieces and nephews at home, she’s breaking barriers with confidence. “Being a widow isn’t a limit—FH Cambodia’s gender equality focus gave me this chance.”
Mrs. Phak’s journey shows one woman’s grit can spark a movement. From education to sanitation, she’s building a brighter future for all.