Chheng Sreyma, a 12-year-old girl from Pursat, has faced many hardships. In 2020 and 2021, severe floods devastated her village, destroying crops, killing livestock, and wiping out the orange trees that many families depended on. Her family lost almost everything. To make things worse, the COVID-19 pandemic shut down schools, making it even harder for children like Sreyma to continue their education. With no money for books or supplies, her dream of learning seemed out of reach.
Despite these struggles, Sreyma never gave up. She helped her parents care for their remaining livestock and took on household chores. She also looked after her younger brother while trying to keep up with her studies using whatever materials she could find.
In late 2021, ADRA’s PCS project began helping families like hers recover. Knowing that many villagers had farming skills but needed support, the project introduced training on new crops, including yellow watermelon. Sreyma’s parents joined the program, learning better farming techniques and receiving start-up materials.
Excited to help, Sreyma took part in every step—from planting and pruning to harvesting. She loved learning how to care for the watermelon plants and watching them grow. The first harvest was a success, giving her family a stable income for the first time in years.
Thanks to this support, Sreyma was also able to stay in school. She passed her exams and moved on to secondary school, determined to build a better future. Inspired by her mother, who has been an ADRA volunteer since 2017, she dreams of helping her family and community thrive.
Chheng Sreyma’s story is one of resilience and hope. With determination and support, even the smallest seeds can grow into something extraordinary.
Pursat Child Sponsorship (PCS) project is funded by ADRA Korea.
