Mrs. Chhoeng Kim is a 64-year-old caregiver for her grandchildren and she reflects on the harrowing experiences she faced during the Khmer Rouge regime. The trauma inflicted by that dark period was so severe that she deliberately suppressed most of her memories from that time. Even today she finds this time period too painful to recall. Mrs. Chhoeng Kim shares that her education was halted at the first grade before she was forcibly transferred to a mobile unit brigade under the Khmer Rouge. In the mobile unit brigade, she was tasked with physically demanding work such as moving dirt and constructing dams. The loss of her younger sister, who was killed by the Khmer Rouge in Aoral Mountain at Kampong Speu, continues to haunt her to this day. Surviving the regime was an immense challenge, and Mrs. Chhoeng Kim admits that there were moments when she almost gave up on life. The regime imposed strict restrictions, and even the slightest violation of their rules could result in fatal consequences for all. Despite these challenges, she persevered and managed to survive. While Mrs.
Chhoeng Kim is grateful to have survived the regime, her heart aches for those who did not have the opportunity to live and witness the present day. She carries the weight of their loss with her, as she reflects on the devastating impact of the Khmer Rouge regime on her life and the lives of countless others.
