Toem Chrech

Mrs. Toem Chrech, age 71-year-old, presently dedicates her time to caring for her beloved grandchildren within the comfort of her own home. However, her life has been marred by the haunting memories of the Khmer Rouge regime, during which she bore witness to the appalling sight of people, shackled together, being forcibly transported to their untimely demise in the western region of Mlech. During this dark period, Ms. Toem Chrech found herself assigned to toil in the agricultural sector, where her responsibilities encompassed both the laborious task of planting seedlings and the construction of dams. Despite her limited educational opportunities, having received only a rudimentary primary education in her early years, her scholastic journey was abruptly truncated due to her family’s financial hardships. Driven by the necessity to alleviate her family’s economic burdens, Ms. Toem Chrech embarked on a two-year journey to Phnom Penh, where she sought employment under the employ of others. In this challenging period of her life, she tirelessly fulfilled domestic duties and simultaneously cared for the children of her employers, striving to generate income for her own family.