Veata: A Cambodian Child

Veata* was raped by a man from her village before she had reached her teens. Indentified as likely to suffer further abuse Veata was taken to a shelter and introduced into a new school.

Behind a quiet and often withdrawn facade lies a gentle person with an impish sense of humour and a beautiful, all-too-rarely seen smile. Veata and Ann developed a strong empathy during the time we stayed with her in Veata's new home.


Veata had trouble settling into her new school; a male teacher, aware that she had been raped, verbally abused and blamed her- the victim- for the rape. So Veata moved school and had to find new friends, again.

She never did complete her schooling, she had missed too many classes and was unable to find peace as a student. The last time we heard of Veata she had found a job as a cook in Phnom Penh. We have been told that she is happy there. Veata would now be 17 years-old.


*Name changed for obvious reasons.