Arunny is a big girl. Tall for a Cambodian she has strong legs and a broad back giving her an excellent physique for toiling in the Cambodian countryside. Someone else thought so too; Arunny was taken from her family and shipped off to another province to work the rice fields and cart firewood and water.
Rescued by a non-government organization Arunny was taken to a shelter. Here for the first few weeks she didn’t speak a word to us, and barely spoke to the centre’s staff or the other girls. Clearly she was unhappy and wanted nothing more than to be reunited with her family. Arunny was kept under a watchful eye as it was thought likely she would abscond if she could, and try and find her way back to her village.
We never heard the full story of why she wasn’t sent straight back home; it may have been that someone in the family had played a part in forcing her into labour or, that the family felt that they couldn’t give her the supervision and help that she needed. Or, just as likely, the family saw that she was being better fed and cared for at the shelter than would ever be possible at home.
Despite her fervent wishes, the family and the NGO decided that Arunny should remain at the centre for another 6 months when her and the family’s circumstances would be reviewed. Arunny became more withdrawn and she stopped speaking.
At first Arunny refused to come to our English classes with a defiant shake of her head. Soon, though, she would edge closer to the classroom to listen and watch. And after several weeks she was sticking her head through the window to show a pretty smile and a keen curiosity. Finally, on several occasions she entered and took a seat.
Later, with a quiet voice Arunny began to speak to us and show a robust sense of humour; playful rock fights especially amused her!
Toh wasn’t at the centre the last time we visited, happily, her wish was granted; her family had taken her back home.
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