In the past Sambath was an alcoholic. He was a burden to his wife and children. Sarom told us, “From 2004 until 2015, my husband drank alcohol every day and did not help with any work in the family. I was the only one who took responsibility for looking after the family and working on our farm to earn an income.” She continued, “Sometimes when my husband was drunk, he beat me and the children.” Sambath admitted to what his wife said and added, “I always forced my wife to give me money for alcohol, drinking, and gambling. I did not take care of my family, especially my children’s education. Because of my neglect, two of my children had to drop out of school.”

Sambath has successfully stopped drinking alcohol after joining alcohol awareness activities organized by Khmer Angkar for Development of Rural Areas (KADRA), a World Renew partner organization, in 2015. He saw how alcohol was destroying his health and impoverishing his family. The most significant impact for Sambath was the shame he felt for the suffering that he was imposing on his family through his addiction to alcohol.

Now, after completing the alcohol awareness program, Sambath has managed to stop drinking alcohol. He has started helping his family and working on his farm. He sometimes also works outside the village to earn extra income for his family.

Sambath’s new behavior has transformed his family. All of his family members are living in harmony together. One of his children who had dropped out of school has gone back, and the other one has a job in a garment factory.

With the help of World Renew’s partner KADRA, the life of all his family members has improved.

 

Written, translated, and edited by Chuob Doeun (partner staff), Kimsear Hong (World Renew staff), Sovann Neth (World Renew staff), & Carol Van Klompenburg (volunteer)