One girl's story

Some neighbours came to Riverkids about a girl in danger. The photograph above is of her most recent injuries, deep burns all over her legs.

She was born in a rural province to farmers. A trafficker came to her village when she was a young teenager and promised her a 'good job'. She ended up locked up in a Phnom Penh brothel for a year, being raped, starved and beaten.

A family member paid to rescue her, and she managed to get a job at a garment factory. The factory went bankrupt several months later.

She thought she had found safety in a job as a housekeeper for a family. It paid only $35 a month, but she would have room and board.

Her employers locked her up, beat her whenever she made a mistake with electrical cords and the iron. She wasn't ever paid, and she was hidden away so no-one could help her.

The three neighbours rescued her and brought her to Riverkids last week. We've found her a safe place to stay, and are working with another NGO to help her file charges. Because she's a minor, her family needs to be traced to press charges.

Beyond desperately needed medical care, clothes and food, she needs most of all compassion. Her life has been heartbreaking, but maybe now, we hope, she'll find a truly safe place to live, and a job with dignity.