Read Phala’s story
Phala is 13. She’s the top student in her class at school in Boeung Kachang village and loves reading and maths. It’s common for her to skip games sessions just to keep reading in the library at the school. She wants to be a doctor, but her father isn’t sure if he can pay for her education as unpredictable weather is affecting his livelihood. During her short life Phala has seen many storms and flash floods, but it’s not the thunder and the lightning that frighten her. It’s the fact that her father won’t be able to go out fishing and her family will go hungry. Worse yet, is the fear that Phala won’t be able to go to school.
If it does not rain soon, life is going to be very hard. The biggest victims are the children. A drop in fishing and farming production translates directly to a drop in school attendance rates. It’s simple.
Sem Sey Ha, Koh Andet primary school principal