september-2011

Growing Stronger
World Vision tackles the stigma of HIV in
Cambodia and helps improve family life
Srey is only 11, but she has
already experienced a
lifetime of discrimination.
Her father, a soldier, is
HIV positive. Her community in
Cambodia, lacking awareness about
how HIV is spread, attaches a huge
amount of stigma to the disease,
and Srey has suffered relentless
teasing at school.
Her home life was diffi cult as
well. Srey’s father abused alcohol
and was violent towards her mother.
Project staff counsel
families in areas such as
child rights and life skills
HELPING THE MOST VULNERABLE
In fi ve areas of Cambodia, Jetstar’s
Starkids supports a World Vision
project called Community Care for
Children (CCC), which improves the
quality of life for children like Srey
who have been impacted by HIV
and AIDS.
The project works on
linking families affected by HIV
and AIDS with social services in
their area, protecting children
from abuse and ensuring they
have access to health services
and education.
Project staff counsel
families in areas such as child
rights and life skills. This has
made a clear difference in
Srey’s home life. She used to
be scared of her father, but
things are looking up. “With
the help of the World Vision
staff, he’s started to change.
084
He’s given up his bad habits
completely. Now my father shows
me so much love and takes good
care of me,” says Srey.
SUPPORTING CHILDREN
TO STAY IN SCHOOL
Encouraging children to stay in
school is one of the project’s major
successes, and the enrolment and
attendance of vulnerable children in
primary school now hovers around
97%. Srey, who has been blind in one
eye since birth,
endures teasing
about this and
her father’s HIV
status from her
peers, making
the prospect of
going to school a daily hardship.
IMPROVE FAMILY INCOMES TO
IMPROVE CHILDREN’S LIVES
The project offers training in ways
to earn and save money, and some
families have formed savings
groups. When parents no longer
struggle to make ends meet, they’re
better able to plan a brighter future
for their children.
Training sessions are
also building communities’
understanding of HIV and AIDS,
which can help reduce stigma and
promote child protection. Srey still
experiences coldness from some of
her neighbours, but life is getting
better. She has a plan for the future.
“My ultimate dream is to be an
NGO worker so that I can also help
other children in the village whose
lives are similar to mine,” she says.
“And I hope that people would
accept me for who I am.”
YOU CAN HELP!
Vulnerable children
and communities need
our help. The StarKids
partnership between Jetstar
and World Vision was
formed to help children
enjoy a brighter future.
You can support StarKids
by donating loose change
in the donation envelope
located in your seat pocket.
Let your small change
create change!