Sokhon Sea 18 January 2021
Battambang, December 2020, In a small wooden house in rural Battambang, 10-year-old Van Niza sat one afternoon in December, trying to study. Schools had closed across Cambodia as a result of another outbreak of COVID-19 and so she was again at home. As usual, it was difficult concentrating in a small house that was always full of relatives, including her grandmother, mother, aunts, cousins and brother, but Niza felt supported. “My mother always finds time to help me with my homework,” Niza said.
Niza’s mother, 36-year-old Van Veuy, also received support, reaching out to the teachers at her daughter s school whenever she and Niza encountered a homework challenge they couldn’t solve themselves. Samboth Vibol, a teacher at Niza’s school, confirmed this was true. Yes, Niza’s mother is one of the parents who is always reaching out to me, trying to help her child get over any learning difficulties.” It was obvious from his smi