Taing Marina 

University of South East Asia
Business Management

My name is Taing Marina but people call me Rina. I was born in 1999 in Takeo Province, Cambodia.  I am the third child in my family. I have three sisters and one brother.  My parents are farmers and couldn’t always send us to school. My older sister dropped out of school to help support the family.

I was studying in grade five at my aunt’s house when Aki Ra was visiting our village. He told me if you want a better future, you can come to live in my organization in Siem Reap Province called the Landmine Museum and Relief Center. At first, I didn’t want to leave my home but my parents said, “We have no money to send you to school and today’s your lucky chance girl”.

I decided to leave my hometown and continue my studies.  The first day when I came to the live at the Cambodia Landmine Museum I thought “I will try my best and keep fighting.”  I have worked hard and now I have finished high school and started at University of South East Asia.  I just completed year one and am starting year two working for a degree in Business Management.

Khouen Karitet

Build Bright University
Law

My name is Khouen Kariket and my nickname is Panha.  I was born on June 11, 1999 in Malia District, Banteay Meanchey Province near the border with Thailand.  I have three sisters and one brother.  I am next to the youngest.  My father lost a leg to a landmine during the war. My mother was a farmer and died several years ago.

I lost the sight in one eye while cutting wood with my brother when I was five.  I stayed home and worked with my mother because my parents couldn’t afford to send me to school.

When I was seven my parents asked Aki Ra if I could come to the Landmine Museum. My father said to me “girl you must go with Aki Ra and try to study hard and then come back to help our family”.  When I came to the Landmine Museum I worked hard to learn. 

Now after thirteen years at the Landmine Museum, I have finished grade 12.  I have completed my first year at Build Bright University and am studying law.

Ren ReakSa

Build Bright University
Business / Education

ReakSa is the oldest of four children. He is twenty-one years old. He is from DomDek village in Siem Reap Province.

He is a good athlete, loves football (soccer) and volleyball. He loves the outdoors and working with his hands. He is a talented artist. He will work towards a degree in Business or Education at Build Bright University (BBU).

Khorn SreyTouch

SreyTouch is twenty-one years old. She moved to the Land Mine Museum in August 2008 soon after her father became a deminer with Cambodia Self Help Demining (CSHD). Her mother is a farmer. She has six sisters and three brothers. After getting her degree in Cambodia she wants to continue her education outside of Cambodia and travel the world. She wants to be an elementary school teacher.

Sun Tangsreng

Sreng is twenty-six years old. She is from Siem Reap Province. As a small child she contracted polio and lost her mother and grandmother to a landmine explosion. Unable to be cared for by her father, other family member stepped in to help raise her. She came to the Land Mine Museum in 2007. She will be working towards a degree in Business or Education.

Mot Saiy

Saiy is a twenty-one year old from Bakong Village outside of Siem Reap. She came to the Land Mine Museum to live in 2007. At Banteay Srei District High School she enjoyed Sports, Science and Math. She wants to get a university degree in Agriculture. She loves working in the garden with plants. She is often put in charge of new girls to the center to become a member of the Land Mine family.