Adults with disabilites

Chantrea*, 31, was referred to Damnok Toek after her foster family could not take care of her any longer. She has cerebral palsy with a slight intellectual disability.

After several years living at the Kep Farm she was able to move to the semi-independent living arrangements. There she learned the gestures of daily life such as cooking, tidying her room, taking care of her hygiene, etc. which today allow her to live almost independently. Within two years she had acquired sufficient independence to move in with 3 other beneficiaries in the Kep community near the farm (under the supervision of educators).

She adapted well to her new environment and became increasingly confident in managing her daily routines. To improve her mobility, Chantrea underwent knee surgery. She recovered well and can now move around without support. This boosted her self-confidence, independence and willingness to engage in daily life and farm activities as well as in helping the educators support other residents. She is reliable and performs all these tasks with pride which motivated the educators to set up a part-time position for her in the tea factory.

The progress made by Chantrea underscores the impact of consistent, long-term support to move towards an ever more independent and fulfilling future.

 * : the name has been changed to protect the child’s identity.