Interviews by Sok Naly and Nicolette Beharie

Heng Sony

Prek Sleung, Cambodia

I grew up in a typical Cambodian village called Prek Sleung. My family was poor. The walls and roof of our small, one-room house were made of palm leaves. My parents, and most of the villagers, were rice farmers. It was difficult for my parents to support my younger sister and me to go to school.

I first heard of the World Vision organization in 1996 when I was 13 years old. I knew that World Vision helped children and communities in desperate need. Staff visited me once or twice per week and asked about my health and my studies. They gave me a book and a pen, which became my most treasured possessions. I hoped that I would become a teacher.

The school supplies I received reminded me of the kind heart of my sponsors. They made me feel that someone far away cared about my education.

Today, I teach language studies. Most of the students are from poor farming families. I advise them that hard work will pay off.

In my spare time, I volunteer with World Vision, sharing HIV/AIDS awareness with villagers and encouraging people living with HIV/AIDS to have hope and to take care of themselves.

I would like to thank everyone who sponsors Cambodian children for helping develop my country. I want them to continue sponsoring Cambodian children because they change lives. Without sponsorship, I would not have had an opportunity to be involved in my community and it would have been hard to become a teacher.

Allan Coburn

Revelstoke, B.C.

When my daughters were around 12 or 13, I phoned World Vision and asked for a girl in Asia, someone around my daughters' ages. They selected Heng Sony in Cambodia.

The best part about the sponsorship experience is seeing the progress. You see the pictures and then you get her updates. It gives you a good feeling to know that you're helping to feed, clothe, and educate her. You know that she is going to be self-sufficient.

I know that Heng Sony became a teacher. It's very exciting because that's the same path that my eldest daughter, Meagan, is taking.

If I met Heng I would probably tell her that I'm very proud of her-proud of the fact that she made the best of her opportunities. I imagine that it took a lot of hard work.