Malis’ Story
Malis arriving into Hagar’s care
Malis was born into a family facing severe economic instability on the outskirt of Phnom Penh City. Malis’ parents both work tirelessly for Malis and her 3 younger siblings, her mother as a housewife and her father as a fisherman. As the oldest sibling, Malis carried many responsivities when it came to taking care of her family. So much so that at the age of 16 she chose to work as a garment worker in Phnom Penh.
Noticing Malis’ families economic situation, a local woman from their village convinced Malis that through her connections she would be able to find a wealthy Chinese man who could provide her family with financial support. Malis’ family agreed to the proposal and brokers quickly arranged documents and facilitated illegal travel for Malis to enter China.
It didn’t take long for Malis to realise that she’d made a mistake agreeing to this arrangement. She pleaded with her brokers to take her back home, however they disagreed and threatened to charge her the money they paid to transport her. Malis had to choose between being with a Chinese man or being sold into a brothel. With no other options, she chose to stay with the man. The broker profited ៛130,000 (about $48 AUD) and Malis never saw a cent.
Malis lived in captivity for 2 years where she was forced to engage in sexual activities and ordered to do all household chores. She made numerous attempts to escape and one day she was able to run away. She met a woman named Ya who claimed to be able to help her, however this resulted in her being forced to stay with a different Chinese man. She made the decision that she was not going to live like this any longer and she made another escape.
Upon escaping a second time, Malis met another woman who attempted to sell her to yet another Chinese man. Fortunately, Malis and this woman were both arrested for being illegal immigrants. The police detained Malis for 8 months before being repatriated to Cambodia.
Hagar and MoSVY preparing for reintegration
On May 5th 2021, the Cambodia Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth (MoSVY) referred Malis and 6 other survivors to Hagar. Hagar then bought Malis and the others to the Home of Love, where they were warmly welcomed and well taken care of by professional foster mothers. Malis stayed at the Home of Love for 2 weeks where she received health care, counselling and access to food and basic materials.
Hagar worked closely with MoSVY and local authorities to facilitate reintegration for Malis to be returned to her family. Upon learning about Malis’ ordeal, her family eagerly anticipated her return and expressed a desire to be reunited with her. Following a successful reintegration, we conducted an assessment to understand Malis’ longer term needs. Since Malis and her father are both skilled in fishing, Hagar decided to fund a new boat costing approximately $850. With the new boat, Malis and her family are able to earn between $20 - $40 per day which not only covers the cost of daily food but it also helps them pay off debts.
With the new income, Malis was able to enrol in a Chinese language class and being her career as a Chinese interpreter. After completing her study she was able to secure a job as an interpreter in Phnom Penh, now earning a monthly salary over $1000 along with additional benefits.
Malis said, “I am very happy with my current situation, as I have a secure job and good income that allow me to support my family. My parents and siblings have enough food, and we are able to pay most of our debt. I am really grateful for all the support that HAGAR has provided me and my family.”
Through her work, Malis has an opportunity to interact with and support other female workers in the workplace. She regularly shares her experiences with them, aiming to raise awareness and empower them to protect themselves.
