Sin Sabun grew up during the civil war in Cambodia. As a woman, she had learned at an early age that her place was in the home and she was not allowed to go to school. But one day an organization called Light of Hope came to her village. They said they were going to conduct a course in on equal opportunity and women’s rights. Sin Sabun decided to attend.

By being active she influences and supports others

That course was the beginning of a new phase in Sin Sabun’s life. After being silent for years, she began to openly express her views on a variety of issues. She discovered that by being active she could both support and influence others.

Elected as a village elder

In 2004, she was elected to be a village elder, with responsibility for future issues. She then later became the deputy head of the village.

“When I started participating and saying what I thought, I got involved in lots of different issues. I realised that my ideas were of interest and that I could make my own decisions. My self-confidence grew,” says Sin Sabun.

Invloved in local politics

Today, Sin Sabun is also involved in local politics. And she is not alone. The rate of women’s participation in local government in Cambodia will soon reach ten percent. This would not have been possible without the work of organizations like Diakonia’s partner, Light of Hope.

A new phase in Sin Sabun’s life started when she attended a course organized by Diakonia’s Cambodian partner organization Light of Hope.