Love in a challenging time

Ok Lai and Khiev Siem (Prey Veng)

Photos by: Prum Ero

Story by: Tuy Raksmey and Mil Sreytoch

Edit by: Ly Pisey 

“Building love during Pol Pot regime, no matter how challenging it was, we overcame without giving up each other.”

Grandpa Lai: We first met during the regime of 3 years 8 months 20 days (Pol Pot Regime). When the regime was over, we formed a small family in 1982. We have been spending 38 years of our lives together. We are an elder couple in our 80s and our health is frail as we age.

Grandma Siem:We do not have any big businesses. We were farmers but we no longer have any energy. We only raise some livestock and grow some food around our small cottage which was 10 centimeters raised from the ground with zinc roof, bamboo floor, and walls made of palm leaves. However, it collapsed by strong wind.

We adopted three children. Now they have grown well. One returned to their biological family, one migrated and another one went to work far from work. They left me a small grandchild to look after. As we have grown older and our livelihood wasn’t so good, we worried we couldn’t take care our grandchild. We worried about our grandchild and ourselves, so we decided to sell our land to build a small concrete house with zinc roof so we are safer.

Grandpa Lai:Even though our lives have been challenging, we do not give up on our grandchild and on each other. Instead, we hold each other’s hands, fight through all odds, look after each other even during sickness, day and night, whether we have food or not, we still strive together. Our hope is for our family be protected by law. We were so happy when our local authority accepted us and issued land and house titles.

Grandma Siem:Our family is no different from other families here. We are friends and we help and support each other when in need.