One Day: Jorani’s Story

When 7-year-old Jorani was rescued and brought to Rapha International, she was accustomed to living without food or shelter. Abandoned, she lived on the streets of Phenom Pehn where she was often exploited and sexually abused. 

Jorani would steal any food she saw, or hoard food for later. When food would go missing from classrooms or common areas, staff assumed that Jorani had taken it. It was common for staff to find food hidden in Jorani’s clothes or in her room. 

At Rapha, Jorani was thrilled to be offered food three times a day, but she didn’t trust that it would continue. She was afraid that at any time, she would be returned to the streets of Phnom Phen where her food and safety were so uncertain. 

Jorani’s counselor, Chenda, talked to Jorani at every session about her fear and anxiety caused by years of hunger. Slowly, she helped Jorani understand that she could trust the staff at Rapha to provide for her needs. That helped to calm Jorani’s fear and anxiety. When Jorani was no longer preoccupied with the fear of hunger and starvation, Chenda was able to redirect Jorani’s attention to processing the trauma of the sexual exploitation that she had experienced.

Jorani’s story represents the experiences of hundreds of girls who have received life changing care and treatment at Rapha.