One Day: Sopheary’s Story

When 11-year-old Sopheary arrived at Rapha International, she didn’t want to speak to anyone. She was afraid to trust people she didn’t know, and she didn’t know how to tell anyone how she felt or what she needed. Sopheary would sit alone and ignore other girls as they played and talked. Even when she was brought to the counseling center, she sat in her counselor’s office in silence. The staff weren’t sure what to do or how to help Sopheary. 

One of Sopheary’s house mothers, Chhean, decided that she would sit with her in silence. Every day, Chhean would spend time sitting quietly with Sopheary until eventually Sopheary decided that she could trust her house mother. Sophreary began speaking to her a little, asking questions about her family and people she knew before she came to Rapha. Chhean came to a counseling session with Sopheary and helped her to begin talking to her counselor. She also helped Sopheary make friends with other girls in her cottage. 

Soon, Sopheary was thriving at Rapha and building relationships with staff and other girls. She can begin the hard work of healing because Chhean had the patience to wait for her to begin to  trust again. 

Sopheary’s story represents the experiences of hundreds of girls who have received care at Rapha.