A Precious Life Restored: Eang was only six years old when her mother sold her into prostitution. Now, Eang is healing at Hagar.

Eang was only six years old when her mother sold her into prostitution to make extra money for the family.  After Eang's father died of AIDS, leaving her mother to provide for her children and elderly grandmother alone, her meagre income from her clothes-washing business was simply not enough to provide for the family.  So she turned to the one job she knew would provide quick money - prostitution. 

At the tender age of 6, a foreign customer paid Eang's mother a high price for Eang's virginity.  That was the beginning of Eang's nightmare - rape became an almost daily occurance. Some days she would see two or three men; other days none at all.  Eang brought a lot of money into her family because men would pay her mother a high price because she was so young.

Eang never questioned her mother or refused her requests.  She believed she was working to help her family.  In between customers she would return home and pretend that life was normal, occasionally attending school and playing with other children. 

Eang's nightmare continued for five long years.  But the worst of it ended one night when Cambodian police, after investigating and watching a foreigner at his guesthouse, rescued Eang and brought her to Hagar's Aftercare program. 

There, with plenty of food, schooling and friends to play with, Eang began the long journey towards healing.  She met other girls with similar stories and learned that what she had endured was not a necessary way of life.  Eang was surprised to discover that her Vietnamese counselor listened to her story and responded with empathy.

Eang's path to healing is a long one.  She still feels guilt that she is not helping her family and shifts between and cheerful and confident girl and an angry and anxious girl.  Her counselors, however, continue to encourage her by helping her tell her story, heal from the trauma, and build hopes for a future with new opportunities.